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  • McGrews Observations !


    Just some Of My observations FYI,

    Camaster has a support ticket under "Support" at the top of the page When you utilize this as decribed when a machine is purchased you go into a Que of documentation for support. These techs are as busy as you are yet many tell me they felt like they recieved help sooner, Machine techs are not here to teach cnc on an individual basis. utilize the training offered, utilize this forum. don't Pout and we can make this happen

    Camaster Has tens of thousands of machines in the market, I find it interesting that when you Google camaster other cnc companies propogate by tag words to be visible in that search. When you google the others Camaster doed not do this, Never had to...

    I have recieved everypost every day since the creation of this forum, I do this for several reasons, 1) I would have never succeded at CNC had it not been for these guys, 2) to gain the knowledge brought here By all using the theory that "When we help others we help ourselves" 3) to assist in being helpful to the Owners of the machines and in doing so make sure we have this forum when others barely come close to this peer to peer support. This forum is admined and moderated by Machine owners Not Camaster techs, A derogatory comment was made by what I call a Shit Stirrer recently, Had i not notified Camaster they would have never known. I am now ready should he do this again he will be removed from the forum. 4) I have posted my phone number and do online assistance with the ones who made the right decisions for themselves and are in need of true help when the techs are not as available. I am not a service I do not charge moneyand I am not an Employee or have any vested interest in CAmaster other than my machines. If you are full of crap I cannot help you.

    Lastly (For now) CAMaster has never left a machine owner out nor abandoned them in any form. Many come here for help and do not reply on the forum after thay get it, This is Ok We get it, They are just as Busy as anyone else. I have dealt with some of the most incorrigable people who buy machines and do not have a clue about the learning curve. Others some times Squint and underby for the need they want thinking thay can make it work when it can't If you need a semi to haul 25000 Lbs do not buy a Pickup truck it is Just a good idea, This is why the Statement which is widely published " Buy your second machine first" Camaster has never attempted to compete at the bottom of the market. and for the classes of machines it sells are specified and built better than its competion. You will read often when a new Owner recieves his machine he states "Man this thing is built like a tank"
    James McGrew
    CAMaster ATC 508
    The principle of Measure twice cut once has not been replaced by a CNC

    www.mcgrewwoodwork.com

    https://www.facebook.com/pg/Mcgrew-W...=page_internal

    Camera 1 ATC Closeup !
    https://video.nest.com/live/esNTrZ

    fixed 4-27-2020
  • #2

    Thanks James, this forum is an incredibly valuable resource and much of that value can be attributed to your oversight and all the help you provide. I've only had my machine for a few years but I've seen numerous posts where you have offered to provide 1:1 help to complete strangers.
    Thank you for all your time and dedication.
    Pete
    ----------
    2021 Stinger I SR-24, 1kW Spindle
    Performance Pkg w/Gantry Lift, FTC
    Phenolic Top, Storm Vac, JTech Laser
    VCarve Pro 11.0
    www.gotoguysmarine.com

    Comment

    • #3

      Jim you are a standup guy, we have had a few rows over the years [might not even remember] but have always worked things out. I still remember my very 1st cut, I had nothing at all figured out after turning on the router, you guided me by phone into carving my name and that started me off on a long and continuous trail - It is possible if not for that phone call I might have cut my losses and blew the whole thing off as out of my league, so I thank you for that, I have made 100's if not 1,000's of nice things since then [over 10 years ago] and still have the original Stinger without even changing a belt or much of anything else outside of router brushes. Very robust machine and good support can make all the difference in the world.
      Doug

