I just ordered the 4x4 Altmill MK2 with the rotary axis and auto zero. I have Aspire v12.
Is there anything I should know? Anything I should do before it gets here? Any problems I should be aware of?
Anyone in South Carolina?
Thanking you all in advance for all the info and help.
Hi Edward,
Congrats on getting the Altmill. Owning a Longmill mk2 myself, I have been looking at the Altmill in awe. The Longmill is a great machine and works like a charm, but the altmill is clearly in another league.
The one thing that I learned the hard way is that when things go sideways (they will, it’s a given.), they can turn violent pretty nasty. So nasty that you do not want to approuch the machine anymore to press emergency stops or click on screens. It is in those moments you wished you had a way to cut the power to the machine entirely.
In the 2 years I run my machine, I had a few of those moments, but it only took the first time to have me shut all operations on the cnc and rewire the outlets to the mill via a switch way back in my office to be able to Kill Mill at any given moment from behind a closed door.
I have avoided some accidents about to happen where me reaching the mill in time to stop it would have been impossible or even outright dangerous.
So if anything, it would be this. Implement an easy to reach emergency switch to “pull the trigger” on that absolute monster of a beast you ordered, from a safe distance.
Do you have sufficient power at the designated mill location? I believe the recommendation is to have two 15A circuits - one for the router/spindle and a second, separate one for the controller.
I pulled in a 20A double circuit but 15A is sufficient AFAIK.
The router/spindle needs to be on a dedicated circuit, the controller can be on an outlet that is shared with other, low power requirement electronics.
I know the feeling. I’ve had a cnc router for about 8 years. Something comparable to the long mill. Ive had to change my shorts a time or two. If necessary I can get to breaker panel in about 10 steps. Most of the time it’s hold down issue. I try to over compensate with holding things down. A little overkill goes a long way.
Thanks.
I have one outlet where I think I want it. Still undecided on the location because the footprint is so big. I will wire it with two 20a circuits. I always use 20amps for outlets. Never know when you might need it.
Thanks for the reminder.
Another thing you should know is the delay time before you get your Altmill. Take a look at the order status page. If you ordered this week, you are likely NOT getting it until June.
I’m not getting mine until May and like has been said, I’m making sure I will have everything I’ll need once it gets here. That includes a dedicated circuit for the spindle and another circuit for my dust collection system. I’ll be getting the MDF for my tabe and wasteboard soon. And I’m also learning as much as I can on this forum. And practicing with various software packages (Fusion, vCarve Pro, etc).
Congratulations @Edward-Bigham and welcome to the forum! I am happy to hear you got the AltMill! I have a LongMill and would like to upgrade, but money in the way.
I would look at your dust collection. Shop vacuums are not meant for dust collection, plus they are loud. An inexpensive dust collector with a cyclone would be very beneficial for you. Appropriate lighting would be recommended as well. My old eyes benefit from bright led lighting.
Lastly, and this may not be popular, but a second computer for control. While you can use one computer for design and control, I’m a huge fan of having two computers for the process.
Welcome to the forum, I wish you well in your CNC journey.
I’m putting in a second outlet this weekend. I have Aspire and have been using it for several years so I have gotten a pretty good understanding of it. There’s just so much to learn with it.
The waiting is going to kill me but I believe it will be worth it. It seems like a robust machine.
A friend of mine gave me an older dust collector so I will be using that.
I believe I will be ordering the gcontrol panel in a few weeks. This way it can handle the dust better.
Thanks everyone for the replies. All help is greatly appreciated.
Congrats Edward! Check out that guy @buckyscustoms or any of the many Sienci Labs Videos on this great machine!
Thanks. I have been watching what I can. I like Garret Fromme although he can get a little too long at times.
First off, I’ve had my Altmill for 5 months and absolutely love it… as I believe you will, too. I’m using Vectric VCarve Pro (have since my first CNC, a Longmill MK1 30X30, nearly 4 years ago) as my CAD and gSender for driving the milling. I haven’t the rotary axis, so can’t comment on it. I recently ordered a gControl Panel and knowing Sienci Labs, I’m sure it’ll be a great addition to my CNC operations. If you’re not really up to speed on CAD, I’d recommend you spend a lot of time figuring out out to use Aspire.
You should also read up on assembly as well as the various options for mounting the base (I used 3/4" mdf) and spoilboard. One thing I’ll be adding is vertical milling capability by cutting out a 36" X 6" slot in the table, close to the 2nd stringer.
Welcome to the Sienci Labs community, Edward
Thanks. I will be reading up on all the assembly that I can. I just ordered the control panel myself. It makes more sense not having a fan like my computer. This way I can just transfer my files via memory stick. I have been using v carve pro since 2017/18. Then I graduated to aspire about three years ago. I consider myself a little above a novice with it. There is just a tremendous amount to learn with it.
As for the table. I think I have a piece of 1/4” aluminum. Then I would put 3/4 mdf. Trying to save as much Z height as I can.
Thanks for the reply.
