4. Which CNC Milling Machine to Acquire?

This is like asking an 18 year old boy which are better: Blondes, Brunette's or Red Heads, Right now with his hormones raging, all he can think about is girls. But in the end he'll most likely pick the Red Head.

The two most important questions are: How much will you be using the machines and the second involves available budget? These are quickly followed by what is the size of boards you will be fabricating followed by the complexity level of the boards. One also needs to consider the complexities of operating the CNC Mill. Software (and Software Cost) is also a concern. I purposefully left the computer off as a computer will be required for the Designs and one suitable enough for the design application likely will suffice.

Specific Machine features including Computer Interface, Limit Switches, Emergency Stop, a Manual written in English. Equally important is supplied hold down tooling. Duct taping a part to the Mill bed is not Kosher nor acceptable! Lots of Chips and Offal is generated and some machines include a chip shield. (2nd Machine on the list).

So to resolve the selection each buyer should create a matrix of these considerations as one axis of the array along with the second axis being the individual models. [All of the models below came off of the Amazon Website.]

 

Model	Usage	Cost	Size (in)	Software	Complexity
DIY Mini 1610 Pro	Light Duty	$155	7X4X1.75	GRBL	USB, English Manual
SainSmart Genmitsu 3018-ProVer	Medium Duty	$350	12X7X1.75	GRBL	Limit Switches, EMO (Emergency Stop)
SainSmart Genmitsu 3018-Pro	Medium Duty	$250	12X7X1.75	GRBL	No Limit or EMO, but hold down tooling
Genmitsu 3 Axis CNC 3018-ProVer Mach3	Medium Duty	$350	10.2X6.1X1.4	MachIII G-Code	Auto Tool Reset
VPABES 3 Axis 3040	Full Duty	$620	11X15X2.33	G-Code	Beefier Frame and better repeatability

At this point the potential buyer should spend a lot of time on you tube looking at various CNC Milling Machines keeping in mind the parameters I identified. While sending $155 for a machine is attractive if you make 5 boards a year then probably a good investment. But if you want to make PC Boards, do Panel Cutouts or Engrave panels then something more robust may be needed.

My CNC cost me $250,000 and is closer to a production machine. The large number is not the actual machine cost (more like $3000) but that is what it cost me to send my #3 son to Engineering school. Mine is a homebrew CNC Mill designed and built by my son. He presented the machine to me upon graduation --- and said "We Are Even!" My work area is about 15" X 8" X 5" and uses the MACH III software.

Back to the 18 year old kid. He did pick the Red Head -- most Irish Catholic Girls are Red Heads -- he figured the odds were in his favor with YL's who attended strict segregated repressive Catholic schools. Lucky for him -- they have been married for over 50 years!