3018 CNC router making a 3D engraving “like a BOSS”

[@SamA-jg8vy]

I love your video. I am new to CNC and my first 3018 is in the mail. You are the first person who I have EVER seen actually use the clamps correctly. It's funny because I have seen so many videos and even though I don't own a machine yet, I was certain that the clamps weren't being used right. Thank you for sharing. Cheers!

[@ibainesy]

Setting up jobs like this, we used to get a piece of plastecine/blu-tack type stuff, with a needle/nail in it, stick the tack to the endmill, with the point side of the nail pointing to the workpiece. Start the spindle at a slow RPM, come down and touch the work piece, this will centre the nail, then move it into position and it gives a very good eye-accuracy position.

[@shotgunscott055]

Your content on CNC is the best out there, Thanks Roger

[@ralger]

I just bought a slightly bigger unit a 4018 made from 20 mm aluminum plate and a 500 watt spindle in a 52mm spindle holder. I really like your explanations of how to use very detailed for beginners like me 👍

[@deanhurst8183]

great tutorial 👍 I too have this machine and noticed that the motor housing had quite a bit of movement. How I got around this was to replace the bearings inside the housing with two bearings instead of the one that comes as standard and better quality one's, after fitting those I also used M8 brass washers so the guide pins would not move but would slide through the centre of the brass washers without any issues. This resulted in absolutely no play in the motor housing any more. The key to making this machine produce quality work is to first eliminate any play in the motor housing bearings then upgrade the motor as you previously mentioned. Great work on what you've done so far with this budget little gem 👍

[@DrNasirHayat]

You have done great! Thinking to upgrade mine!

[@terjegjerstad9692]

You explain very good. Like your videos. 🇧🇻

[@rogerwebb9600]

Glad you like them!

[@MattTester]

Wonderful results. Ultimately I intend to cut acrylic and thin aluminium sheet so these upgrades should be ideal when complete.

[@briangeiswite4452]

I wonder if a wiggler would fit in that spindle. It makes finding edges and center super easy.

[@theronin48]

Great video thanks. Would love to see your process of switching out bits for the fine cut on the 3018.

[@gangleweed]

Hi Rog........quite an amazing piece of work and the upgrades you've done have proved to be quite adequate and very doable without going overboard as I frequently do when I get the bit between the teeth and shoot for the stars. True, the 300 watt motor is doing as you said it will, but I think the 500 watt motor will just work better as it makes each cut finer due to the speed being maintained when it hits a hard bit of material. It weighs about the same so it won't unduly stress the X axis stepper which could be more powerful anyway, so could the Y axis motor. The 500 watt brushless motor on EBAY cost about $135 and runs on 48 volts which means you need to have a separate 48volt power supply to power it.....not part of any package, so it's approx $200 all up. In my opinion the brushless motors are better because they are lower voltage and that is a safety factor as opposed to the 100 volt DC brushed types. BTW, as a further upgrade have you considered 12mm SBR linear rails for all 3 axes?......a couple of builds have gone that way......my way of thinking too.

[@MrColton77]

How do you convert the pic you wanted to were you can engrave it on the wood?

[@john-andrewthomson1151]

Hi Roger rely enjoyed watching this, it was grate. Could you please do a film explaining speeds and feed for different tool size 3.175mm 1/8 and 6mm 1/4 and how deep to cut out, I'm finding it rely hard to find any information on it, for these 3018 machines Thank you

[@sulaimanphs5620]

Wow amazing, I love watching this stuff. Hoping to hear more about this machine.

[@rogerwebb9600]

More to come!

[@StevenAndrews]

How are you setting tool height when you swap cutters?

[@jaimerodriguez3864]

Hello sir. Awesome video. Right now im cutting mahogany too!!! Beautiful wood but hard. Can you please share your cutting parameters? My cnc is strugling cutting .7 mm at 1500 mm/min even with a "500w" chinesse spindle which i measured to be no more than 200 W.

[@jcrow236]

I love watching this stuff . So wish I had a grandpa like you, will to adopt .😊

[@electronron1]

I was lucky to have a grandpa like him. He had a well equipped hobby electronics workshop. He used to work in a radio store before becoming a electrician in a factory, I worked at the same store (radio & television by then) before becoming an electrical engineer at a factory. Now I'm the grandpa with all the neat toys to inspire the grandchildren and so far one great grandchild.

