MPCNC vs XCarve - Trying to decide

Mostly Printed CNC - MPCNC Troubleshooting
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Hey Everyone,

I am getting ready to purchase a CNC router and after much study I decided on the XCarve. Then changed my mind and settled on the MPCNC.Then I changed my mind again…And again…

I was on the XCarve website with my credit card in hand and saw that they have a 3 week lead time. So here I am ready to order the MPCNC bundles and noticed the MPCNC spec’s the Dewalt 660 vs Xcarve’s Dewalt 611.

I want the machine to do a range of functions from sign carving to engraving smaller objects. Will the 660 have the power and swing the bits that I need to handle the sign carving side of things?

Any other thoughts regarding MPCNC vs Xcarve would be appreciated.

Thanks.

S.

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Anyone have any thoughts?

I am weighing performance, cost, ease of assembly and support.

MPCNC definitely wins in the cost category. Not looking good so far in the other areas.

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I am going to keep my opinion out of it but I would love to know why you feel that way about performance, ease of assembly, and support? I am always looking to improve things.

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Lack of information.

Pricing is pretty straight forward and definitely more affordable than Xcarve.

Ease of assembly is a no brainer as well. The MPCNC is definitely much more DIY. Not a bad thing. Sometimes building the tool is more rewarding than using it once it is done. In this case I have a moderate preference for a machine with a modest build time.

Performance & support?? Not enough information to make a call. So far the activity level on the forum here is not what I had hoped for. Also, I have not been able to determine if the DW660 that MPCNC uses will meet my needs.

Thank you for your reply.

S.

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Just ask specific questions and it is much easier to answer. Most people here don’t have both machines to compare the differences. I have only used my design and much larger machines I can not and am not comfortable making performance claims or actually comparing another company’s product. I tried to stay out of this post. I do feel both machines are more similar than most think. Relative to a large $200k+ machine if one cuts something in 2 hours and 20 minutes vs 2 hours does it really matter that much? All the electronics are not different enough to make a difference, and if it is you can use any board or steppers on either machine.

Ease of assembly- have a look at the build instructions and parts lists. From what I can tell I have a lot less parts, by a very large margin. All screws and nuts need tightening over time, I think that is a big factor.

I’m not sure what you are looking for in the forum activity. The information is out there, we are not doing anything vastly different over here. The biggest hurdle for most people is not the actual machine but how to mill, CAM, Bits, Endmills. Stuff that is usually software related. Every single time a build or machine question comes up I try to help and then add the information in the site somewhere. More information=less questions.

You do not have to use the 660 on the mpcnc, there are dozens of mount for any tool you want. I have put up videos milling aluminum with a dremel, the 660 is for or 5 times the power of the first spindle used for milling aluminum. More power is not always better and at some point the mass and size are detrimental.

Have a look throught the site, there really are not that many pages. Just have a look through the first three pages under the home menu, follow through the assembly page all the way through in order and that should clear up any question you have. Other questions have been answered in the short FAQ, and then there are so many videos made by mpcnc owners. I have not given away a single mpcnc ( I gave a friend one at the very beginning but he never put it together), so every video you see is legit.

If you watch other videos I suggest turning them off as soon as they say “so and so sent me this machine, here is my honest opinion” If you give a crappy review no other company will send you free tools, find people that have bought them themselves.

Again, ask specific questions and everyone in here will help. It is very difficult to answer…is it better? Example-I want to mill 2’by2’ signs out of pine mostly, should I use 1/4" or 1/8" end mills?

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I want the machine to do a range of functions from sign carving to engraving smaller objects. Will the 660 have the power and swing the bits that I need to handle the sign carving side of things?

Also, most of the carving bits that I am seeing out there are 1/4 shank.

If the 611 would be a better choice for flexibility & power, can you tell me how the MPCNC will handle the added weight? Any other downsides to the 611?

I understand that some folks have designed 611 mounts. Where may I buy one?

Thank you.

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Tubing question:

I found this for 1" OD x .049 wall stainless tubing: http://www.jmsonline.net/ss-tube-1-od-x-6.htm?gclid=CjwKEAiAu6DBBRDDr6-e_6698E0SJACvuxnyyjwvcV2HKYqxs6u9n1hSQvRFIIyeODzuEVBWEht9yxoC1trw_wcB

Is this a good choice? It is the most reasonable I have found so far.

