- What kit should I consider? I really would prefer a ‘complete’ kit that includes everything needed.
For V1 machines, currently there is no complete kit. V1 sells most of what you need. Note that the V1 machines target people who have a 3D printer. If you don’t have a 3D printer, it will be more expensive, and you may struggle to get everything needed for a functional machine. It can and has been done, but it is more work and expense. If you decide to purchase a kit and parts from V1, you can run your proposed order by the forum to get feedback before you place the order.
In addition to parts from the V1 store, you will need to provide:
- Base board, typically 3/4" plywood
- Spoil board, typically 3/4" MDF
- Tubing
- Router
- Table or bench to put it on.
- I am confused by the size options - 25.4mm, 25mm etc. Can you help me understand this?
The 23.5 parts use electrical conduit purchased from a hardware store. It is cheap and easily available across the US. The 25.4 parts are for 1" stainless steel tubing or DOM tubing. The 1" tubing is somewhat stiffer than the conduit, but is also significantly more expensive. The 25mm is for countries that sell tubing in metric measurements such as the countries of Europe.
- How difficult are the kits to assemble.
Let me divide the job into multiple parts. For me, the mechanical assembly was easy. I found it slightly more taxing than assembling Ikea furniture. Once I had all the parts gathered, I assembled the mechanical aspects in a weekend.
The electrical/electronics took more figuring out. Since there are multiple possible control boards, and a few different ways to assemble things, it is less of a step-by-step process. If you purchase your control board from V1, it will come preflashed with tested firmware, which is a big help for many people.
- Do the kits come with the design/CAD software? If not what is the best/easiest/most versatile to use?
No software comes with the kit. Take a look at the software workflow page, and the diagram in this topic. Most people with an MPCNC use EstlCAM. The next most used tool is Fusion 360. Both tools have free or inexpensive options for their use.
I have been slowly learning LightBurn with the laser engraver.
I have a laser module on my MPCNC and use Lightburn frequently. Doing woodworking with a CNC router and CAM is notably more complex than using Lightburn. Expect a significant learning curve. To some degree, this will be true of any CNC machine you purchase.
Currently the MPCNC sits between a homebuilt machine and a full kit machine. It does require you to figure some stuff out, but there is a lot of flexibility on how you build your machine, and the forum is active and helpful.