[@mk-tb9gm]

I love that rooster in the background :) nice video. I'm just getting into CNC machines, and I'm really enjoying the videos on your channel. They're very helpful to me

[@rogerwebb9600]

Glad you like them!

[@RobertKohut]

Use a "pointed" bit to get center, then change out the bit to the flat bit.... :-) @4:55

[@swamihuman9395]

Great (as always). Thx.

[@rogerwebb9600]

Thank you too!

[@kevinmalukiewicz4835]

KILLING IT SIR! 👍

[@ernsteliden6719]

Great video. Have not seen the entire series of that machine but i will It would be nice to know what bits and feeds and speeds though Thanks for the video again

[@b4bass]

thanks for sharing Roger - would you mind listing what you upgraded re: your mention of "fully upgraded"? many thanks

[@rogerwebb9600]

all in the videos

[@b4bass]

@@rogerwebb9600 right - posted before I found that out - thanks Roger

[@davidsomething4867]

One thing I would do is build an enclosure though. Those steel bits can sure fly some distance when they break and it will be a lot quieter.

[@aaronfonseca6031]

Hey roger, could you please make an aluminium machining video on your 6012 cnc?

[@keithlane4343]

Glad you addressed the stock holding. You always see these machines presented with a hope and a prayer keeping the stock from flying off the sub base. Then the people complain that the stock doesn't stay put very well on these machines ........ You mentioned setting the work coordinate. Does this operating software allow for multiple work coordinates ? Like a regular CNC mill, you can set G54 as your primary work coordinate, but you also can have another position within the table travel that you can set as G55 and you can mill two parts at the same time / with one modified program. Another good video Roger. Take care

[@rogerwebb9600]

I will check tomorrow and let you know

[@joekovacs1807]

FINALLY! You’ve done a project with the 3018, please do more. I do subscribe to your channel, but you are using bigger machines that I don’t have. If you could do a little more detail on the computer set-up for this project. I am new to CNCing but have not done a complete project such as you have shown. I have problems going from project on line to actually cutting on wood. Thank you, please continue with the 3018.

[@rogerwebb9600]

More to come!

[@dalewright7908]

I recently purchased one of these and am waiting for upgrades to arrive. I see you finished up with a smaller bit...what's the process to get the tool change accomplished? Nice video!

[@BarbieroMarco1]

What is the extention file request for this machine? .Stl .Step or other? Thanks

[@jamescole5018]

So watching your videos and subscribing is not enought to get the parts list i have to become a patron too

[@rogerwebb9600]

UUMMMMM YES!!

[@claus4510]

Hallo Roger, wo finde ich das Programm für den Drachen?

[@alitaha1125]

Its really amazing tutorial, I would like to know the source 3d model which was converted to G-Codes to the 3018; from where we can get the same shape? or any other 3D shape to try the machine.

[@rogerwebb9600]

Carveco Maker

[@hamadaali5687]

nice video. Great tutorial, was just wondering how much time did it take ? thanks in advance )

[@zanee4life]

Your the best proud of you

[@ghettowagen]

Ive just bought one of these as a standard kit. Can I route an image into oak and then swap the spindle for a laser and colour the bits that have been engraved. Great and useful video👍

[@AbsalonPrieto]

another great video, I was hoping to see how you zero and do the tool change after the first pass. Maybe an idea for a future video?

[@catsntl1998]

a great work

[@rogerwebb9600]

Many thanks

[@ilhamramadhan6180]

How about the vibration sir? Does it effect to the engarving process? Thank you sir.

[@mitchellforrest8295]

how do you take a stl file and turn in to a 3d product that's the part most of us are having a hard time to understand would you mind showing us how you do so using fusion 360

[@rogerwebb9600]

Hi, have a look at my ArtCAM and Carveco videos.

[@geordie331]

use estlcam it use stl files and it works with grbl

[@grasshopper8621]

Where do you get your stl file for all your images

[@rogerwebb9600]

Carveco and Vectric Aspire

[@adrianharrison5208]

What prograhm have you used to make the G code?

