This thing is a real gem. After about 8 years, it still runs like a top. Here’s a short video of a test jog after installing a new computer to control it (about the fifth computer it’s been through).

It was dead on arrival. It had a bent spindle shaft, some bent metal and the electrical worked only intermittently. I repaired it and eventually all electrical was replaced by a Xylotex 4-axis kit system. I had to replace the direct-drive couplers by drilling one side of each coupler to a metric size to accommodate the American-made steppers.

2018-09-10 Update: The spindle may be going! It was down twice on the weekend, stand by for a report!

These are the specifications (I think, I need to verify if this from a quote from another machine I considered)

• Dimension: 900*650*450mm
• XYZ rails, 20mm, 16mm supported, 13mm
• Drive unit: 1605 ball bearing linear + cased muff coupling
• Driving Units: 1605 Ball Screws (20, 16, 13mm)
• 6061 aluminum alloy + 6063 Industrial aluminum
• Work area: 580mm x 400mm x 60mm
• Max thickness of the material: 790mm (distance between Z axis and bottom of work station)
• Work station: 750*480mm
• Spindle motor: C57 300W DC motor, used, from USA, super-low noise, speed 3000-9000, ER11 3.175 collet
• Spindle accuracy: radial runout 0.03mm
• Control box (electrical): 3977 3-axis control box with the power supply + spindle speed regulator
• Engraving speed: 0-2500mm/min
• Idle load speed: 0-5000mm/min
• Resetting accuracy: better than 0.03mm
• Engraving accuracy: better than 0.04mm, has been tested
• Stepper motor: New 2.8A two-phase 57 stepper motor
• Weight: 60KG
• Power: 110V

Related:

Here’s a rough summery of how to use CNC machines. It’s due for a rewrite but it shows a bit of my software process. Dust is an issue with these machines but it’s solvable! Check out my dust control article. It also has a list of a few CNC projects a the bottom! Also, you may be interested in 3D printing or CNC laser (more tools).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_nU2MJMCiI

Here’s one of the earlier jobs I ran on this machine.