X-Carve Upgrade HONEST Review

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The team over at Inventables contacted me and said “Hey! We’d like to send you the latest version of the X-Carve with all of the upgrades including the X-Controller; and the only thing we’d ask in return is that you give it an honest review.” So this is my honest review.
Find out more on my blog here:
www.thegeekpub.com/9390/x-car...
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DeWalt DWP-611 Spindle: amzn.to/2eCGgUg
CNC Bits: amzn.to/2tOjWZN
DeWalt Collet Adapter: amzn.to/2gR1AG6
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Опубликовано:

27 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 70

@Deltro61 7 лет назад

I just finished building the ox metal cnc, which uses Acme lead screws. I think you are spot on when you're talking about the belts. You would never see any commercial machine with a belt. All of them have Acme lead screws and some of them pretty massive. The Ox metal is relatively easy to put together, although the wiring does take a fair amount of soldering and routing. The actual machine and motors can be assembled in a day. So, I'm mentioning this for people who are considering an alternative to the X-carve. Check out the ox metal. Most parts can be purchased through open builds, and things like drag chain, bearings, etc. can be had through China or Hong Kong. Depends on how quickly you want them.

@AirborneSurfer 7 лет назад

Great review! I need to get a shop so I can get a CNC machine!

@psycodoood 5 лет назад

Good tensioning,heat shrink and zip ties on the belts, to keep them on place, makes a huge and easy improvement. Haven't had any issues with mine since I did that

@RadddahTat 6 лет назад

Amazing review, very thorough, if they fix the belt problem I’ll for sure buy

@TheGeekPub 6 лет назад

See my latest video. They have indeed.

@tiwar87 6 лет назад

TheGeekPub thanks for the review video! Your last video is about 3 months ago, doesnt it? Or is there a newer review video? Thanks for sharing . Peace

@TheGeekPub 6 лет назад

No new video. I've been too busy. Got several in fire though.

@tiwar87 6 лет назад

TheGeekPub thank you for the info anyway! Can you advice us about the new features,? You can share us a link or more info about new features ir problems solved of the bands? Thanks in advance

@AintBrokeFixIt 6 лет назад

I bought the first release of the xcarve. I pulled the original spindle right away to use on a small mill replacing that with a router and stiffened the gantry via some 3d printed inserts. I haven't had much issue with the steppers being under powered with the materials i cut but i'd love to see whats all in the new controller box. I'll have to look into that.

@caramelzappa 7 лет назад

Thanks for the review. The belts are exaclty why I skipped the x-carve, the shapeoko, and the carvey, and got a nomad. Threaded rod is just leagues better. Granted, the nomad has it's cons, like small workspace and somewhat underpowered spindle, but at least it works every time and the threaded rod will never slip like a belt will. I really wish one of these bigger consumer class machines like the x-carve or shapeoko had a threaded rod option. Even if it cost a couple hundred bucks more, it would be well worth it.

@greyjohnson4124 6 лет назад

caramelzappa one of the problems with threaded rods are speed compared to belts but cost wise wouldn't be much more

@Wordsnwood 7 лет назад

Good review, Mike. I still have the original spindle and it's way underpowered.

@onlyychevys 7 лет назад

Your belt is probably not slipping, you need to turn up the power to the stepper motors because they are skipping steps. I cut aluminum on my machine without problems. All info is on the forums at the website. Thanks for sharing!

@TheGeekPub 7 лет назад

Nope. This is physical belts slipping at the ends. Inventables has fixed it for me. Follow up coming soon.

@ravenmooore 6 лет назад

I'll definitely wait for that, I'll wait before I order anything! :)

@bradycases 6 лет назад

I heat shrink the belts and I sometimes get stretching but no slipping. A trick I caught from someone else when I bought my first one.

@joelbennett9014 6 лет назад

Hi friendo - I'm curious to know what the fix was and if it's something they've done to upgrade the whole setup. I'd like to know because I'm about to buy the thing - I don't know of any other CNC machines in this price range that can give me a 60x60" work area right off the shelf, so I'm really hoping that this thing works out.

