Xzero mini raptor

That is OK Joey ... keep building yourself up as as a CNC expert by taking shots at me.
Im no expert but I did sleep at a Holiday In once ... and ... I can take it.
Just let me ask you one question.
What did I ever do to you?

Willee

Holiday Inn's are luxurious compared to what I've stayed in... They rented rooms by the....wait for it........HOUR:(
 
So the 40 Raptor is the way to go? I'm definitely interested, I appreciate the info here, I've looked at CNC machines over the years and I've never really known what I needed. At the risk of sounding like an idiot where can I get one?
 
http://xzerocnc.com/

I should be a salesman!!!!!

You should at least get a jelly roll for the referral.

I guess the size of machine is depending on what you want to do with it.
If you want it to cut shaft profiles or taper butts then you would need a full 30" of router bit travel. A bit extra for the fixtures and you are up to 40".
If all you want to do is engraving and inlays then a shorter bed will work but you need to rig a fixture to hold the cue in position.

I would opt for the full 40" bed as you would be able to do anything you wanted with it.

So what would be a good choice of spindle to use?
NSK? ... Kress router? ... one of the VFD motors?

Willee
 
You should at least get a jelly roll for the referral.

I guess the size of machine is depending on what you want to do with it.
If you want it to cut shaft profiles or taper butts then you would need a full 30" of router bit travel. A bit extra for the fixtures and you are up to 40".
If all you want to do is engraving and inlays then a shorter bed will work but you need to rig a fixture to hold the cue in position.

I would opt for the full 40" bed as you would be able to do anything you wanted with it.

So what would be a good choice of spindle to use?
NSK? ... Kress router? ... one of the VFD motors?

Willee

Have a look here
Sly has the .8kw
Tekno Electrospindle
https://www.damencnc.com/

For what it's worth, if all you ever want to do is cues AND you want to do the cheapest route....the mini in 48 inches is the way to go. No question there. You can do everything in that footprint, plus some many non cue things in future.

If you think there is a chance you might want to do guitars, boxes, cabinets, ect, then get as big as you can afford. I'm getting a 40x60 Predator. I thought about a Demon, but I don't see myself doing any doors(or very very few). I want the latitude to build hope chests, cabinet pieces, larges nests of small trinkets...ect. I also want the mass to use 3-5 hp spindles and eventually the 5HP ATC Tekno that weighs 40lbs. After looking at Chinese ATC's, it looks very good. It's about 1000.00 more, but I think it is worth it. Be aware, there is roughly another 1500.00 you have to spend on top of of bare ATC spindle to get it up and running properly.

Support pieces are relevant to all true spindles as far as I know. You will have to have a controller/vfd for them. Even the NSK/belt configuration needs a motor/controller. On top of that: collets, wires, air lines, filters, brake resistor for vfd. It all adds up very quickly.
 
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Have a look here
Sly has the .8kw
Tekno Electrospindle
https://www.damencnc.com/

For what it's worth, if all you ever want to do is cues AND you want to do the cheapest route....the mini in 48 inches is the way to go. No question there. You can do everything in that footprint, plus some many non cue things in future.

If you think there is a chance you might want to do guitars, boxes, cabinets, ect, then get as big as you can afford. I'm getting a 40x60 Predator. I thought about a Demon, but I don't see myself doing any doors(or very very few). I want the latitude to build hope chests, cabinet pieces, larges nests of small trinkets...ect. I also want the mass to use 3-5 hp spindles and eventually the 5HP ATC Tekno that weighs 40lbs. After looking at Chinese ATC's, it looks very good. It's about 1000.00 more, but I think it is worth it. Be aware, there is roughly another 1500.00 you have to spend on top of of bare ATC spindle to get it up and running properly.

Support pieces are relevant to all true spindles as far as I know. You will have to have a controller/vfd for them. Even the NSK/belt configuration needs a motor/controller. On top of that: collets, wires, air lines, filters, brake resistor for vfd. It all adds up very quickly.
The problem is Joey was looking to prop himself up by tearing down Bill's suggestion that quality work could be done on a less expensive piece of equipment.

