New Improved Desktop CNC Machine

Introducing my new and improved desktop workhorse, the Sable-2015BS CNC Machine.

About a year or so (after its debut), I decided to upgrade my Sable-2015 CNC Machine for the next iteration of that little wonder from Taiwan. Before going into the specifications of the new machine, take a look at a picture of the older machine. Notice anything different?







Not much? Well, lots of things are indeed similar, like its frame, bed, glide rails, and spindle, but lots have changed too--for the better I think. For starters, there's a dust cover over the X-axis gear that keeps dust and other particles emanating from your carving; out of the lead-screw and gliders. Speaking of lead-screw, this new machine has M12 ball-screws on all axes vs the M10 lead-screws on the old machine. So now, no yucky wood chips in my greased X-axis lead-screw. Better yet, no loss of precious metal chips that get stuck and embedded in the greasy lead-screws.
What else is new about this machine? Lots! How about nicely integrated limit switches that make your machine so easy to home every time you start your carving day. I could not get the (not included) limit switches set up to work properly on my older system. I should have used shielded-cable to hook the switches up to the controller board, but I'll blame it on the non-shielded motor wires and the cheap controller board since my switches worked for about a month and then stopped. Oh yeah, the controller board on the new machine has been upgraded. This board branches out to separate driver boards for the axes. All of this stuff is wired together and hooked up to two power supplies, wrapped up in coil and cable chains, and packaged very neatly. Here's a picture from the seller of that neat controller board assembly.

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Here's a list of all of the Sable-2015BS CNC Machine's goodies from the seller's eBay page:
Frame unit (Model:Sable-2015BS)
1. Machinable material: Plastic, wood, aluminum alloy, brass, PCB.
2. Travel: X-axis is 200mm, Y-axis is 150mm, Z-axis is 60mm.
3. Work piece height: 60mm(max.).
4. Table size: 250mm*310mm.
5. Table load: 8kg.
6. Stepping motor: NEMA 17.
7. Feed rate: 2000mm/min.(max.).
8. Slider: Linear ball bearing, X-axis is 12mm, Y-axis is 16mm, Z-axis is 12mm.
9. Lead screw: Ball screw, three axis is 12mm, pitch is 4mm.
10. Material: Aluminum alloy (6061).
11. Repeat positioning accuracy: less than 0.02mm.
12. Dimensions: 400mm(W), 370mm(L), 390mm(H).
13. Work range: 400mm(W), 520mm(L), 400mm(H), exclude controller.

Spindle (Model:SPD-ER11-180W)
1. Collet type: ER11.
2. Rotating speed: two stage, high speed is 10000rpm, low speed is 4300rpm.
3. Radiating: Fan cooling.
4. Output power: 180W(max.).

Controller (Model:Sable-2015CTR)
1. Interface: USB and Buletooth.
2. Number of axes: 3 of axes.
3. Spindle control: ON/OFF, PWM, full range speed.
4. Find home: 3 of proximity switch.
5. Z-zero: 1 of  input port.
6. Emergency stop: 1 of  input port.
7. Coolant: 1 of  Output port.
8. Dimensions: 250mm(W), 250mm(L), 140mm(H).
Net weight: 18.5kg.
Gross Weight: 21.5kg.
I tested the machine out with its free GRBL controller software. In my simple test, the homing worked great and the machine moves quickly through all axes.
Come back here for more new tools reviews and projects that I create with those tools. Cheers!