FAQ - Answers - CNC for beginners - New to CNC machining - How to get started.

Below are steps to help you as you being your research in buying your CNC router or CNC machine.

Your Part
Know your part max width, length and height. Understand travel height and clearance height.

Put answer here:

X Axis (Width)
Y Axis (Length front to back)
Z Axis (Height) - clearance and Z travel. 3,5,8, and 12.

There are art designs and geometric designs. Some CAD software are better for art and some for simple 2D, holes, lines and curves.
Call us and let us know what you are making. We would be glad to help point you into the right direction.

Download your free demo/evaluation of 3 required types of software; CAD, CAM and Control software.

1. Download a demo for CAD "Rhino CAD" $600 by clicking here. Option #2 CAD. "Artcam" **both CAD/CAM** Click here (retails for $7500)

2. Download a demo for CAM "VisualMill" Click here.

3. Download the "Mach 3" control software from K2. Click Here

4. Below is a link to a Free CAM software. This will allow you to get cutting ASAP with the learning curve. Once you are introduced to the action, we recomend you take the time to learn VisualMill6, Rhino CAM, MasterCAM, Type3, and other CAM software.
Download the "FreeMill" this will allow you to cut 3D and post to our machine fast and easy. Click Here

 

Software - Finding the right one.
Software. Best thing is to take the time to download the demo and understand the interface. Buy the software and than select your CNC router. Call more than one CNC router company and ask what they recommend.

Write down the software pros and cons - if there are demos, it's a good sign that the software company is confident about there product.
a. interface
b. growth of the software company
c. training
d. documentation
e. support
f. demo videos

2 computers makes a more efficient work flow.
You will need 2 computers to be efficient. One for the machine and one to design with. Buy a low cost reliable computer for the machine and a fast one for the designing with at lest 1GB of Ram. Check for software requirements.
CNC control software: The control software reads ISO standard G-codes. Below is the computer requirements for software.

Window XP or 2000
Processor (1.00GHz) or greater.
Memory
256MB DDR SDRAM at
Hard Drive 20GB
USB
Parallel port on mother board or PCI slot.
All background software to be removed from computer.
Do not connect this to the internet. this may interfere with the control software.

The 2nd computer is recommend for the office for CAD and CAM designing. Have at least 1 G of ram and 2G processor.

Invest in a memory stick to transfer the G-code to the machine computer.

Majority of your work.
What are you cutting mostly? wood plastic? Most customers would like to cut everything they can think of. This may result in a machine that is high in price. What are your every day needs. Can you source out the jog that is too big?

Put answer here:

Motion Motors
Do research on Steppers and Servo - get it from a source not related to a CNC router site. Than ask the CNC router company to explain the difference. read it on buyerszone.com http://www.buyerzone.com/industrial/cnc_routers/buyers_guide4.html

Put answer here:

Runout
Understand runout, accuracy, tolerance, backlash, motor, spindle, G-code, CAD, CAM, Control software.

Check off the words your read about.

Feeds and Speeds
Understand Feeds and speeds. Look up the formula for your material, usually the bit companies will be happy to give you this information. Every material is different based on the cutter you are going to use, for instance 2 flute, one flute, straight or spiral, up spiral or down spiral and more.

Cutting Feed (motion of X and Y axis)
Typically the feed of cut is determined by variables of your job. These variables are bit diameter, flute of the bit, material of the bit, spiral of the bit, depth of cut, material, room temperature, is there misting, RPM, HP of spindle, and possibly more. There are at times a formula to find the right feeds and speeds. Because some spindles, even high end expensive products have a max RPM limit of 24,000 - 30,000 rpm, the formula will restrict a a project from exceeding a certain feed. Most wood and plastic cuts use feed rate of 50-150 inches per minute to maintain a good finish. Research your bit and recommended feeds and speed from your bit suppliers or manufacture to better place yourself into the right machine.

Get 2-3 bit company info and get material feeds and speed info.

Hold Down
Fine out how to hold down your part. Will you be using a vise, clamps, vacuum table, double sided tape, glue, screws, nails, jaws. Terms to look up hold down, clamps, fixture, fixturing +cnc...

Table Top
Often times custmers add MDF wood to an aluminum table top with holes or T-slots. Afterwards customers would cut, fly cut, sufface, face the MDF so that it is parrellel to the machine.

