I bought this CNC router in order to learn how machines like this work so I could to expand the products I sell online. I've used a laser cutter to cut/etch wood, but the finish on laser etched surfaces wasn't what I wanted. Though it was a long process (and after the sacrifice of many cheap router bits,) I'm finally capable of creating things that meet the quality standards I've set for myself.
The biggest change I made to this machine was an upgrade to a 20,000 RPM spindle motor. I couldn't find any information about what would be compatible with this machine, so I bought a spindle motor that would fit in a CNC router that looked *cough* very similar to this machine *wink*. Doing so made jobs finish faster since I could run the spindle much harder on the materials I was cutting. I had to make a custom 3D printed holder (The plastic piece that slips onto the spindle motor) so that the spindle motor could fit at an acceptable height.
I create my projects using pixel CNC, which I then export as gcode. I then import the gcode into Candle (the latest version I found online), the software that Vevor recommends. I tried using the offline controller it came with but I found it too cumbersome to navigate through.
Keep a handheld vacuum to the side, because this machine creates a lot of wood dust! I plan to mount a vacuum attachment to the spindle mount, but I'm leaving that project for another day. I recommend this machine if you're interested in learning the basics of how a machine like this works, but be prepared to make changes to it.
HR47 
Eric 
Cameron 
