We are a small manufacturing company that wants to use a CNC to cut out switch holes and a display window in the lid of a fiberglass/plastic electrical enclosure. The machine we would like to purchase is the ELITE Series Woodworker (32"x32"). The particular box that we want to use does not have a removable lid so we will have to put the whole box under the cutting bit. The box height is 4.25". Will there be enough clearance under the bit to do this or will we need to raise the CNC to make it work? We will also be drilling holes in a metal plate so we need the ability to go from 4.25" down to .125".
Our thought is to lift the machine using some kind of spacer under the legs. Does anyone make something like this? Anyway, I would appreciate any thoughts before we purchase.
Hi @Circuitrider and welcome to the forum!
It sounds like what you are asking is well within the capacity of the machine, although as you mentioned, risers may help. You may require risers, but possibly not. You will definitely want the larger capacity Z axis, which has a full 6+" of travel. But if Iâm not mistaken, I believe that comes with the Elite series anyway. So as long as you donât exceed 2" of cutter hangout, you should be good to go.
The Z axis has multiple (height) mounting positions, so on the highest postiton you may not even require any sort of risers as long as you donât go too thick with your wasteboard.
If this is a repeat job, or youâre going to cut several, then some creative fixturing would definitely be advised.
Thank you for this info. I would be very interested to know where you got the 6"+ travel information. I canât seem to find this on the website. Also, can you explain the âcutter hangoutâ? Oh, and we plan to purchase the 110v spindle.
Yes, this will be a repeat job which weâre actively putting our minds to.
Just happen to catch your note as I finished raising my woodworker higher off the table by 1 1/5 inches. With the waste board in place technically 3/4" higher. Also, have the larger Z 20. photo
Photo- used 4 foot x 4 1/2 inch MDF (same as waste board) to raise the four feet. Liked the stability.
The frame bottom of the Z20 is 5 7/8" off the table.
Between the 4 1/2 cardboard box top and the spindle collet (in this photo) is 4". The spindle can be raised approximately 7 1/2 inches above the cardboard box if needed.
(was not sure if you were talking a long bit to get through the box top down to smaller holes in the box bottomâŚ) Hope this helps.
I measured my machine yesterday. My Z axis is mounted at 2nd to the highest setting (it could go about 7/8" higher). Measuring from the bottom of the feet to the bottom of the Z axis mount comes in at 4 1/2" (no wasteboard taken into consideration in this measurement).
So doing the math: It seems you would have 4 5/8" with the Z axis mounted at the highest setting, and using a 3/4" wasteboard.
I misspoke regarding that⌠it does not come into play in this instance.
Note that the dimensions I gave above are for an âoriginal seriesâ machine.
And @circuitrider, feel free to PM me if I can give you any additional specific information.
Thanks guys for the pictures and willingness to help. It looks like weâll be able to cut our box tops (just the top) without any modifications then. The metal plate we can remove and cut directly on the wasteboard.
I called OneFinity on Friday and the kind lady there suggested I go to the âRowdy Roman Sectionâ and buy some 3.5" extensions that they sell - which we did. There is a possibility that we will be cutting out even taller boxes in the future, but glad to know we can use it as is for now. We also bit the bullet and purchased the Elite Woodworker for our project. It sadly wonât get here until June, however.
I figured he was cutting the openings from the upward-facing side, not down into the 4.25" depth. Which could be done, provided the cutouts are far enough away from the sides to clear the spindle. Machining from the top side would make the most sense.