@catslovedogs74 6 лет назад

Please let us know the fix when you can. Thanks in advance.

@elalconcel3853 7 лет назад

That's true, belts need to disappear! Every time the belts are replace or tightened, the X or Y Axis needs to be recalibrated. Thank you for your awesome review!

@TheGeekPub 7 лет назад

The team at Inventables sent me the latest upgrade for the X-Carve and asked me to give it an *honest* review. I hope you guys know me well enough by now that I don't ever give any product anything but the truth when it comes to reviews!

@TheGeekPub 7 лет назад

I can't find anywhere I misspelled it.

@frickmystr 7 лет назад

2 of the upgrades one of the members of our makerspace did to his x-carve was to 1 - add tool steel between the two pieces of aluminum to strengthen the gantry. 2 - replace the belts with belts with wire in them. They don't stretch at all. Well.. 3 things.. He put in a dewalt router and change the control board to a smoothie board.

@chadwolf7282 6 лет назад

shop.polybelt.com/Open-End-Belt-Roll_c26.htm But... From what I'm reading, a fiberglass re-enforced belt is better...

@biggentallen 5 лет назад

Soooooo. Has the belt problem been fixed on the brand new machines?

@IanSmithStuckUpStickerCompany 5 лет назад

Hey, thanks for the video. Any update? I'm looking to buy a smallish machine like this and I've had some interaction with the tech at Inventables. I really do want a larger work area, but for the price I was looking into this machine. Have they done anything to address the slippage of the belt system?

@servant74 6 лет назад

Question about the belts... Do they have Kevlar belting inside or do you know. Kevlar corded belts might help. I have to admit I have never looked at the X-Carve seriously.

@AndrewR74 7 лет назад

If they hadn't have given it to you, would you have purchased it, or would you have gone with a laguna or higher priced cnc?

@BradleyMakesThings 7 лет назад

Personally I've not had issues with the X and Y belts on my Shapeoko 3. I'm not saying you're wrong about your experiences - just sharing my own. I have, however had an issue with the closed loop belt on the Z axis - I think it was out of spec from the get go though. Replaced and have since not had any issues. Rack and pinion I think would have some of its own issues but it might be interesting to test it out assuming you could adjust the controller properly to suit it.

@ravenmooore 6 лет назад

Rigidity has improved on the X-Axis due to the change in Makerslide Extrusions... has the Y-Axis improved? In your opinion is it a concern?

@ArcAiN6 6 лет назад

Looking at the pricing differences between rack, and 4 start acme lead screws... lead screws would be the better way to go. You could mount them under the axis rails.. This would allow you to cover the lead screws completely save the slot in the cover for attaching the gantry or carriage to the lead screw nut. This would solve the issue of missed steps. Increase accuracy, and the covers will help reduce dust and debris getting everywhere important.

@poorvesh8dec82 5 лет назад

Hey Mike, thanks a lot, me being from a Mechanical field, I too believe that such belts are only good for 3D printers, which has light & fixed load (filament melting head), but during heavy machining the operating machine should have ball screw. A solution to the belt would be to apply a "belt tension spring" available on Amazon. Do you have any such cnc with ball screw, which is good and at the same price rate.

@christopheszabo2772 6 лет назад

Hi ! This surprises me that there is constantly slipping during machining. Maybe it helps: at first I had this problem (I do not have x-carve but they are standard parts that I put in my machine); it was the screw of the pulley that was not tight enough ...

@philiphoeffer7442 6 лет назад

A rack & pinion system would have backlash in it that the software would not be able to deal with. The true solution to your complaint would be a leadscrew for the X & Y axes.

@amiddled 7 лет назад

Lead screws would solve the problem, but the belts are much cheaper. My guess is Inventables want to make the machine accessibly cheap. Maybe on the X-Carve 3 they will offer it as a cost upgrade? There is a guy on the Inventables forums that was selling a upgrade kit he had designed at one point...