As usual Joey didn't bother actually reading what Bill's original point was and jumped to the conclusion that Bill was attempting to suggest that the less expensive piece of equipment could directly replace the more expensive larger CNC machine. No such claim was made.

Bill's original and subsequent posts were made to inform those interested that the cheaper/smaller CNC could do quality inlays for those on a budget and that with some ingenuity and creativity could potentially be modified to fit a portion of a cue such as a butt sleeve or forearm. Additionally he was able to duplicate inlays using the very same code and programs that he used with the full size CNC he previously owned.

At which point Joey snidely suggested that Bill's ugly glue lines might be fine on his pens but not for Joey's cues. An absurd and outright insulting claim.

No where did he suggest that it could directly compete with feature rich more expensive, faster, larger and dedicated quality machines. He never suggested that you could cut a shaft, fit a full size cue or even operate at the same speeds as the larger machines.

Simply that it could perform some of the more basic jobs using the same software for those that don't have deep pockets.

I have personally seen and used the 800.00 CNC and it cut nice sharp inlays and pockets that fit perfectly.

Obviously I'd prefer to take the Cadillac on a road trip but I can still make the trip behind the wheel of a Camry.
 
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The problem is Joey was looking to prop himself up by tearing down Bill's suggestion that quality work could be done on a less expensive piece of equipment.

As usual Joey didn't bother actually reading what Bill's original point was and jumped to the conclusion that Bill was attempting to suggest that the less expensive piece of equipment could directly replace the more expensive larger CNC machine. No such claim was made.

Bill's original and subsequent posts were made to inform those interested that the cheaper/smaller CNC could do quality inlays for those on a budget and that with some ingenuity and creativity could potentially be modified to fit a portion of a cue such as a butt sleeve or forearm. Additionally he was able to duplicate inlays using the very same code and programs that he used with the full size CNC he previously owned.

At which point Joey snidely suggested that Bill's ugly glue lines might be fine on his pens but not for Joey's cues. An absurd and outright insulting claim.

No where did he suggest that it could directly compete with feature rich more expensive, faster, larger and dedicated quality machines. He never suggested that you could cut a shaft, fit a full size cue or even operate at the same speeds as the larger machines.

Simply that it could perform some of the more basic jobs using the same software for those that don't have deep pockets.

I have personally seen and used the 800.00 CNC and it cut nice sharp inlays and pockets that fit perfectly.

Obviously I'd prefer to take the Cadillac on a road trip but I can still make the trip behind the wheel of a Camry.

My remarks have nothing to do with Joey or Bill. This thread was created soley for the Xzero machines which, IMO, are the best value out there for what you get.

Buy whatever machine makes you happy. I'm not here to knock anyone or any company, only to provide information and introduce more options. I'm glad George is also here to answer questions directly.
 
The problem is Joey was looking to prop himself up by tearing down Bill's suggestion that quality work could be done on a less expensive piece of equipment.

As usual Joey didn't bother actually reading what Bill's original point was and jumped to the conclusion that Bill was attempting to suggest that the less expensive piece of equipment could directly replace the more expensive larger CNC machine. No such claim was made.

Bill's original and subsequent posts were made to inform those interested that the cheaper/smaller CNC could do quality inlays for those on a budget and that with some ingenuity and creativity could potentially be modified to fit a portion of a cue such as a butt sleeve or forearm. Additionally he was able to duplicate inlays using the very same code and programs that he used with the full size CNC he previously owned.

At which point Joey snidely suggested that Bill's ugly glue lines might be fine on his pens but not for Joey's cues. An absurd and outright insulting claim.

No where did he suggest that it could directly compete with feature rich more expensive, faster, larger and dedicated quality machines. He never suggested that you could cut a shaft, fit a full size cue or even operate at the same speeds as the larger machines.

Simply that it could perform some of the more basic jobs using the same software for those that don't have deep pockets.

I have personally seen and used the 800.00 CNC and it cut nice sharp inlays and pockets that fit perfectly.

