A friend recommended I check out MPCNC Primo in 2021. I printed parts for him, but didnāt build any V1E machines until LR3 in 2022. Full sheet 4ā x 8ā CNC (and tableā¦) for way less than $1000, very hard to resist that value. Especially when Iām not looking for high speed production volume, as much as being able to achieve occassional large size capability.
Joined and stayed largely because of the collaborative supportive community/crew, and itās Captain steering the ship, and crew. Generous open sharing of .stl models, BOM, docs, guidesā¦ No lock in, open. Yellow brick road guidance supported by docs and community focused maximizing success, and, maximizing bang for buck.
Other reasons:
- Innovative explorations by community, and progress/models/code often shared back to elevate the community.
- Increasing support to elevate other related projects and Makers/Builders here.
V1E feels like the kind of place creative resourceful misfits like MacGyver and the A-Team would hang out.
I bought my first printer in 2015. I printed a few toys and improvements for the printer. I was cruising thingiverse looking for a new project and the Mostly Printed CNC had just won a boca bearing contest (or maybe they wanted to win it, I canāt remember). I wasnāt sure if my printer could handle it, so I asked which part was the hardest and Ryan responded with part of the core (it was 2 pieces back then). I printed it fine and went on to order the hardware package from Ryan.
I documented that build in the forums (this was before the migration). While there, I found people pushing the envelope and asking questions I actually could answer. So I added a lot of comments like, āCoolā and āYou have to adjust the driver currentā. It was fun to help people and share my accomplishments with people who understood what it took to get there.
It has been such a journey since then. I made a few projects on the CNC. But I also realized at some point, the project I likes making was the CNC. I made 2 MP3DPs, 2 Low Riders and 3 ZenXY machines.
- I wanted a small affordable cnc and the MPCNC brought me in, then MP3DP v4 and v5, then LR4ā¦
- It was intimidating for me to ask questions at first even though joining from a different cnc forum. It seemed there were like a small handful of people that responded to everything and at the time I self-sourced so I wasnāt sure how that was going to be accepted. Over time and wanting to help for the help I received, I carefully tried to assist new people with easy questions and eventually attended an in person event so Iāve met and spoken to several of those who are active here. The genuine care a support keeps me here along with the continual improvement and evolving machines. I canāt understate the ālove of the gameā shown by those in attendance, which keeps me here. Ryan owns this and steers the ship and he is a decent human being. We have chatted in person and I respect him and what he has innovated here and that he shares it in a way that benefits all of us and he can make a living too. Such a cool example of living the dream. Joining one of the beta teams was a highlight of probably the most fun Iāve had solving problems in a non work environment. V1 is my technical family and I share the warts of my journey and get support back. That is a big reason why I stay. If you or I ask for advice or a line on used parts, people respond with perspective and sometimes options. I find a sense of satisfaction solving otherās problems by being able to use the expanding āmistake experienceā I have acquired from maybe not quite following instructions. Also there are some fun discussions of random things. I feel Iāve found a place here and want to be a part of this group with whom I consider friends. There are so many doing cool stuff. It can be energizing. There are the ones who dream up cool stuff to make, the ones who demonstrate prototypes, the ones who gets stuff done, the ones who make beautiful things, the ones who ask great questions, the ones who poke fun at themselves and each other, the ones who give great answers and solve problems, and the ones who try to do those things. All of those are welcome here and sometimes I fit into one of those categories. My abilities have been lifted and my capabilities expanded and more recently been generously helped. Thanks for letting me be a part of it @vicious1!
I stick around because this forum feels like a community that genuinely supports each other. Every time Iām here, I learn something, laugh at something, or feel understood in a way I donāt elsewhere. V1 pushes me to grow (in a positive manner). Whether itās feedback, encouragement, or just seeing others work through real life stuff, it reminds me Iām not doing this alone. It often can be like therapy with strangers who somehow feel like friends, lol. Wonderful support, guidance, resources, and collective wisdom here that actually help me make progress. Itās rare to find a space this useful and this kind.
