This year starts with a big project that will also play a major role here on the blog in the coming weeks and months, as I took delivery of a SainSmart GENMITSU PROVerXL 4030 V2 CNC router today.
I’ve been looking into CNC milling for a while now, because in addition to my three 3-printers and a laser cutter, a CNC milling machine has always been a tool that I’ve often missed in my projects. The 3D-printed MPCNC is nice, but overall a bit unstable and fragile.
With the GENMITSU models, the supplier SainSmart has CNC milling machines for every budget. The GENMITSU PROVerXL 4030 V2 CNC router is the top model with closed-loop stepper motors, ball screws and 120 mm z-axis, which can be ordered directly from Amazon for around €1400. With the help of two optional upgrade kits, the working area can be extended to 600 x 600 mm and even to a huge 1490 x 1393 mm. This makes the PROVerXL V2 suitable for large objects such as furniture, guitar making and large signs.
The frame of the router consists of sturdy aluminium profiles and a base plate made of T-slot profiles with MDF strips as a sacrificial plate. The router is driven by closed-loop motors, thus avoiding step losses, which in turn leads to greater accuracy and less heating. These stepper motors then drive concealed ball screws. SainSmart specifies an accuracy of 0.02 mm, which would be an excellent value for a hobby router. Simpler routers, such as the FoxAlien Masuter Pro, rely on belt drives, which are less accurate and susceptible to dirt.
The basic model 4030 V2 is supplied with a 400 watt spindle. However, you can also use the popular Makita RT0702 router (or the practically equally good but cheaper copies, e.g. from KATSU), as the 4030 has a 65 mm holder that is compatible with it. There are also clamps for 69 mm cutters, such as those from DeWalt.
I will probably also get a 1.5 kW VHD spindle, as these are much quieter than the Makita hand routers. But first I will test how far I can get with the 400 watt spindle supplied. The machine reference position can be set using the tool height sensor supplied.
The controller of the GENMITSU PROVerXL 4030 V2 uses GRBL code and can therefore be controlled very easily. The connection to the computer is made via USB. A diode laser module can also be controlled, turning the CNC router into a laser cutter and engraver with a large work surface and adjustable z-axis. The housing of the controller is solid and has robust sockets for connecting the milling motors.
SainSmart supplies 3-month access to the Carveco CAM software, which costs $15 per month thereafter. The free Candle is supplied to generate the GRBL code from the CAM data. Of course, you can also use other software. For example, I will generate my CAM data with Autodesk Fusion 360 and control the milling machine with a Raspberry Pi and CNCjs. Another option would be ESTL-CAM and UGS
Incidentally, the GENMITSU PROVerXL 4030 V2 also works with the LightBurn laser cutter software, which I already use for my current laser cutter.
The GENMITSU PROVerXL 4030 V2 was delivered shortly before 9am today. Now I have to make space in the workshop, unpack the box, which weighs almost 32kg, and assemble the cutter, which should take about 20-30 minutes. I’m also going to get my centralised extraction system in the workshop ready for this, because a CNC router produces chips and therefore dirt. Hopefully the optional CNC dust shoe, which is still on its way to me, will help with this. But first the milling machine has to be up and running.
A selection of milling cutters, clamping jaws and the tools for assembly are included with the milling machine. I also have a few cutters and a Makita and Katsu router with corresponding cutters in the workshop. Perhaps the first shavings will be flying by the weekend …
I’ll be reporting on my experiences and initial tests with the GENMITSU PROVerXL 4030 V2 soon.
Part 2: First experiences and tests with the GENMITSU PROVerXL 4030 V2 CNC router
Part 3: News from my Genmitsu PROVerXL 4030 V2 CNC milling machine – the 1.5 kW Vevor spindle is up and running
Part 4: My accessories for the Genmitsu PROVerXL 4030 V2 CNC router
More information: Genmitsu CNC Machines – SainSmart.com
Leave a Reply