Hi, I'm new here so if this is the wrong place to ask Sorry in advance. I'm looking to possibly build a router, it would need to cut aluminum and plastic so it would need to be very heavy duty. the work area I would like is 12" by 24" or as close to that as possible. I guess What I'm asking is, which design here on open builds would be the sturdiest as far as accuracy and flex. does anyone have a super sturdy design they would like to share? Thanks in advance Vic
Well I have a Workbee 1010. My cutting area is a bit bigger than your and I can cut wood, acrylic and aluminium without any issues. I highly recommend these machines.
Leadscrew machine is best for aluminium (higher torque), belt drive is better for plastic (higher feed rates). Having said that you can cut plastic satisfactorily with a leadscrew machine - keep the spindle speed as low as possible and the feed rate as high as possible. Alex.
Are you regularly cutting aluminum, or is just a once in a while thing? Anything can cut anything if you take light enough cuts, but I would classy any of the wheels machines as being effective machines FOR aluminum cutting. They can, but heavier loads will put a beating on the lead nuts, wheels, and router. I'm not trying to be negative, just stating the truth. These are definitely better than any unsupported shaft based machine, such as the 6040/3040, Sharks, or most of the other desktop machines.
Thank you all for your replies, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Yes I plan on doing both plastic and aluminum fixtures. So heavy duty is needed. Currently looking at cnc router parts they claim it will cut aluminum, I have read on several forms of people doing aluminum cutting with great success, this is the HD machines looking at their table top. Model. I know it's more$$$ but a capable machine is needed in this case or not worth doing.. I'm wondering if open builds parts can be used for 8080 heavy duty extrusions and how much sturdier that would be? Just wondering. Thanks all Vic.
You need to have a set of expectations. Openbuilds machines are great and very capable. but they are hobby desktop machines generally and need to be treated as such.. so light passes and reasonable expectations of tolerances and repeatability. there are far more ridgid and accurate machines out there and the sky is the limit if you have money burning a hole in your pocket