Watching YouTube I saw TeachingTechās video on the LR2. Made my way to V1 website and ordered a kit and started printing the parts. Asked several questions during that build. Stayed because of how friendly everyone was. Watched along as the Primo was developed and eventually ordered a kit for that. After the LR3 was done I sold my LR2 and bought an LR3 kit. Learned that I enjoy building the machines just as much as I do building things with them. Also built a MP3DP V4 and V5. Was able to get in on the beta for the LR4 and had a blast doing that! So much so that I talked Ryan into letting me build and sell built LR4ās 
this community has always been nothing but supportive and helpful to anyone around. While I havenāt met anyone in person here I do have several that I consider friends! One of these days itās going to work out where I can make it to an in person event hopefully!!
Dumb luck.
My late fishing/flying/golfing buddy and I had gotten involved in RC foamy airplanes and I was developing the needle cutter, adapted for conventional 3-axis CNC. Started needle cutter development in the 2010-2011 time frame, bought my first 3d-printer kit in 2013, and discovered MPCNC in the 2015 time frame. Built a couple of 4āx4ā and 4āx3ā MPCNCās and it became my platform of choice for needle cutting. Started recommending it to RC folks wanting to build the most economical needle cutter system of their own over in the FliteTest, RCPowers, and other RC forumsā¦ and a few of us managed to make our way over here.
@CarmenJ ā¦trying to make a guy cry or what???
1- I wanted a CNC machine. To me it would unlock the secrets of making, it seemed like the key that would unlock all the projects I wanted to make. LumenLab CNC was how I learned about CNC I think. I had built a lumenlab LCd projector from a Fresnel lens and a gutted LCD screen, and figured that crew really knew how to make cool toys.
In school someone made a mistake and drilled 60+ holes in the table on the new HASS so those were basically off limits.
Worked at Robo3d, figured out how a 3D printer worked and tried to get them to produce them if I designed it, they were too busy with printers. They had the largest kickstarter payout to date so they wanted desperately for me to go they route (I am glad I did not).
They got me another job, I got a confidence boost, saw how much the CNC jobshops were getting per hour to run small parts for me/us. Decided to use the CNC design to hone my CAD skills for my new job, the rest played out online. Winning the Boca bearings contest gave me another confidence boost to spend a bit more time with it, and I had some capitol to spend more on R&D.
2- I stay because of the people. I just want to make stuff and be around like minded people. I have learned more here than all my time in college (and that was a long roadā¦). Being affiliated with smart people, creative people, laid back people is how I choose to spend my time. I love watching everyoneās project journey. If we all lived in the same town we would have a blast, along with having the best LED lit houses, BBQ, and Coffee anywhere!
I was 100% right, it just wasnāt the machine that did the work it was the forums that brought you all in to help me on all the projects I have made since.
Thank you.
Iād been fascinated by the idea of the hobby cnc for over a decade since I stumbled on the blueprints for the JGRO cnc (2004) that people were building with hand tools. I tried to start it a few times, I probably still have my binder with the prints around here somewhere.
I came across the mpcnc on youtube I think, which looked a hell of a lot easier to assemble since the 3d printer does all the manufacturing, and finally jumped in.
I came to the V1 site looking for a cheap (by that I mean inexpensive) full size-capable CNC machine. Other options were just a bit too expensive for my tastes (Shapeoko, Sienci Labs) or seemed a little too unrestrained (Maslow). The V1 LR3 seemed to fit the bill at the time, and it still fits the bill for me. The fact that it allowed (forced) me to learn all about 3D printing and 3D modeling/design was a bonus, as was the ability to print and make custom alterations that made my LR3 truly one of a kind.
Butā¦
This forum is by far the best place on the Internet. The helpful, friendly tone, lack of trolls, and continual stream of exceptionally creative ideas has kept me coming back day after day, week after week, year after year. LOL - Well that, and the pursuit of the āvisited 365 consecutive daysā badge (interrupted twice by vacation travel)
Crying? Why Sir, thereās no crying on this forumā¦we are not a bunch a wimpsā¦pull yourself together and be the fearless leader we all know you to be! lolā¦
I will say however, that you have a treasure here and I believe we are all proud to be members of the V1 community.
I started with a 3D printer in 2020. Then in 2023, I saw that you could get CNCs for a reasonable price. I was originally looking at those 3018/3020 ones but Iām not sure what I would do with something that size. Some further research got me to some DIY solutions like a PrintNC but getting started there seems confusing and complicated. Eventually I found V1 where you could buy a kit and there were good instructions so I went with an LR3. I held off a bit because the Jackpot V1 was being created and I liked the sound of the features.