Similar situation here for my self. I am picking up my Altmill in less than a week (minus the spindle kit, can’t be ordered yet). I have my electrical sorted out and my spoil board waiting. I have watched the assembly video and read the assembly instructions 3 times. I am now doing a deep dive into VCarve Pro. Lots to learn, but can’t wait to get started carving. This form seem it be super helpful. I hope I am in a position to give back some day for all those contributing to this form.
Dave
When assembling it says to just start a couple of bolts for the motors, remember to go back and finish installing them. I left mine off and it started causing homing issues and took me hours to figure it out.
Well, I just did the deed myself this morning. Being that it’s fall, and the lead time for this machine will put it in the heart of snow time when it arrives, I spent the day wiring for garage heat. I’ve been wanting to do that for awhile, but then along came spring and it wasn’t needed. My wife is not all that happy with Ryan at CIC because I made the choice to Altmill based on the feedback in his videos, along with Garrett at IDC. They can trust they won’t be getting Christmas cards from my dear bride.
Anyway, couple of questions for the group:
I ordered the Altmill 4x4 with the 220 spindle (buy once, cry once). I noticed the VFD description says it’s a 5M long cord… By my crazy math, that’s like 16 feet. Is this correct?
I have an old Lenovo Touchpad Windows computer running Windows 10. It’s one of those combo computers that I’ve used in my shop for years (it truly is a beast - dust has not bothered it one bit). I’m thinking I’ll dedicate this to GSender and build my own swing arm and save a few bucks. That being said, has anyone multi-tasked their computer while using GSender? The computer is not all that powerful, and does have 16g of RAM, but no video card. I’m thinking like maybe running lightburn to run projects on the laser (not design, just run). Would like to do both at the same time… Thoughts?
This one is going to start a war, so please forgive me…. do we like CIC bits? IDC bits? I’ve researched, and they seem to both be equal in quality. I like that IDC has a break it and we’ll replace it warrantee. I may get a bunch of cheapo Amazon bits for the learning curve.
Lastly, making the altmill mobile. 90% of the time it will be stationary up against a wall. But I do want to be able to run full sheets. I’m thinking something like this:
from Harbor Freight. I don’t want to run the machine on wheels, but do want to be able to pull it out from the wall.
Thanks for any input you can provide. Wish me well as I sleep in the garage so the Mrs doesn’t kill me.
Paul
Spokane, WA
Hey Paul,
Congratsz on pulling the trigger and live in the garage. You are going to have a fun time working your way back in.
Your questions: The easy one first.
The leonov will work. I have run my gsender (and thus my machine) on an old I3 win10 pc I bought in a second hand store for 15 bucks. It managed but I replaced it with an I5 for a bit more “good feeling“
The I5 is a DEL one and works perty stable with only minor hickups that might not even be its fault. (I run an old version of Gsender and it has its quirks.) I have run Gsender on my I7 in the office and have the machine work while I was designing fom that pc via a 10m long usb cable. Due to usb problems I decided to mount a pc at the machine, but the trouble I had with the setup turned out to be the USB cable that came with my machine and was still in between the long high end cable and the controller.
So.. I can say that, yes, you can use your altmill pc for other things while milling.. however… I don’t know if you can get it to run two sender programs sending data to two different machines. You might run into some trouble there, so that is a test you want to do yourself (and get back to us posting results because that is an interesting experiment.)
The table on wheels? Yes, absolutely yes. I mounted my machine on a pivot table and needed it prety much right at the start.
On the bits. I have (mis)used a lot of bits. Started out with some starter stuff from sienci, found a cheap retailer selling essential aliexpress bits and won a few bits via sienci contests. All work well and all will dull. What is better is something to find out by comparing them yourself. Going with the amazon option at first is, in my humble opinion, the best route to take. I believe no one will start a war on that opinion.
Now on the topic of working your way back into the house, for that isn’t a goal you should think lightl;y about. It is going to be essential that the misses is going to be your first priority when it comes to doing projests after you gained some comfidence breaking stuff. -you will break stuff-
The moment I stopped breaking endmills and burning my fuses, the misses got her chicken pen. It wasn’t the ideal project for a cnc and I had to lock down my mitersaw to force myself using the mill but., the result got me out of the garage instantly. (could not have done that without the machine being able to pivot)
After the first welcome back, keep surprising her. Please note that reminders are the most powerful tool you have at yur disposal to.. remind… stuff. Make sure she does not forget what the cnc brings her.
I have made this cute addition (engraving in the small door near the ceiling) to our century old house and had her discover it herself. Can’t do that without a cnc, dear.
He’s a sly one that Eddie!
Might as well keep this thread going. I just ordered my Altmill 4x4 yesterday, with the 1.5kw spindle and the gcontrol computer. I have space in my shop and power sorted out. I have a nice Grizzly dust collector, but need to buy a splitter and some more 4” hose so I can split off my feed that currently goes to my table saw. I decided, after lots of reading, to go ahead and purchase Vcarve Pro. I have it installed and have started watching a lot of videos. I also have Fusion installed, but also need to learn more about it.
While I’m sure I’ll do some fun engraving, sign making, etc. I also have a desire to do more “part” type work. I actually have an STL file of a waveguide for a speaker tweeter that I will see if I can make. Just something to learn with as I already have a manufactured version of the part. Should be fun and I know I’ll find uses for it that I never thought of.
