REVIEW: X-Carve Upgrades and Aluminum Milling
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- Опубліковано 10 сер 2017
- This is a review of the latest upgrades available for my older generation X-Carve from Inventables inventables.com?ref=TabLeftWorkshop for the review aside for talking about the parts and install process I will also be focusing on aluminum milling from the perspective of running a small side business for a new part or invention. and if I think the X-Carve could reasonably keep up with the demand for a doing rapid prototyping or testing market viability of an idea.
I’ll be reviewing the “upgrade” kit : goo.gl/bkxe2R
which is a bundle of:
X-Controller : goo.gl/cYfe7Z
X-Axis “Wide” Rail: goo.gl/XCv8Qn
Side Board : goo.gl/XbcXy3
Z-Probe : goo.gl/ybo6sH
I will also be reviewing:
X-Carve Dust Control System : goo.gl/8F7hoN
DeWalt Spindle Router Upgrade : goo.gl/eAhHWB
All final cuts were made using Inventable’s Free Easel Software : goo.gl/yLi4VH in 6061 Aluminum plate with the following settings and bit.
BIT: 2 Flute Upcut Flat Bottom Carbide: goo.gl/cPxDYX
IMPERIAL
Feed: 40 in/min
Plunge: 3 in/min
Depth per pass: 0.005 in
METRIC
Feed: 1016 mm/min
Plunge: 76.2 mm/min
Depth per pass: 0.1 mm
Here a link to Steve French's channel who inspired the part / blockyimage
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Thanks for the update on the silicone idea. :D Ah well, not enough release will get you every time! :D Thanks for the info on the aluminum.. I can't wait to try that!
Geeksmithing yeah it didn't have any "real" release handy so I kinda winged it... my winging it privileges have been revoked 😂
Excellent subject matter well done!
If you are cutting too deep Check your Steps Per MM ($102=x) and adjust using math.
And the z probe does require measuring and setting during setup in the advanced settings.
With aluminum set the probe thickness to 0 and probe off the materiel.
Can you do a video on how you designed the handle for the adjustment nut that you showed in the beginning of the video.
On your running the cuts on alum what did you end up running your 611 router speed at ? I know you said slow but are you talking #1 or #2 on the dial ? Thanks....
Bear Cubb I had it turned literally all the way down.
Thanks for sharing your aluminum cut settings. I have a few aluminum projects in the pipeline and your settings will give me a good jumping off point. As for your depth of travel issue on the Z-axis, have you looked into the "steps per mm" settings in GRBL ($102 for Z)? I believe the settings are accessible through Easel. (I tend to use Universal G-Code sender to control my machine and generate my toolpaths using Fusion 360 so am not overly familiar with Easel). Thanks again for sharing your experience with the machine.
lukewarm58 thanks for that info! For the review I concentrated on easel since I think that's going to be most people's entry but moving forward I will be using ditching it in favor or fusion 360 for that vast magoritybof things (though I may still use easel as a sender)
Thanks for the excellent review of the new upgrades. Seems like some nice upgrades the X-controller may not be worth it for someone who already has the x-carve but for some one like me who is going to buy one in the near future is great since it comes with it now and doesn't seem to have raised the price much for a complete machine. Maybe by the time a can afford to get one they will have even more improvements by then.
Charlie Thompson for sure! I actually really like the iterative approach inventables takes. I would rather they release a (comparatively) affordable machine and see what improvements "need" to be made than creating an over engineered machine I'd never be able to afford.
Yea I want a CNC router really badly and this is by far the most affordable machine out there may not be the most capable but with the upgrades it getting better maybe I can get me one next year.
Charlie Thompson yeah unless you need it I would recommend one of the smaller machines. The shorter rails will make it stiffer and honestly at this size it's pretty tough to find a place for it. I'm planning to shorten one dimension maybe next weekend to have 1 axis of 1000mm and one of about 500mm (maybe even smaller) to the machine is easier to store and more rigid. That should still be more than enough space for anything I want to do with it.
Yea your are right but for some reason I want to go big lol. I have a good size shop so space isn't to big of a deal for me and I am just mostly a hobbyist one reason why I haven't purchased one yet cant justify the cost for one at the moment .Thanks for the info and tips to consider when I do purchase one.