That all got me here, but this community is certainly why I stick around. A bunch of smart, helpful, creative people on an active forum with nearly zero drama. Itās a safe place to share ideas and get feedback and help you through any issues.
I say this, but I honestly donāt remember what brought me here. I had only had my 3d printer for about a year when I stumbled onto this project. At the time, I had an idea for an analog looking clock that I wanted to build and knew I needed some of the parts to be machined vs just 3d printed. I built the machine but never made the clock.
Sadly, I never got much use out of my CNC. I recently took my second MPCNC build down permanently. I still run the MP3DPv4, but I mostly stick around the forums for moral support at this point. I have plans to build another CNC, but the parts Iāve ordered are more for a āme designā. I bought those parts well over 2 years ago now, so you see how anxious I am to get it built.
Itās kinda sad having a 1.5kw water cooled spindle and a bunch of br22 (?) rails sitting in boxes 
Great question for Thanksgiving weekend. I had built a couple of printers, and I then ran across the MPCNC project. My MPCNC only lasted a few months. Then I built a LR3, then 4. I definitely stick around for the great people here on the forum, and because Ryan continues to share creative ideas. Iāve learned so much about so many things from people just taking the time to explain and teach here on the forums. I watch entire threads of engineering debates, and come away with far more understanding of what it takes to design a board, etc. I also love that people seem to enjoy sharing, even when its about their latest smoked meat.
Attending a faire is definitely on my to-do list so I could shake a few hands and put some faces to names.
ohhhhhh, been a long day, buuuutttttttt i can be the 1st to say
āWhy not?
Bahahahaha
To save my dad from the drill press 
we were making cribbage boards and drilling them and talk about tedious and mildly dangerous. Then I built a laser driver hand soldered on perf board and a x y table to add detail. Then I started looking to ease the time investment. V1 came up as inexpensive and capable. I fell in love with the people here and itās been 2017? I check in almost every day and there is always something to learn and see Iām even getting used to AI a little 
.
I first encountered this community fairly early when I stumbled across some nut that if I recall correctly went by the handle allted. They had released a mostly printed CNC machine made with 3D printed plastic parts and EMT conduit. I was pretty intrigued, and had already started playing around with the relatively crappy reprap 3D printers of the time. I printed out a set of plastic parts and already had all the needed electronics. It was the original, very first released set of parts. As is often the case, other projects caught my eye and somewhere buried in my storage is a cardboard box with those vintage MPCNC parts. Never assembled.
I periodically checked in and saw that there had been additional releases of MPCNC which would pique my interest, only to wane as I contemplated printing yet another set of parts and was eventually distracted by some other project.
Then one day I saw there was a new thing- a LowRider CNC that rode on all things on skate wheels. Up to full sheet sized. Now I was even more intrigued, but completely buried in day job stuff.
I joined and eventually became a director at a local large community makerspace (around 800 members), and did a fair amount of community outreach and teaching. That scratched a bunch of the maker itches. People and politics plus work business and COVID led me to get out of that community.
Eventually, the new forums here came to be, and as I lurked in quiet observation I realized that there was more than just the machine, there were a community of makers that helped each other out. I then studied some more and found that the proprietor of the small business gave away the files and instructions for free, along with sources to build Marlin firmware for the machines. I started to Grok that this fellow and his community was a great place to not only learn to build a CNC machine, it was in alignment with many of the things I value.
Along the way, I started but never finished an MP3DP v4 and MP3DP v5. (I have a small fleet of print farm machines already, no hurry. But I like to make things so I might eventually finish one or both)
I de-lurked here in the forums and started building an LR3 just in time to get into the LR4 beta program.
Iāve had the privilege of meeting Ryan and some of our crew here in the community across a few RMRRF sessions over the last few years, which has cemented for me the continuing interest in being a community member and helping others if and as I can.
The very carefully moderated and encouraged community here is what keeps me around. Ryan often notes that this place is his happy place, and that very much resonates with me.
I have some old ones, Barry has some old ones and some crazy beta ones, the very first ones thoughā¦that might be a new one. I am not even sure if I have that cad file. Ahhhh the memories.
I didnāt know you had been poking around since day one, that is super cool.