…and does not cost an arm and a leg? We (Team 100) is shopping and I am not real keen on spending thousands on a router with a DIY control. I’d consider Centroid, ProtoTrak, Fagor, and up. I realize Mitsubishi, Siemens, Heidenhain, and Fanuc may be out of reach.
The omio.
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I have a Langmuir MR-1 on order and they have their own control system (or at least an interface), which is nice.
May I ask why you want something nicer than a WCP Omio with Mach3 and their custom skin? If you’re looking for a 4x4 maybe Shop Sabre has something nicer for control?
I assumed they are looking for something better than stock Mach3 that ships with an Omio.
Our router actually runs on an Acorn controller that runs Centroid.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_diy/acorn_cnc_controller.html
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The stock Mach3 that ships with the Omio does its job. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve used it, but I don’t remember fighting with it much.
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We have a CNC lathe with Mach3 and it is godawful. I am trying to avoid buying a project for thousands. I admit to being spoiled by real CNC controls in my professional life.
Was the Centroid Acorn a retrofit to an existing router?
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I will say that using an Omio is pretty painless compared to a custom Mach3 install. Omio or WCP will provide you with all the files and configs you need to set it up.
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Shopsabre uses WinCNC.
I wouldn’t call it a real controller (it’s still pc based with a keyboard and mouse interface), but you don’t need a “real” controller for router work.
It’s not a project though. You turn it on for the first time and it works. It’s a little cheap looking and not as full functioned as a fanuc/haas/mazatrol/siemens/heidenhein/etc, but you don’t really actually use it to do anything. The work flow is so simple compared to a real cnc mill that it’s just fine.
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Tormach 24r router runs their PathPilot control interface, which is Tormach’s own customization/fork of LinuxCNC which is pretty nice.
The Langmuir MR-1 is also an interesting affordable option. It has their own software interface that is pretty nice, and there’s plenty of favorable attributes of the machine.
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CAMaster routers also use WinCNC. It’s in a different class than Mach3 as it uses dedicated hardware in the PC to generate the pulse train rather than using the PC CPU.
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I will second ShopSabe. All of 4414’s polycarbonate parts were cut on my RC 4x8 (with spindle and table upgrades). Their controller is definitely the best I’ve used on any router. I am not sure what your budget is, but their “23” is a pretty good budget option, or you can step up to the RC series for a few more features (better spindle, vacuum table, etc) and a larger table. They have even better models with ball screws and tool changers, but those go for $50k+
Happy to answer any questions about the machine.
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I think https://lagunatools.com/cnc makes a good CNC router with a decent control system
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We run production on a Shop Sabre router, and I am looking to add more to the shop at AndyMark. They are pretty solid machines, and have great customer support!
I’ve heard very mixed things about Laguna.
Does the ShopSabre take standard (EIA) g-code?
Ours isn’t bad – they just have an unfortunate feature on their B&R controller where in a machine settings screen if a kid hits “Import settings” and there’s no USB or settings to import it wipes out everything and requires you to painstakingly have to redefine every auto tool changer position, interpret somewhat vague instructions for what the settings actually mean, and have a mild heart attack when you realize you need to manually recalibrate the stepper motors…
But they also sell machines with FANUC controllers now.
You can see what they use here. It’s got all the stuff you’d be using on a regular basis. Not sure if it’s got every g code other controls have.
You won’t be able to just take your code from say a Haas or some other industry standard VMC and run it on WinCNC, but you can get posts for legitimate CAM software (I know MasterCAM has one), otherwise ShopSabre ships with vCarve and a shopsabre post.
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“Ours” being which brand offers Fanuc? For $$$ no doubt…
I was responding to the Laguna post. “Ours” has the B&R controller that Laguna modified. Their new generation of machines have fanuc but they cost a pretty penny.
DMS has a lower cost (Freedom CNC) line that has ballscrews and a Fagor control, but still starting in the low 40’s. https://dmscncrouters.com/product-lines/freedom/
DMS/Freedom weren’t especially communicative pre-sales, and we ended up going with ShopSabre. No complaints there.