Question Stepcraft 2 420 vs CNC3040

I'm looking for a small CNC router and have 1200 euro to spend.
It will be used for hobby (mini arcade cabinets for the Raspberry Pi, RC stuff and probably more in the future...).

The Stepcraft 2 420 DIY is the machine I'm interested in, along with an aluminium bed and a Proxxon spindle (or should I go for a Kress?).

But there're some issues as described by some users regarding the sliding system, which is quite fragile and susceptible to interference.
So I checked other options like (one of) the CNC3040. These frames seems to be rock solid, but also here, a lot of issues are exposed regarding the gliding system on some machines, cheap failing electronics or even internal cable ruptures, let alone the slovenly finish of the product.
And since there's no way to see which Chinese factory is using the right parts, and which not, I'd rather go for the Stepcraft after all.

Thereby, Stepcraft has a good community, a store in Germany and a lot of retailers which are all supply the same products with equal (excellent) quality. The only drawback: the optional parts and bits are terribly expensive: some prices are really excessive imo.

Nevertheless, I hope I'm making the right choice.

A proper answer is quite difficult.

So first of all with the Stepcaft 2 you got a working machine, and for sure go for a Kress instead of Proxxon.
But like everything it is not all gold what comes is orange

So in the 1300 Euro price-range there are not much options.Depending on your needs you have to make a decision. And
for sure after buying you think sometimes may is should have been taken the other one.

But on the end of the Day the SC is doing what it supposed to do, and there are every time options to tweak and improve the SC.

And when i learned in the Hobbiestmarket one thing - go for the solution with the biggest working community.
Even when there are more powerful options.

Just my 2 cent for today

Best regards,
Michael

P.S: Normally English support should be stopped until TopGear comes back )

hi! i was in the same situation except i looked for the bigger 6040 machine and without electronics, only the frame. I am new in the field, so i didnt know a lot about electronics, but i found some kits in ebay and other sites i could use. A lot of confussion choosing the right. I could save some money to buy a cnc and some tools extra, but when i saw some pictures with failed threads on the 6040 i decided not to give a try because i want a machine to work with. So i ordered the sc2/840 that have a nice guide, a community and guarantee. In my opinion the cheaper things sometimes end to cost more than if you spended a little more from the start. I feared to ended with a machine full of problems that i couldent handle. From what i searched, stepcraft seems good machine, when i receive it and setup it i would know more to tell about.

Yeah well, it's a hobby machine, and it's not wise to buy a 3000- euro CNC router for a few jobs.
I've checked the 6040 frames too, but what can I do with a frame if there's no money left for the electronics and spindle?

So yeah, I will order the 420 (and a Kress) and will have fun with it.

Thanks for the thoughts and advice guys.

There is no turning back, the order has been placed: SC 2 420, aluminium table and a few drills.
I also bought a Kress 1050 FME-1, also in a German online store as the same model cost at least hundred euro more in the Netherlands.

I will now have to forget about this order for a few weeks....

Nou, veel plezier dan, als u vragen hebt, hier in het forum kunt u de antwoorden vinden

vele Groeten
Michel

Dank u wel meneer Michel

Wow, the order will be delivered tomorrow according to UPS! Can't believe it!
I was expecting a waiting time of two weeks at least!

Good start with StepCraft!

Great

Watch the assembly Videos before you start



Cheers,
Michael

I already watched all the videos I could find about the StepCraft assembly and use.
But it doesn't hurt to do it again

How did you manage that!! Still waiting for mine - I have the same problem at the bar!!

Well, I'm building it as we speak!
It's a very nice kit, very detailled too.

I guess the 420 was in stock, that was my luck.