Quote:
Originally Posted by DonRotolo
Definitely get the limit switch option ($17) if relatively untrained operators may access the machine.
Also consider that you need 3 bits of software to run it: a design program (like Inventor or Solidworks), a G-Code generator (like Cut2D from Vectrix) and a G-Code interpreter (which appears to come with the unit).
This appears to be an OK machine.
If I were spending $700, I would find a small manual mill instead, it will do more; of course, it is not CNC and some operator skill is required.
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Agreed. Limit switches can save you from a lot of issues, headache, and damage. Our Little mill has no limit or home switches, so we have to double-check our travels on every program to make sure nothing will crash (at least for now, we've got a solution in the works).
For software, as a FIRST team you can get either Inventor or Solidworks for free. I prefer Solidworks, and I've just begun playing with HSMWorks (A free CAM plugin for SW) and it seems very nice, much better than other free CAM software out there. But I believe HSMWorks is available for Inventor too, under a different name.
I've also got to agree that a manual mill may be a better investment. Many FRC parts are simple enough to be made by hand.