      Stinger 1

      Comment

      • #4

        doug you are one of the champions. There have been so many who. came to. cnc the same way.. one day soon I need to tell the story of the a Bob James in the Virginia mountains. he died in a wreck and was probably one of the worst in those learning curve days. We found a way to communicate and made a big success of his small shop. God rest his soul He became a committed camhead and we all miss him. Still look a photos of your sons of Anarchy work !!
        Last edited by james mcgrew; 10-08-2022, 12:47 PM.
        James McGrew
        CAMaster ATC 508
        The principle of Measure twice cut once has not been replaced by a CNC

        www.mcgrewwoodwork.com

        https://www.facebook.com/pg/Mcgrew-W...=page_internal

        Camera 1 ATC Closeup !
        https://video.nest.com/live/esNTrZ

        fixed 4-27-2020

        Comment

        • #5

          Hello everyone,
          I am about to buy a 2016 Stinger I with Indexing Lathe up to 48", FTC, Laser Cross Hair, counter Balance, 2" Gantry Lift, Phenolic Table, 1.7 KW Spindle, Remote Handheld and other things... I have a few questions. Can I add an ATC to this machine? can I add a vacuum table? Thanks in advance

          Comment

          • #6

            If you don’t upgrade from steppers to servos you’ll have to home your machine before every tool change. You can buy an ATC spindle, but the CN2 board probably doesn’t have enough inputs and outputs for all the controls and input checks. So that means an upgrade to a CN1/CN2 controller board. You can upgrade to Clearpath servos, but it’s a job. I’ve just done it with some help from Gary Campbell. It was not cheap. You’re probably better off buying an ATC machine from scratch unless you’re VERY handy with WinCNC macros and setup. It’s taken me a LOT of time and effort. cncdepot.net for reasonably price ATC spindles.
            Gary
            2018 Stinger II SR-44 with GCnC WinCNC Backplane, ClearPath Servos, 3HP RM30C ATC CNCDepot Spindle, 16 Tool Carousel, Custom Automatic Height Dustboot, Performance Premium, Recoil, Gantry Lift, Cyclone
            Fusion 360
            Aspire

            Comment

            • #7

              You could possibly install a new top and cut in the plenum grid for a vacuum table and do the plumbing. As far as ATC I do not think so. Your post probably shouldn't have been posted on this thread. Maybe in the How To or general sections.
              Stinger II SR44 with servos
              Recoil Prep
              3KW spindle
              7 Watt Laser
              Pro Option Pack
              Hand Held Keypad
              T-Slot Table with Hurricane Vacuum.
              Aspire 10.5
              WinCnc

              Comment

              • #8

                Originally posted by DVE2000 View Post
                If you don’t upgrade from steppers to servos you’ll have to home your machine before every tool change. You can buy an ATC spindle, but the CN2 board probably doesn’t have enough inputs and outputs for all the controls and input checks. So that means an upgrade to a CN1/CN2 controller board. You can upgrade to Clearpath servos, but it’s a job. I’ve just done it with some help from Gary Campbell. It was not cheap. You’re probably better off buying an ATC machine from scratch unless you’re VERY handy with WinCNC macros and setup. It’s taken me a LOT of time and effort. cncdepot.net for reasonably price ATC spindles.
                I am very new to CNC so I am kinda lost on almost everything you mentioned but thanks a lot for your fast reply... I like the idea of "Buy your second machine first" so that is why I got here but I know is going to get some time. I do have a 150W Laser machine and a nice wood shop so having a CNC will take me to the next level. I don't have room for a 4'x8', the most I can fit is 48"x48". Having ATC will help with some intriguing work that I currently do with my Laser machine but is not a most, vacuum table I think it is...

                Comment

                • #9

                  Originally posted by Pete marken View Post
                  You could possibly install a new top and cut in the plenum grid for a vacuum table and do the plumbing. As far as ATC I do not think so. Your post probably shouldn't have been posted on this thread. Maybe in the How To or general sections.
                  Thank you Pete.

