Not much requirements, some reliable prosumer machine that can cut aluminium with 0.1mm precision.
When I google for that I either get american products or topics from 2010.
Need it for work for some simple prototyping or small jobs.
Our mechanical engineer(used to work at bigger companies) starts dreaming 50k machines and obviously boss ain’t buying it and we end up with nothing.
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What working area do you need?
If you are not afraid to tinker and build it yourself, the openbuilds lead 1010 or WorkBee are what I would look into if I was looking for a CNC router today.
If you want a good ready to use machine there is this one, although I am not sure if there is a distributor in UK.
https://www.axiomprecision.com/basic/basic-series.html?___SID=U
Unless you were looking for a mill, then @rey8801 built (converted) one that is interesting.
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Yeah it has to be ready made or 1 day assembly kit as I’m busy with my own tasks.
More professional than openbuilds.
Working area doesn’t have to be huge, 1000x500 will do.
That CNC from the link looks neat, but it’s from US so won’t really work.
Rey probably made some dank machine but because it’s for work it really has to be from some other company.
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I’ve seen someone using a mill-it-mini before, not sure how old it was but he got pretty good looking results. Perhaps something to look into? Perhaps actually too cheap for what you’re looking for
Edit: The UK Distributor, Stoney CNC also sells the Axiom in the UK as posted above.
https://www.stoneycnc.com/table-top-cnc-routers/axiom-ar-cnc-systems/machines/ar-series
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in you want a router than workbee CNC would be my choice. Either from UK reseller or from Ali to save a bit. The nice thing is that is an open source machine so you have the CAD on you PC and can upgrade it.
If you are looking for a mill with 4K new is really difficult. I would suggest as I did it. In UK there are a lot of second hands cnc, search for a good model and be prepare to fix it a bit but afterwards you will have what you want. OR buy the best manual mill you can get for the budget and with the rest you start to buy parts for the conversion. Of course it will take more time.
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That’s a good lead, I think I will look there.
Do you have this machine, any opinions?
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I don’t have the machine but the specs are quite good, from what I remember it uses square bearings and linear rails, ballscrews and 3HP liquid cooled spindle. It also has a steel bed which adds rigidity and stability.
It would have been in the list of machines I would have considered if I had the money.
But I sadly don’t have first had experience with it so I’d suggest you find reviews online or better yet ask the distributor to give you a demo face to face if they are not too far from you.
Yeah seems like a decent machine.
Where as I do have some spare cash and would like to have a CNC router but I live in a shared building so no machinery 
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yeah they are noisy as fuck, you could soundproof the room it would be sitting in and/or build an enclosure around. I have seen some that reduced the sound quite effectively.
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Not only the sound but also the dust, I don’t have a workshop nor garage 
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Type S720 T with a 720x420mm bed, 110m Z-axis travel.
Used personally. It can handle aluminium
With this spindle
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There’s a few YouTube videos about it I think. Also note that the spindle was upgraded to this
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Damn 30 000RPM
that is indeed a very interesting machine and the price is not that high. Did not know that one, thanks for sharing.
Though a “bit” of a downgrade
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not if I compare it to my X carve 
Wtf that’s as stiff as a $200 3D printer
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Downgrade from nothing?
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You’re right that’s better than nothing xD
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