@cgrim40 6 лет назад

I liked your review so much, that I hit the "Red Button" I want to hear more from you, you seem like a honest person. You say you use it often?, I want to start a small sign, do-dadd shop, we are snow birds and I want something I can do on the road out of a small pull behind trailer with a gen. What do Ya think.?????

@njmre3903 7 лет назад

What annoys me already about my machine is the location for the port that connects usb to a computer, Why not put it in the back with all the other cables? I don't like how it bends off the front and it worries me I will hit it too many times and break it. Plus it looks bad, even with cord management.

@scottbecker7612 5 лет назад

Thay use belts on Harleys. but there slow also. I adjust the belts about once a year and works fine. how ever he has a point i think it could be a game changer.

@pattyofurniture100 7 лет назад

looking forward to your update video regarding the belt problem. also, i am wanting to do true 3-D carving (sloping carves on the Z axis) will this machine do that?

@TheGeekPub 6 лет назад

Yes, you use a V bit.

@pattyofurniture100 6 лет назад

TheGeekPub I'm talking about changing the z axis depth while the x and y are also moving

@TheGeekPub 6 лет назад

Not sure about that. I've never had a need to do so.

@pattyofurniture100 6 лет назад

TheGeekPub no worries I actually got my answer last night. The machine will do it you just have to have the right software

@TheGeekPub 6 лет назад

Interesting. Which software?

@blupace_4992 5 лет назад

It really surprises me how all of the reviews for the x-carve cnc, say that they are giving an honest review, then say that they were given the cnc for free. No conflict of interest at all.

@TheWoodKnight 7 лет назад

I guess rack and pinion just cost more? Shapeoko 3 also uses belts. From CNCRouter Parts, they've got 1m gear racks for $42USD+P&H (which would increase over belts because weight). 3 of those (closed loop on the Z axis is probably OK to be a belt), they also have NEMA23 R&P pulleys for $10.25ea. USD$156.75. If you price out just the mechanical parts of the 1m XCarve its $398 - percentage-wise, that adds a fair bit to the cost of the mechanical parts, but once you get to adding the electronics, overall its a relatively low increase. I don't disagree with you, R&P would solve other issues too, like the *awkward* "you should pluck it until it sounds like a guitar string" tension guides. I wonder if its modable to R&P (I suspect you'd need to make entirely new plates), or if ballscrew is the 'better' way to go? I have no real knowledge of these things, so I wonder what I'm missing!

@TheGeekPub 7 лет назад

I've actually thought about trying to convert it myself. The issue would be Easel wouldn't know how to run the machine anymore. The likelihood my gears would be the same ratio as the belt system is next to zero.

@TheWoodKnight 7 лет назад

Strictly speaking, Easel doesn't need to know how to run the machine, it sends standard GCode to the GRBL controller built in. Easel knows the physical limits so it can generate the GCode appropriately, but GRBL does all the interpreting of X/Y points to linear motion. You'd need to make some changes to the GRBL settings (Use UniversalGCodeSender, or telnet to COMX at 115200bps, I can't remember if you're in the .NET world, but SerialPort in C# too ;)) to adjust the steps-per-mm, but part of the XCarve calibration (that they don't mention) is doing that anyway. Default settings are 40-steps-per-mm, but that might change to 20-steps-per-mm or 80-steps-per-mm, depending on the toothing/etc.

@axelSixtySix 7 лет назад

Rack and pignon have some backlash. Better use larger belts (adapted to the required torque) or screws.

@TheGeekPub 7 лет назад

Almost every industrial CNC uses a R&P. Those that don't use a a screw drive.