Alternative to learning CAD or CAM
In order to expedite the process you may want to hire someone to CAD, CAM, or run your CNC for you using your machine. This is a great way to start cutting and learn.

Get more than one contact for this. compare prices and experience.

Home switches
These are used to start up the machine.

Limit Switches
Some customers use this to prevent crashes. We recommend just home switches. You can define the limits of your travel in the Mach 3 software or design the part within your machine travel.

Machine Cordinates
Once the home switches are enabled by the machine spindle head assembly moving to the home switches and informing the software that it has reached home position of the machine, now it is not blind in reference to where the the cutting head is.

Work Cordinates
Once the mahine is homed. The work cordinates are used to determeine where your part is to be positioned or cut. You can place the part to be cut on the table and change the work codinates also called "work offset" and set it accordingly with a few click of the mouse.

Spindle
What spindle will you use? 3.5 HP porter cable is different colombo spindles. Use porter cable for saving cost. You can buy them off the self. They typically will not last as long as a colombo. The colombo are industrial grade spindles with 0.0003 inch runout or slop. Keep in mind of all the variables that come into play; machine backlash, spindle runout, feeds and speeds, flute type, deflection or bending of the long bit, ware, program, tool offset. Typically this is not a problem unless you are cutting jewelry or inlay. Some industry require all variables to be precision!

Write down how accurate you need your cute to be. 1/16, 1/32, 1/64??

Runout
Understand runout, sloop, concentric, true of the spindle. This will effect the tolerance of your part. Some spindles like the off the self routers have about .001 to .005 runout after a few months. An HSD or Colombo or NSK spindle has better accuracy with .00025 runout. The better spindles are mainly used for inlays and jobs that require great tolerance.

Holding drills or small bits.
K2 designed and manufactured a short shank ER 11 collet holder to hold small bits or drills. K2 will be publishing a G-code that will allow you to find a sweet spot of your cutting tools. ETA 6/2007

Cutting Tools - Bits, Cutters, End Mills, Router Bits, Drills
Bits come in high speed Steel to carbide tips to carbide in solid form. Bits range from $10 to $100 for one. It might be good to have one of each. the cheaper one to test and the expensive one to do the production once you iron out all of the issues.

Custom router bits are available through 3rd parties.

Write down 3 suppliers.
www.k2cnctools.com coming soon.
Helping the DIY cnc builders.

US or International - 110V or 220V, 3 phase or 1 phase.
Power will be a factor. The smaller machines are 110V. When you get into the colombo spindles it will require 220V one or 3 phase. You can request at around $300 more for a 110 inverter for the Colombo Spindle.

Bosch makes a 220V router spindle at 2.25 HP. Current info states 24 RPM fixed not variable.

3 or 1 phase is needed only when you decide to add the HSD or Colombo spindle. Wire can be custom length - Please advise.

Write down your max power:

Noise
Noise is going to be from the actual cutting as well as the spindle. Colombo is quite but the cutting still makes noise. You can combat the noise buy building an enclosure for the machine if you are cutting in your garage. MDF or drywall will help a lot.

Write down the importance of minimizing noise:

Linear Motion
Understand Linear Motion this will help you save money in the short run or long run. There are various ways to move a CNC router machine. Here are 3 main ways in the industry.

A- Leadscrews. Leadscrews run off of Steel and plastic, delran, brass. There is more friction on typical leadscrews leading to wear and possible lost of accuracy in the long run. The load on them are at time light dependent on the materials used. This is good for inlays and light cutting. This doe not mean that it can not cut big things. This is a general case.
B - Rack and Pinion.
C - Ballscrews.

Material of the machine.
Know the difference between aluminum and steel.

Steel will move after you weld it. Even with proper fixtures at times it is a challenge to keep a piece of Steel from moving or not confirming to the fixture or design that it was intended. It would be a good thing to machine a weld machine frame after welding or doing post welding QC and procedures to insure the machine is straight or to print. At times the move is not critical because the machine is not required to provide precision performance. A machine frame at times is only as fate as your floor in your building unless your use proper instruments to correct the issue. In general the machine should follow the parallel characters of the rails and linear guilds even if the frame is not exactly flat your MDF and plastic is also not flat.

