Official Luthiers Forum!

Well I've lurked here a lot over the past couple of years without contributing much of anything. I've got a new router coming next week (I hope). It is a new manufacturer that popped up called PCNCautomation. I bought the 24 X36 model for starters and if things go well down the road I may reinvest in a larger one. I'm leery of a capital outlay from a new source, as in the past I've had companies go under after I bought the product, but I don't think there is much on this that can't be sourced from an industrial supply house. The machine looks pretty nicely built. My homebuilt MAXNC powered router has been giving me fits lately and I really didn't want to build another one right now. I'm sure that it is a controller or software/computer issue, but it's time to move on. Considering what the parts cost on my homebuilt machine, I'd say this PCNC machine is fairly reasonably priced. It comes with Mach3 which I've never used before, so I may have to ask some noobie questions about it. I hope you all won't mind answering what could be considered some dumb questions .

Marty,
Please post some photo's once you get everything installed....sounds like a nice setup.

Brad

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Brad
Avon, OH

Well things are progressing. I'm in the experimental mode with mach3 and the machine itself. It really is pretty fast compared to my maxnc system. I'm going to have to change all my feedrates in all my files. Right now with a new bit it appears that I am running about 8 thousandths undersize on a test mortise I made for a LP junior style neck.
I do have what I hope is a fairly easy question. The router came with a height setting tool that works with the auto zero feature. I'd like to check and see if the parameter is set to the actually height of the metal block I have. Can anyone explain where to see this. Is it the gage block height in offsets? Thanks.
Marty

Well I'd like to first say it has been a while since I submitted anything new here. Here is an update to this story. The CNC machine just didn't cut it... pun intended. The linear guides used just were too sloppy and I ended up trying to work around them with slower feeds and internal starts to the routs, etc. I ended up with more bad parts than good parts. I was a lucky one though, as I got my machine. A number of others paid and the guy went belly up. He's nowhere to be found. That story is documented on the cnczone.
I decided in the Summer that enough was enough. I spent 3000 bucks on a machine that wasn't designed to do what I wanted. I went back to doing bodies the old fashioned way for a while and finally decided to take a breather from it. Anyway, fast forward to the Fall and I saw a new unsupported rail -- frame only- K2 2514 on Ebay. It looked nice. I figured it would be better than my pcnc lemon and if it were as close to being accurate like my home built machine, I'd be happy. It would be a band aid to the situation and I could make parts while I decide what to do for my last machine that I would make. I got the machine and it is just a beautiful piece of metal work. I ended up having Probotix assemble a controller and 280 oz steppers. I've been playing around with it now for a couple of weeks in an unheated shed. The temps are really low here and it makes the playing with it...uncomfortable to say the least. It really needs to come inside for a multitude of reasons. I'm pleased with the results that I'm getting on bodies and necks. I'm redoing my STL files for this machine as the motor orientation and axes are different than the PCNC. It is a slighly smaller work envelope but large enough for what I do. I thought I'd just pass this info along as it is certainly an affordable alternative if costs are a concern. I'd say it is a pretty nice machine. I had Rhino, Mach 3, and the router here already so that helped keep the cost down.
Marty

I've been happy with my K2. It's a great machine for a little shop. At some point, you have to decide if you want to make CNC's or guitars...! It does cost more to buy a manufactured machine, but you gain the benefit of all the trial and error that they have done to make the machine work well.

Trev

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

You got that right... I've spent the last month and a half building a new CNC Machine and haven't done any guitar building. I'll probably spend the next 2 months making fixtures and proofing them before any real building happens.

PCNCautomation? .....They are out of business. I got one of the last machines about a year ago. I think it could have been a nice little machine if only some attention was paid to the linear guides. I only wish I had gone the K2 route earlier. It's an OK machine for lawn art or stuff where you aren't trying for extreme accuracy.