@axelSixtySix 7 лет назад

Well, this is not the ultimate argument. I'm an industrial CNC user and owner. Believe me or not, but R&P have backlash. Actually my main CNC mill (10x5 feets) uses 25mm HTD 5M belts and work as a dream. It's faster than screw driven CNCs and ways better than R&P systems (like my first industrial CNC was, back in 2009). No way I return to R&P or long Ballscrews machines ! Screws replacement cost a fortune every year and a half for me. R&P don't wear that much, but backlash is a real issue. R&P just holds a lot of torque, but it's not precise as expected, especially in straight lines following X or Y axis. Belts are not a factor as long as they are properly sized. They last longer and are pretty quiet. Just my experience. On the Xcarve, a proper R&P system will be pretty expensive compared to the retail price of the machine. Through, where would you install it ? There's not enough space or any proper support. The MakerRail system does not match with R&P systems. IMHO the Xcarve was not pretty well engineered, but it was simple and coherent at the start for light carving purpose, for a reasonable price. It was not a proper CNC mill because of its spindle, its light transmission and its light structure. You can upgrade the spindle for a 600w DW, a better gantry, a better controller, but what it really needs is a proper study to make an acceptable Hobby CNC mill. There's no miracles with CNCs. Upgrades are not the way to go : if you upĝrade a thing, especially the spindle, everything needs to step up too. Actually, it seems the way to go is upgrading the belt system to the required size for few bucks. BUT, don't expect the xCarve to be a proper CNC mill. It's still an upgraded CNC carver. So the feed and speed must be constrain in a low range. Heavy jobs should take time anyways.

@Spyderman7000 6 лет назад

Has Inventables reached out to you and told you that they will be upgrading or fixing this belt issue? That's a serious problem, especially if you're using this machine for professional purposes.

@TheGeekPub 6 лет назад

Yes, Watch my latest video.

@Spyderman7000 6 лет назад

TheGeekPub thank you! Subscribed!

@jmcdonne 6 лет назад

If anyone else is looking for the answer, see RU-vid video 27wRjFasEFs "Answering your Questions! - Pub Talk 04". TLDW is that Inventables's CEO said he had the wrong parts and had a new one sent.

@dalewilliford3834 5 лет назад

Hey Mike just watched your video on the X carve him know you had a lot of positive things to say I’m 60 years old and I was kind of forced to retire because of medical issues I just bought the X carve the 1 mm one HONNE I know nothing about the C&C I know nothing about computers basically him I tried looking up easel and everything else I haven’t even put my ex card together yet it’s still sitting in boxes in my garage I believe there are six boxes him far as I know I have all the upgrades but I’ve kind of looking for somebody I mean I can put it together but I was kind a looking for somebody that would help me and walk me through your hands on learning is a lot better thanReading I’m so like basically I was looking for someone to help me out and was wondering if that might be I live in Minneapolis not Minneapolis but Minnesota If you can I prescient it if not you could bring me in some direction maybe him drop me a line let me know what you think

@HerbySystems 7 лет назад

Sorry your shirt is now out of date! :P

@TheGeekPub 7 лет назад

Haha! So true!

@yura979 6 лет назад

No nurse on it, yeah, but still all the Doctors :)

@colinwebber3582 6 лет назад

Oh no it's not, It's retro...............

@shelby50411 5 лет назад

Z axis flex is unacceptable on a $1600 machine

@CemeteryLarry 6 лет назад

What is a downflaw lol

@TheGeekPub 6 лет назад

Downfall.

@cruisin4jesus 5 лет назад

Many issues wow ughhh

@shelby50411 5 лет назад

This guy is correct..the orig xcarve version pre2017 is a piece of shit...the newer version is definitely a bit better and at least usable...but its design is still not very good....The older versions home should be the trash can...

@shelby50411 5 лет назад

Even worse design issue is the flimsy unstable wheel z axis.....horrible design....its the weakest point of entire system

@shelby50411 5 лет назад

I own the pre2017 version and its simply junk...and yes the belt design is crap...and the vwheels design is crap....and the limited z travel and workspace is crap.......and the z axis v wheel design is the weakst link..its crap and flimsy....