[@rogerwebb9600]

Vectric Aspire

[@adrianharrison5208]

Roger Webb thank you I will look into that

[@zioamiransyah6277]

sorry can I ask G-code for the engraving? 🙏

[@rogerwebb9600]

You will need Carveco Maker

[@zioamiransyah6277]

can't it be any other way?🙏

[@zioamiransyah6277]

i am using vetric aspire 9.0

[@massimilianogalli2188]

grazie di nuovo x il tuo aiuto

[@jackiemorrell7451]

Hi I’m trying to set up my 3018 CNC but when I put in candle the directions XYZ in the right direction

[@rogerwebb9600]

Hi, all 3018 CNC router information is on my Patron pages www.patreon.com/user?u=15079773

[@deonnacato7010]

Can you do tiling on 3018?

[@rogerwebb9600]

Yes

[@deonnacato7010]

@@rogerwebb9600 ill love to see a video 📹 on that...

[@jackdanny5398]

Hi roger Glad to see the upgrades working, do you have a rough idea of what the total spend was to get mc to this stage? Good luck with the next builds whatever you decide to do!

[@Hotled1944]

So how much do you have invested in that?

[@rogerwebb9600]

Hi Ken, about $460

[@NickArkell]

Did you change the but halfway through? It doesn't seem to be mentioned but the bit appears to get smaller.

[@rogerwebb9600]

Yes a 6mm end mill then a 1.5mm ball mill to finish

[@NickArkell]

@@rogerwebb9600 Thanks Roger. How do you know when to change it? I'm just a little confused about the process. I thought you just sent a group of commands from an STL file or are there two separate stages - one to cut the basic shape and a second to etch detail? Cheers.

[@grahamsmythe1623]

As with other comments, I would appreciate you showing how to change the tool and reference the Z axis.

[@alandimery3379]

Great demonstration, thanks. I am very close to getting a machine but I have not taken the plunge yet, excuse the pun. It would have been nice to have seen this carving on the unmodified machine to have seen the difference. Do you think this is as good as what could be achieved on one of your bigger machines? I have heard that the cutting bits that come with these machines are rubbish. Is this true and what cutting bits would you recommend for this please? (would the 10 for £10 on Amazon be any good). I want to get as good a quality as I can get, but I am short of funds. Thank you again for your complete series on this machine. Just about to watch your laser test video. How about upgrading the laser to a 20,000mW as your next video?

[@haitham2200]

I would like to know how to do the drowning before going to cnc please

[@rogerwebb9600]

Hi, see my ArtCAM, Carveco and Vectric Aspire videos

[@dukedarts]

can you post the items necessary for the upgrade and the approximate cost? Thanks

[@rogerwebb9600]

All the information and STL files are posted on my patron pages

[@sammysands1977]

hi masteer thanks ,,,,,please telll me what are the upgraded things for cnc 3018 ,,,i s it just spindle ?or the controller too?where i can find them ,?thanks again

[@rogerwebb9600]

All information is available on my Patron pages www.patreon.com/user?u=15079773

[@timlafferty4363]

Thank you again for doing this project. Can’t wait for the start of the next one in your 2 year plan.

[@rogerwebb9600]

You and me both!

[@ericfontana2092]

You don’t need the wood to make the clamps work - screw in the outside screws from the bottom and they become adjusters

[@surewill8190]

i was considering 3018 pro units , but i need it to cut into 40mm x 40mm tube ,1.5mm thick , 200mm long aluminium , to do a cutout , and do engraving , will this cnc be able to do this , as the height of the material may not fit , if i have the details correct , ????,

[@rogerwebb9600]

No it will not in aluminium!

[@ricksmith6637]

Roger you are still the,woodcarving tanzanian devil beautiful

[@rogerwebb9600]

That's Tasmanian

[@massimilianogalli2188]

ciao Roger ti volevo chiedere il cavo parallelo x la mach3 a bisogno di un adattatore specifico o va bene qualsiasi cavo parallelo a 25 pin

[@rogerwebb9600]

Hi, any 25 pin parallel cable is fine, but I would be converting it to USB smooth stepper or GRBL and arduino

[@ndshoreful1]

Hi Mate, I have been looking at getting one. but the price has stopped me, where can one get a 3018 CNC router from? and what cost? Cheers Desmond from Australia.

[@rogerwebb9600]

All the 3018 CNC router/laser information and STL files are posted on my patron pages

[@sprockylock391]

Finally someone who nows how to clamp dow the work piece. Its bean making me cringe watching tutorials of people reviewing these cnc's its a wonder there hasn't bean a serious accident. I was a press setter by trade

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

It works the other ways as well! Nit pickin' safety guy! lol