                  Comment

                  • #10

                    Originally posted by Carlos16 View Post

                    I am very new to CNC so I am kinda lost on almost everything you mentioned but thanks a lot for your fast reply... I like the idea of "Buy your second machine first" so that is why I got here but I know is going to get some time. I do have a 150W Laser machine and a nice wood shop so having a CNC will take me to the next level. I don't have room for a 4'x8', the most I can fit is 48"x48". Having ATC will help with some intriguing work that I currently do with my Laser machine but is not a most, vacuum table I think it is...
                    Camaster can do an ATC on a 5x5 in the Panther series. Maybe they can do a one-off for you with a Stinger Pro. (formerly Stinger II/III) My suggestion...ask them! Consider carefully if the kind of work you intend to do will actually benefit with an ATC or if the fast tool change measuring is adequate. If you can handle the physical changes with automatic measuring, then the Stinger Pro SR-44 is an option.
                    ---
                    Jim Becker

                    SR-44 (2018), 1.7kw spindle, Performance Premium, USB, Keypad, T-Slot table (y-axis configuration), WinCNC, VCarve Pro upgraded to Aspire

                    Non CNC stuff...

                    SCM/Minimax
                    Festool "a good collection"
                    Stubby - lathe
                    Harvey G700 DC
                    more...

                    Retired from full time work in the telecom industry 9/2017
                    Occasional commission work for others, but mostly for me...furniture/tack trunks/signage/guitars
                    Located Bucks County PA

                    Comment

                    • #11

                      Originally posted by Jim Becker View Post

                      Camaster can do an ATC on a 5x5 in the Panther series. Maybe they can do a one-off for you with a Stinger Pro. (formerly Stinger II/III) My suggestion...ask them! Consider carefully if the kind of work you intend to do will actually benefit with an ATC or if the fast tool change measuring is adequate. If you can handle the physical changes with automatic measuring, then the Stinger Pro SR-44 is an option.
                      Thank you Jim

                      Comment

                      • #12

                        I would seriously consider rethinking adding an Atc to a single Z machine after the build. it is complex, an engineering strong background may be needed. There are a few guys who are capable and fully experienced, The comment of having to reinitialize after each tool change is not my experience. you would have to set Z after each tool shange on a single Z machine,, I would consider adding the FTC (Fast tool change ) feature Camaster offers.

                        My first machine was a Single Z machine, Wonderful for learning yet i bought my seconf machine within months, I am a medium size commercial shop so I had cash flow to support this. if i was a Small one man operation I would not have been able to flip machines so quickly
                        Last edited by james mcgrew; 06-20-2023, 03:19 AM.
                        James McGrew
                        CAMaster ATC 508
                        The principle of Measure twice cut once has not been replaced by a CNC

                        www.mcgrewwoodwork.com

                        https://www.facebook.com/pg/Mcgrew-W...=page_internal

                        Camera 1 ATC Closeup !
                        https://video.nest.com/live/esNTrZ

                        fixed 4-27-2020

                        Comment

                        • #13

                          Originally posted by james mcgrew View Post
                          I would seriously consider rethinking adding an Atc to a single Z machine after the build. it is complex, an engineering strong background may be needed. There are a few guys who are capable and fully experienced, The comment of having to reinitialize after each tool change is not my experience. you would have to set Z after each tool shange on a single Z machine,, I would consider adding the FTC (Fast tool change ) feature Camaster offers.

                          My first machine was a Single Z machine, Wonderful for learning yet i bought my seconf machine within months, I am a medium size commercial shop so I had cash flow to support this. if i was a Small one man operation I would not have been able to flip machines so quickly
                          If you have stepper motors, you're taking a risk of crashing the machine when trying to grab a tool from a fork. Or when putting a tool back into a fork. If you park and then home the machine before the tool change, you can get away with using steppers, but a tool change is going to take a lot longer. If you have servo motors, you can safely always do a tool change, because they keep their positions or let WinCNC know when a position is lost.

                          You do have to pay WinCNC to add the ATC capability to the software for tool length storage.
                          Gary
                          2018 Stinger II SR-44 with GCnC WinCNC Backplane, ClearPath Servos, 3HP RM30C ATC CNCDepot Spindle, 16 Tool Carousel, Custom Automatic Height Dustboot, Performance Premium, Recoil, Gantry Lift, Cyclone
                          Fusion 360
                          Aspire

                          Comment

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