Obviously I'd prefer to take the Cadillac on a road trip but I can still make the trip behind the wheel of a Camry.
Let's make this easy and not mess up this thread .
The most popular inlays are Tiffany diamonds and slotted diamonds .
Let's see you do those on your cues with that Cnc . Post the pics on that thread.
 
My remarks have nothing to do with Joey or Bill. This thread was created soley for the Xzero machines which, IMO, are the best value out there for what you get.

Buy whatever machine makes you happy. I'm not here to knock anyone or any company, only to provide information and introduce more options. I'm glad George is also here to answer questions directly.
I know, I quoted you because you quoted Bill's response. That's the only reason. I probably should have quoted Joey but he refused to respond to Bill's question. It was proximity not you personally.

I also agree about the value and this thread has my interested piqued.

I just didn't appreciate the repeated attempts by Joey to insult someone's intelligence. Especially Bill, who's not just been making quality cues for some time now but a person who's always looking to help others and has helped me personally a great deal.
 
Let's make this easy and not mess up this thread .
The most popular inlays are Tiffany diamonds and slotted diamonds .
Let's see you do those on your cues with that Cnc . Post the pics on that thread.
You could have furthered the discussion with questions instead of accusation.

I have a test fit I can post in that thread. Give me a minute and I'll dig up some pictures.
 
Let's make this easy and not mess up this thread .
The most popular inlays are Tiffany diamonds and slotted diamonds .
Let's see you do those on your cues with that Cnc . Post the pics on that thread.

Sure , what do you want on a cue. For a Raptor that is easy to do even at fast speed. Your not talking about a round rails machine with deflection in the rails .
 
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With Raptor if i put my mind to it, could make cue and and put in inlays in one set up with only stopping to change endmill
 
Sure , what do you want on a cue. For a Raptor that is easy to do even at fast speed. Your not talking about a round rails machine with deflection in the rails .

Their off topic discussion has nothing to do with this. It's banter(hopefully, but it seems a bit malicious) about another CNC(3020 desktop I believe) in another thread.


It doesn't belong here at all.
 
Their off topic discussion has nothing to do with this. It's banter(hopefully, but it seems a bit malicious) about another CNC(3020 desktop I believe) in another thread.


It doesn't belong here at all.
ok No problem , i though he was saying cnc machine cant do inlays that he talking about
 
The problem is Joey was looking to prop himself up by tearing down Bill's suggestion that quality work could be done on a less expensive piece of equipment.

As usual Joey didn't bother actually reading what Bill's original point was and jumped to the conclusion that Bill was attempting to suggest that the less expensive piece of equipment could directly replace the more expensive larger CNC machine. No such claim was made.

Bill's original and subsequent posts were made to inform those interested that the cheaper/smaller CNC could do quality inlays for those on a budget and that with some ingenuity and creativity could potentially be modified to fit a portion of a cue such as a butt sleeve or forearm. Additionally he was able to duplicate inlays using the very same code and programs that he used with the full size CNC he previously owned.

At which point Joey snidely suggested that Bill's ugly glue lines might be fine on his pens but not for Joey's cues. An absurd and outright insulting claim.

No where did he suggest that it could directly compete with feature rich more expensive, faster, larger and dedicated quality machines. He never suggested that you could cut a shaft, fit a full size cue or even operate at the same speeds as the larger machines.

Simply that it could perform some of the more basic jobs using the same software for those that don't have deep pockets.

I have personally seen and used the 800.00 CNC and it cut nice sharp inlays and pockets that fit perfectly.

Obviously I'd prefer to take the Cadillac on a road trip but I can still make the trip behind the wheel of a Camry.

That's the way I see it too Bishop.

As far as glue line is concerned, it is just a matter of doing a few test pockets and compensating the cutter size until it fit perfectly with no glue line.

Willie brought good info here and shared his experience.

Rick
 
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George, when you have a moment could you possibly post a picture or model of an exploded view of the ballscrew end supports and there components? Trying to visualize how these are fixed.

Also, are the rails on the mini 15mm?

Diameter of ballscrews on the mini?

Thanks
 
This is a regular Raptor..
Then a mini
Does this help with the ends?
Screws are 1610 and 2010
 
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