Rigid - How rigid does a frame have to be? Well think about the CNC concept. The weakest link on a $20,000 machine typically is the small bit. Most of the time the biggest bit you have on the machine in that price range is 5/8. If you plan on using .50 inch bit, you need to ask yourself what will bend or break first? the bit or bending of the machine. Are you looking for .001inch accuracy when cutting 100 inch per minute? consider deflection (bending of the bit as you cut that fast of a feed. Most of the time for accuracy you need to do a finish pass. In this case your are only removing .015 material for example and the machine more than like is not going to bend or flex even on a aluminum frame.

Shipping:
You will most often need a forklift. A lift gate may not be available at all times. Machines are shipping in wooden boxes from Anaheim California.
Shipping question: UPS link

Q. Why and how do I bookmark this page that I am on now?
A. K2 will be on the top 10 list as the results on google and other search engines. But at times we are located after the first page.
For future reference you should bookmark this site. It is easy to bookmark this page, all you have to do is CLICK HERE.


Q. What benefits do I get by registering with K2 CNC? How do I register with K2 CNC?
A. A Quick Register will keep you updated on new parts, accessories, upcoming events, and discounts. Become a K2 member. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


Q. How do I design my part.
A. You can use a CAD software to create 3D paths, arks, circles, drill holes lines and other paths.

Q. How do I design the shape or design that I want with the machine?
A: Free Evaluation: Functional version of Rhino is available for download - less saving of files. is the same as the commercial version except that it only saves 25 times. After that it is still fully functional except it will not save. It will still work great to learn Rhino and as a viewer for Rhino and many other file formats. Download a demo by clicking here.

Q. If I am new to CNC, CAD and CAM; should I be concerned about getting the machine right away?
A. NO. you will still need to research, understand, and know how to use the CAD and CAM software of your choice prior to the machine arriving at your facility. This may take from 2week to 6 months. It will vary on your knowledge base of computers. You can purchase the CAD now and start learning. Click here to see prices or Buy NOW.

Q. How long does it take to understand the CAD program?
A. Some colleges will offer CAD classes which is very recommended. Takes about 30-60 days to finish the course. Check you local college for more information. You can also download a demo version to see how fast you absorb the interface. RhinoCAD will run you about $600.00. Another great CAD software is "Vizion" ArtCam. ArtCam was used to create the Guitar Body that was shown at the NAMM show.

Q. Is there videos or training on-line?
A. Yes - You can Click Here to see free training video on the CAM.

Q. How long does it take to understand the CAM program?
A. Some colleges will offer CAM classes which is very recommended. Takes about 30-60 days to finish the course. Check your local colleges for more information. You can also download a demo version to see how fast you absorb the interface. Download a demo by clicking here. The VisualMill software is about $1000.00 retail but you can also buy it from us our cost to you is only $895.00. Visual Mill and Artcam offer extended training for a fee. Artcam has a 3 day training thru Vizion Technology and VisualMill offers training via phone or internet for a fee also.


Q. Do I need other software other than CAD and CAM?
A. Yes, you will need a G-Code interpreter software like MACH 2 or MACH 3 to be installed onto your computer. This must be installed separately from your CAM and CAD software. Download a demo by clicking here. The difference from a the license version and the demo is the G-Code will max out at 1000 lines of code. This program runs retail about $199.00.


Q. Can K2 machines cut inlays into my material?
A. Yes , there are technical information out there that will allow you to hold the inlays and cut them using the appropriate bit. The future form on this web site may assist you in learning how.


Q. Does the machine need an enclosure to keep down the noise or contain dust?
A. We recommend that you make a box enclosure if you are 3D cutting. Make sure to have the machine in front of you before you construct the enclosure. If you are interested in K2 to build you an enclosure for your machine please call us for more information.

Q. How long should my machine last with proper maintenance?
A. Your machine is made to last a life time. Just because your linear rails are Steel you still need to keep you machine maintained by greasing your bearing block and or any other part of it. We recommend one greasing per week or more if running over 8 hours per day. Defects on most parts are warranted for one year. Over 99% of the machines have not needed any replacement parts within or over the one year period.


Q. Do I need a Dust Collection system?
A - NO, but when we tested wood cutting, up to 95% of the wood dust and chips were contained or vacuum into the vacuum systems. We are expected to release a dust vacuum system soon. Please call or email us for more information.


Q. What model is the NAMM show machine? Why is it not on your site?
A. The NAMM Model was modified to have more rigidity. It is the KG-3925-G model. We will be launching the model soon onto the site. You may request the KG-3925-G model. It is currently available upon request. IF you saw the machine at the NAMM show please specify that you would like a quote on the machine that was seen at NAMM.