Yes dude. I agree with you on the wheels thing, I went with the queenbee coming from an x carve, that wheel crap was driving me nuts, and it's a ton of parts and finicky work. I have two queenbee 1515 machines, really looking into this upgrade, looks super rigid!
I had strongly considered the ratrig killer bee upgrade but the continued use of acme lead screws left me wanting more. I stumbled upon the yuyong queen ant which uses large ballscrew leads along with the linear rails and thicker plates. Had I not decided on ball leads being essential for me, I would have gone killer bee simply on price point. Seems like a good bit of kit for the cost.
This is totally a Lee Wright video to the max. Geeking out over something new, stripping the old but also adding his own spin to it. I didn’t think this would grip me bro… but found this super interesting. Looking forward to seeing what apex designs come from this in the future man. P.s apex stickers on the cnc machine look legit.
Another worthwhile upgrade for these types of machines is using a heavy grade C-Beam, like the one sold by makerstore, overall great video and i enjoyed watching it
Hi, very good video. One recommendation, as I see you cut metal, the y asix has a little of flex since is lifted from the table, purchase a 2040 extrusion and plece it below the Y axis beams.. Cheap upgrade big improvement.
Now Im going to have to upgrade mine. I have not even used it yet. XD Ive been trying to learn the Bantam CNC I can model just fine. Its the CAM parts that Ive been struggling with.
Yeah CAM software is 100% the hardest part to get your head around. I'm always happy to offer any info I've learned along the way mate, it's not much but I've picked up a tip or 2!
Right now I am looking to buy my first cnc and saw this video but sadly since this cnc doesn’t work with 110v mains, I have to go with the workbee. Maybe I can upgrade later down the line
Hey dude, this kit used the exact same electronics as the Workbee. All you need is a 110V PSU that kicks out the 24V required for the controller. The rest is irrelevant 110/230V
Commenting for the algo, and also because Lee is an inspiration. Keep making things, sir. And also...I'm taking review samples of Apex Predators... 👀👀👀👀👀
@@LeeWright Maybe... 👀 I've watched this a couple times now though. Trying to learn more about this type of thing. The full RatRig kits don't actually seem too prohibitively expensive.
One thing I'm struggeling with - of to be honest halted my build and also studies - was the squaring as I'm not 100% confident that it's square. What do you find the best way because the internet is so full of sometimes (conflicting) methods.
Hi mate, I have one on order at the moment, mainly for machining hardwood. Is the sound bareable? Would you recommend a noise dampening enclosure? Cheers
I would reccomend an enclosure regardless mate as the dust can be quite something. Also that and it does reduce the noise by quite a lot. You are going to love this machine!
Hi can you help have just upgraded but can’t get sensor switches to work. They are triggered when open and not triggered when closed so machine won’t move
Nice video! Good to know that this upgrade is worth it. Just bought a used Workbee to get started with CNC work on and if I get hooked I guess I know what to buy next :) Any particular reason that you don't have a dust collection system on your machine?
Hey thanks. I rarely cut wood tbh, it's mostly metal prototype parts or final use stuff for my esk8 hobby so no point in dust extraction. I also found the shoe very cumbersome and got in the way a lot. I own an Ooznest dust show but do not like it.
Thanks for covering this...I saw it just in time before pulling the trigger on a Workbee...I'll now switch to the KillerBee. One question I have is for the router and controller. Ratrig provides a AMB ER16 1400w spindle that can be controlled digitally...and I'm trying to figure out if that is a better/good version vs the chinese 2.2w ones. I plan on carving furniture faces and doors with it.
I am looking at either stronghold one which is effectively the killer bee, Or doing a diy printnc how much better do you find the killerbee is it much sturdier ?
I'd like to know how you enjoyed your enclosure. If you had to start it over would you still go for the aluminium frame? Thanks Great video Lee, Love it!
This is a great question! I actually wouldn't. I think I'd build my own enclosure that lifted up somehow. The alu enclosure is nice, but it's expensive and makes it almost impossible to get to parts of the machine for maintenance. Glad you enjoyed the video bro!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. I know about it but ultimately I don't have any exeriance with that machine, just my original Workbee and now this killerbee upgrade.
@@LeeWright Really appreciate your reply! I really like the Killerbee and being in Portugal would be better... Blackbee seems to have better Y linear rails and an extra C-beam on the X axis to avoid the twisting you showed on the workbee... How does the killerbee perform on this?
@@reframeyourbody it's super stiff dude. I'm sure you can twist it if you really wanted to but it's good enough. I dont think you need it stiffer, I think I'd be looking at a different machine if I needed more from it you know?
Just curious if keep coding the same and clamp stuff better can you have machine on it's side? I want to make a very large one aka so put 8x4 sheets in the cutting area and not got much space where I am unless on ceiling or on side on floor
Hi Lee, thanks for this. I was about to pull the trigger on a Ooznest but Rig Rat full CNC kit seems the be better bang for the bucks. Never done anything like this before but would you be interested in collaborating somehow? I.e. making a video on the build process? I'm based in Buckinghamshire if you're interested? Thanks, Dan.
hey Lee, great video! Their website doesn't really say what to get when building up the machine kit. What would you recommend in terms of motion controller? Do I need to buy the stepper motors? Bit confused. Not buying the upgrade kit btw.
Great video lee, i've got a 1515 ooznest looking at getting this upgrade, just wondering if there's much 'sag' on the x beam given the extra weight on the z gantry ? Wish i'd of seen the video before buying my bee :/
Why not have it on the wall?🤷♀️ It would take up less floor-space and could be bigger going floor to ceiling! The dust would fall away from the work area too...
Hi Lee first of all thanks for the vid, like you I'm a total newbie in the cnc world. I have some questions if you would be kind enough to answer. First I've not actually bought the cnc machine yet was looking at buying the workbee until I seen this, would I be better buying a full Ratrig machine, I have a budget of £1700 if you had this budget what would be in your build apart from the cad software, I don't know anything about controllers or spindles any help would be much appreciated Lee
I’d 100% buy the Killerbee. I’d look to get a router setup for now instead of a spindle and fusion 360 is free! Then I’d look to upgrade later on when I have some more cash. Don’t forget you are going to need to buy end mills, safety gear and stock etc so make sure you budget for that stuff.
duet+router would definitely be good for starters, duet would last through a long time until you want to go for closed loop(in which point you need to either get something new or buy a extension board of some kind)
Hi lee 😁 had a question for ya. Not about video but i couldnt find any other way to message you 😉 i got a flipsky vx3 controller from amazon. Top hobbies was seller. It has delayed throttle responce. I contacted flipsky about it and they said it is not an up to date version. I would have to buy a new controller (same one) straight from flipsky to get an up to date model. So i did ☹️ i am wondering if there is a way i can copy firmware from new controller and put on the one with older firmware? 🤔 Flipsky on fb says no but thats prob just a girl doing their webpage 🤣 does it sound possible to you? Thanks for everything man 😁
@@LeeWright yeah, bummer. I got new one yesterday. I even had to change the receiver. They must have changed the signal. It would not connect to the 1.2 receiver. The new one (version 1.4) does have some different settings and uses a ping signal. Even on high though it is not much faster than old one 😉 a little better. I left my wand dongle hooked up to slave side for making adjustments with my phone on the go. Could always use the wand and change a couple settings if needed (slave/master) that has much faster responce 😉 thanks and have a great night 😁
