Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

piwagon — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 21:42:53 GMT

Forgive me if I missed it somewhere, but where did you purchase this? I found it on Amazon for $189, but a few days later it was $249

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

genebren — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 21:12:38 GMT

Ralph,

Funny how things work, but I just ran into a guy that owns one of these machines and absolutely loves it. He works mostly in wood, doing inlay of wood or resins. Hi projects looked really good. I guess even with wood, his biggest complaint is going through lots of bits.

I will have to see if I can find a spot for one of these in my shop (if I ever get finished with all the sheetrock work).

Gene

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

three-phase — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 20:09:53 GMT

This is a nice little machine, I look forward to seeing how you get on with it.

There are also toggle clamps available in a variety of formats that can be useful and quite speedy.

[View:/resized-image/__size/292x305/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-9ac898ce-1f9a-442e-a5a1-7a08e5bb8020/8015.contentimage_5F00_204247.png:292:305]

There are also simpler hold down clamps with a T-bolt and hand screw.

[View:/resized-image/__size/427x283/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-9ac898ce-1f9a-442e-a5a1-7a08e5bb8020/6862.contentimage_5F00_204248.png:427:283]

I find these a bit more user friendly than the traditional step-block clamps, but do not give as much clamping force.

Kind regards.

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

genebren — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 18:52:54 GMT

Ralph,

I don't know if this is the same clamps that came with your CNC:

[View:/resized-image/__size/615x591/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-9ac898ce-1f9a-442e-a5a1-7a08e5bb8020/contentimage_5F00_204246.jpg:615:591]

These look a little wonky, but I suppose that they should work. It looks like the bolt with the wingnut slips into the t-slot and the wingnut is loosely tightened. Then the other bolt is tighten (bottoming on the plate) and providing clamping force to the work piece. I have used the clamps that [mention:b0bc65b9ecdc4307bd967592f00e340a:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] mentions above, and those work like a champ.

Gene

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

shabaz — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 18:33:41 GMT

Hi Ralph,

It's great you're getting into CNC, I hope to try that sometime!

The speed of the bit should be very high (since it is very small diameter) but there's a risk of snapping, I've never done such PCB milling, but the depth should be fraction of the bit diameter, otherwise it will snap. Your value sounds good (0.2mm) just to be on the safe side. Anyway it looks like you're doing the right things in your experiments.

Incidentally, if you're looking for a way to clamp a board, this is a common way of doing it with CNC/milling machines (at least for general material, I don't know about PCB), that might be possible to make with a 3D printer, if they are not already available in some size to suit your machine/bed:

Basically, there are two separate blocks (shown in red), that have a staircase pattern on one end. That allows you to lift up the long red block, to match the height of the object (it doesn't need to precisely match, it can be slightly higher). The PCB is green. The long red block has a long oval hole at the far end, and a T-nut goes into the groove (shown in blue) on the bed, with a thread poking out (a piece of threaded rod, it isn't a bolt). The nut is fastened so that the lip of the long red block is just protruding over the PCB.

A couple of these are normally used, one on each side. The PCB should have some scrap material under it too (as you've got).

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x411/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-9ac898ce-1f9a-442e-a5a1-7a08e5bb8020/4263.contentimage_5F00_204244.png:620:411]

EDIT: a photo from google images. They can be used in several ways, and these ones seem to be a variation with a notch at the clamping end, but that's not essential. Also 4 would be overkill I think, 2 could work..

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x329/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-9ac898ce-1f9a-442e-a5a1-7a08e5bb8020/8030.contentimage_5F00_204245.jpg:620:329]

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

DAB — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 18:30:40 GMT

Interesting product.

At that price you could do a lot of useful things with the basic kit.

DAB

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

fmilburn — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 16:15:21 GMT

Hi Ralph,

Very interesting... How clean are the cuts? i.e. do the FRP and through holes tear, also does the 3d printed material melt and stick to the mill or tear? I have not followed these and was not aware that they had become so inexpensive. Keep posting :-)

Frank

RE: Genmitsu CNC 3018-PRO

genebren — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 16:13:38 GMT

Ralph,

Nice write up on this product. I have a older, used CNC mill that I have only used a few times. It has been a real pain, trying to keep it running, while sorting out all the software and tools. I kind of like the thought of getting a simple machine like this to help me restore my other mill, while learning more about the work flow and such.

It will be interesting to hear more about your experiences and insights as you get some more time on to this machine.

Thanks!

Gene