Cost conscious

[newbiegreenhorn]

Hey mechmates!
Totally new to cnc but have been doing research.
Can someone tell me average cost to build quality mechmate?
4 x 8 ft cutting area. Quality parts.
Not including my time.

[KenC]

When you say "quality" do you mean no expense spared?

[newbiegreenhorn]

What I mean by quality would mean made in either usa, canada or europe, or japan.
price point would be at roughly 70-80%.
Thanks for the reply.
Is building one of these going to cost me 5k in parts or 15 k or maybe in the middle? or more? I am looking for roughly a 20% error estimate right now

[smreish]

7-8K nicely done with affordable spindle. if you own all the tools.
If you need to add welder/grinder and some tooling, add another 1K

[silverdog]

Newb,
4-5000 US $ is the average for a complete Mechmate .... in Europe it could be somewhat more expensive but the number are the same 4-5000 euro.I am sure it can be done with 5000 euro with 7.2 Geared motor and a 2.2kw spindle with VFD .... many components are less expensive in the USA and Canada is much closer ...

[silverdog]

..... well if Sean say 7-8k $ .... I think he knows better than me ... but I'm still confident 5000 € is enough (yes not considering a welder (3-400 $ ? grinder 100 $ and some other tooling ....

[KenC]

Conservatively, will run way over 10k with all parts made in either usa, canada or europe, or japan.

[darren salyer]

I'm a little over 7k in mine with belt reduction and a router. I'd call it a quality build. Probably has around 250 hrs. on it with the only problem being a prox sensor coming loose. That's entirely my fault, truth be told, didn't tighten enough in the first place.

[Alan_c]

Will probably cost more if their governments get involved hey Ken??? dont forget this is a "third world" design...

[servant74]

Looking on the 'build' spread sheet. I thought I remembered a 'est of build cost' column, but it isn't there. Just a 'build time', but that is in start to finish, not effort. I think most are 200 to 600 man hours, with a nominal 250 if I remember right.

I have always heard a 'cheap build' but purchasing everything new is about $5 to $8K USD. If you are a good scrounger for steel, wire, stepping motors/servo's, and you have a router already, you can reduce the cost considerably.

[zumergido]

plus. the time you spend.. if you are good on tools is not the same if you dont know how to weld.
then is the curve of learning of learning how to do a square cut to a vcarve photo.
plus on the end you will need a vacumm and some other stuff.

join the game... will be fun.

[KenC]

"Quality" Vacuum pump alone is >>>5K

[silverdog]

Vacuum pump it's an option, it's absolutely not essential and for many works is a waste of money (too many kw) ....

[KenC]

"Quality" dust collector is >>2K

[silverdog]

Quality dust collector is a must !! :-) here you can find it for much less than 2k ... used even under 500$ , bigger dust collectors are needed if you run multiple machine toghether ... in any case those are accessory needed for any wood machine and any other CNC .... you also need a place to run you machine, electrical supply ecc. .... but I think we were talking about the cost of the Mechmate itself ...
I am building a new base and the cost of new iron (3200x1850) was 550 € for all the iron + 50 € for bolt, shimmers, dados ecc. (bolted base :-) ) I think the complete structure with a set bended laser will be 1100-1200 € (a complete laser set from Mike is 520 $ ) a set of geared motors is 1100$, 4 gekos 203v and a pmdx are 640$ a set of weels and bushings are 350-400$, racks and pinions are less than 100€, then you need cable, chains, paint, control box,MDF, transformer some electronics, buttons, limit switches ... I think all those things can be purchased for 1500-2000€, I am in the process to get all the quotes and I will report everything.
Italy is not the most ecomomic place to buy ... The bearings are coming from superior bearings, gekos are less expensive in USA and so on ...
Good luck !

[KenC]

My Malaysian made dust collector fitted with a China made motor + Indian made fabric filter begs, Thailand made flexible host came about ~USD700. Not in newb's classification of "quality part".

[lonestaral]

As an alternative to spending money on a dust extractor you could mount the machine outside under an open sided tent.
Check the direction of the prevailing wind and site the control and yourself upwind.
If there is no wind use some fans.
For adverse wind conditions consider mounting the machine on a turntable.
Should work if you have no neighbors close by.

[servant74]

That seems like a good idea in the right place

A good dust collection can be not to expensive. Think of building your own using plans from BillPentz http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/index.cfm ... the trick is to read it all before deciding to DIY.

The separator should be a couple of hundred dollars if you DIY. But the 5HP electric motor is in addition.

A more expensive way is to get a ClearVue cyclone. It is built on Bill Pentz's design (and is the only commercial built one authorized by Bill to use his design).

I wish someone with deep pockets would do a scientific comparison of a ClearVue and some other commercial designs, and even put in a Thein separator in the mix to see how it works for the cheap way.

Just a suggestion.

[krabenaldt]

The April 2013 issue of Fine Woodworking has an interest article comparing a small commerical cyclone, thien baffle, and micron type filters.

[pblackburn]

I had around $7k with machine, spindle, cam software, dust collector and many other options. No vacuum holddown though.