I have the 1000mm x-carve. I didn't get the waist board and instead sandwiched the metal frame under it between two pieces of 3/4 inch plywood. And that's mounted to a sturdy table. That makes it super ridged, and is a fraction of the cost of the waist board they sell.
I have been pondering if I should buy the side board yet and was leaning towards not. So thanks for the nail in the coffin and extra bucks in my pocket :)
PinballMan yeah it's total waste in my opinion.
PinballMan I own one also. It was part of the Black Friday upgrade package last year. Agree that it's just a silly thing, not worth money, and probably not worth the time to install it.
Yeah I'm building a table just for the cnc anyways so I will just mount it right next to the cnc machine onto the table.
thanks a lot for the video. Where do you get Aluminum for cutting ?
VIVA FPV my local metal suppler has a drop bin
I just built an ox metal, which is about the same price as an X-carve, but uses much more substantial parts. I was surprised even with two 20 x 60 rails + one 20 x 40 rail for the x-axis, there still is some play for an aft in the z-axis. I'm using four wheels on the z-axis, and considering upgrading the x-axis to four wheels as well.
Compared to the movement shown in your video, mine is rock solid. I cannot imagine cutting metal with the X-carve. The other big problem is those belts. I went to the Acme lead screws, and that prevents any slippage.
I really think the whole popularity of the inventables machine is entirely due to marketing. For the same price you can build a much more substantial machine, and really they're not that hard to put together. I would say the worst part is the electronics and wiring. The actual machine can be put together in about six or seven hours.
I hope people reading this check out open builds, and see what else is available.
I'm looking for an Ox Metal also. Do you buy it in separate parts, like the Ox and the additional Acme leads etc.?
Found several vids about the Ox Metal but no one-stop-shopping seller (atleast not in th EU-regioni'm in)
At about the 23 minute mark you start talking about the bit cutting the table. I would suggest you calibrating your $102 setting to ensure you have the proper steps per millimeter.
I think you would benefit greatly by using Fusion 360. So many more custom options available and not all that hard to learn. Did I mention it is free for home hobby or educational use. For aluminum work, I think I would go with a water cooled variable speed spindle and use a 1/4" collet and bits. Lubrication, cooling, and chip removal are what makes thing go smooth. If you can find a way to do it on a machine like this without making an insane mess, it would help a lot.
Eric Mattinen I’m quite adept at fusion 360 I use it all the time, this was a review of the x carve so I limited myself to the various inventables solutions for these tests
Ah, I understand. I'm still debating for my home use whether to buy an X-Carve or part together a fairly HD one for a couple of hundred more from OpenBuilds. I like the package options of the XC, but I think I like the expandability of the OB.
Where are you getting your aluminum stock?
Can the x carve mill G10?
Good film
We used Johnson's Wax for cutting aluminium back in the 60's
Dave Tellman good to know thanks!
How are those cheap chinese bits with cutting woods?
Tiny Houses I imagine they would be fine but I haven't tried yet. I'm gonna be doing some milling in MDF with them this weekend
+TabLeft Workshop cut some mdf and some 3/4 walnut today with them and they did fine. Only small projects but so far so good.
check youre machines calibration
Use Blender Cam . Download Blender its free open source software and they added Blender Cam to it. It's FREE. You can donate if you like to. It has pocketing, carve, drill, outline, 3D carving, and many other things. It's offered for Mac and PC. Design the artwork in Blender and turn on Blender Cam to send tool paths to your machine. I use it with X-Carve.
BarchettaValveAmp I use fusion360 normally, I use easel a fair amount too just because it’s fast and easy for simple stuff, also I wanted to use what the average joe would be using if they just bought an x-carve
move your side board to the bottom. dust collection problem solved
I am working with a 611 on a V-carve and you totally wrong on speeds and feeds. The problem is you mills. High Helix correct cutting angle of edge and you will see a world of differences Been in the machining world for 30 plus years and there are many, many mill cutter companies that you can go to that can provide you with milling cutters that the 611 will work fine. Last I machined aluminum we were looking at 30,000 plus RPM and ran at 120 inches a minute which was the rapid of the machine, should have ran the feed stronger. Inventables cannot get there but look into a brass, aluminum mill cutter. It is not the machine, I have one and with proper tooling ran very good. Also no coolant need as slow as it is running, run air with your vacuum. Hertel brand mills can lead you into aluminum cutters to fit your speed and feeds.
I’ll look into it, thanks