Thanks

S.

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ive been sign cutting for a year now on my mpcnc let me tell you its a tank with 660 minimal upkeep as well i have run the machine daily for 6-18hrs a day and still do its cutting signs right now even. I feel more connected to this machine vs if I bought one.

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oh and I do alot more then just signs I have tons of other projects I do with it as well

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Thank you Wesley,

I appreciate the input.

I worked on a similar machine back in the dark ages (DanCad, parallel port connected drivers & ACME drives) and we went through several design revisions to accommodate larger and larger routers until we found one with enough juice to have decent cutting performance.

I had initially gotten the idea that the 660 only came with a 1/8" collett. I just looked on Amazon and see one that has both 1/8 & 1/4.

I am beginning to warm up to the idea of the 660. I would still love to hear from those running the 611 and where I might find the mount for the 660?

Thanks again.

Steve

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#20941REPLY |
Tubing question:

I found this for 1″ OD x .049 wall stainless tubing: http://www.jmsonline.net/ss-tube-1-od-x-6.htm?gclid=CjwKEAiAu6DBBRDDr6-e_6698E0SJACvuxnyyjwvcV2HKYqxs6u9n1hSQvRFIIyeODzuEVBWEht9yxoC1trw_wcB

Is this a good choice? It is the most reasonable I have found so far.

Thanks

S.

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For what it’s worth, I built the machine this weekend. I built it in the living room of my apartment with minimal hand tools. The instructions are super clear and all the parts go together nicely. At no point during the build I felt there was a lack of information.

Also, I see you are looking at Stainless tubing. Unless you already have a plan, you should try and get it pre-cut to the length you are looking for. Pay the extra few dollars as it is hard to work with. Bonus points if you can get them to drill the holes you need.

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If you can’t get it cut, you could use an angle grinder - better still, an angle grinder stand. Sorry, UK link.

Nice clean accurate cuts, and part of the fun of making your machine. Sawing would be incredibly boring.

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James,

I am not sure where the cutting question came up but why not gust use a tubing cutter? We cut 1/2, 3/4 and 1" EMT with one all of the time and they make a pretty clean and accurate cut and are easy to use.

S.

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A couple of questions:

  1. If the 611 would be a better choice for flexibility & power, can you tell me how the MPCNC will handle the added weight? Any other downsides to the 611?

  2. I understand that some folks have designed 611 mounts. Where may I buy one?

  3. I found this for 1″ OD x .049 wall stainless tubing: http://www.jmsonline.net/ss-tube-1-od-x-6.htm?gclid=CjwKEAiAu6DBBRDDr6-e_6698E0SJACvuxnyyjwvcV2HKYqxs6u9n1hSQvRFIIyeODzuEVBWEht9yxoC1trw_wcB Is this a good choice? It is the most reasonable I have found so far.

Thanks.

Steve

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Hey James,

I just reread SRCNET’s post and figured out where the cutting question came from. I missed that the first time.

I am undecided about stainless vs EMT. I am not sure if the stainless that I found is suitable and I cannot measure it to confirm that I am ordering the correct printed pieces. Also, the 3/4 EMT is MUCH less expensive and I am beginning to think that keeping my initial investment at a minimum in case I need to go in a different direction may be a good idea.

Thanks for the input.

Steve

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I got my stainless from Speedy Metals

Edit: If you are worried about extra weight, maybe this will help https://www.v1engineering.com/forum/topic/stainless-steel-quick-and-dirty-flex-test/

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Thanks srcnet,

I am not really “worried”. I would say “uneducated”. I simply do not know if it is something that I should be concerned about. Tis’ why I asked :slight_smile:

Any thoughts on the matieral from Taco?

Thanks again.

Steve

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Hey srcnet,

I was just looking at Speedy Metals. I had looked before but bailed when I could not get a shipping estimate without giving them personal information. I gave in and registered and their shipping is fairly reasonable. That may keep stainless in the game.

They say in the item descriptions that the cut (length) tolerances are 1/2" or more depending on length.

What was your experience as far as accuracy/uniformity of cut on the pieces that you received from them?

Thanks

S.