Chinese CNC group buy?

Continuing the discussion from Wanna add items to our bulk orders from Shenzen?:

I’ve heard lots of good reports about these cheap cnc machines. Out of the box they need a PC with a real parallel port but there are lots of controller hacks on the market. These things are brutally solid those uprights look something like 5/8" thick, it weights a shit ton - hence it is ideal to ship in a container. The model number reflects the table size, there is also a 3040 etc. You can also upgrade the 300W spindle to 800W water cooled but is expensive (would make a nice upgrade at a later date once you’ve learnt the thing).

The 3020Z ball screw version is recommended - approx $CA640 before any duties and shipping.

I’m hoping to have a play with one tomorrow - will report back.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z0k.7385961.1997985097.d4918997.61ESG7&id=16593853516&_u=k1sfp74r5fc1

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I would be very interested depending on the shipping cost…

Links on similar units:
http://essentialscrap.com/cnc/
http://lab.whitequark.org/notes/categories/cnc/

Some videos:

Didn’t have a great experience today. The mechanicals are nice but the controller is junk - it smoked the parallel port in the (junk) pc we are using. There was already a plan to upgrade to a gcode usb board, looks like this is an essentiall step. It might be possible to buy without the electronics eg. http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-2964122557.16.p0OPBc&id=21731515565

If you could get it without the electronics but with the motors (and it looks like they have encoders on the steppers) we could use a Smoothie Board or other 3rd party controller…

Have you seen any with the 4th axis (i.e. lathe attachment)?

Google translate does not work here but I think one of options on this model might be what you are after. Need to research how well this is support in open s/w as the pirated s/w they send it unusable apparently. Is also available in 3020 but work area is too tiny imho.

edit oh yeah, I remember now, that 4th axis attachment is sold separately so you could use it with any of these cnc models provided you have 4 controller channels.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=21103459786

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=40523970646

I’d be interested in something like this, either to chip in financially or help cobble together the necessary mods to make a workable machine for us.