Hi Everyone,

Hopefully a few of you have noticed that we've been publishing a number of new video tutorials recently. I've now published the first two (out of three) of a new series which shows the end-to-end process for starting from a CAD design, CNC machining the pattern from epoxy block then sealing and preparing the pattern before taking a prepreg carbon fibre mould off the pattern. In the next video (not done yet) we'll finish off by using the prepreg mould to produce a carbon fibre part.

Essentially, in this series what we're trying to demonstrate is the 'other way' to make composite parts, using technology and high tech materials to replace the more manual traditional methods. This is a topic that comes up every time during our training courses and so hopefully this is a process (and tutorial series) that people will find interesting (and maybe useful). The price of perfectly usable CNC equipment is coming down all the time and the quality and availability of 3D CAD systems (like Fusion360) is moving the baseline of what is achievable at home or in a small workshop or business. Our new products and tutorials aim to support this revolution. Also, in this current climate where people are very focused on the idea that 3D printers are the answer to everything, hopefully we can steer a few people towards the understanding that for most composites processes a CNC router is a far more suitable piece of kit to invest in.

So, this first tutorial in the series we demonstrate how to CNC machine epoxy tooling board and then seal and finish it using epoxy board sealer.


I'd be very happy to discuss any of the topics raised in the videos including how these processes and materials might be used in your projects.

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

I would not go as far as to recommend a stepcraft for 3d milling. Compared to the x-carve the stepcraft machines are real rigidity monsters. However, mechanically even the stepcraft are closer to 3d printers than to proper cnc machines. And I am not talking about industrial steel machining. Stepcraft is very expensive for what you get.
Have a look at sorotec.de. starting  with the basic line, this are the kind of machines I would be looking for. Sorotec might not be an option in Australia, but there should be people building cnc machines like that. What you should look for, in my opinion, are proper linear bearings (wich both x-carve and stepcraft are missing) and  ball screws (same here, stepcraft has at least screws, belts are not suited for any cnc milling in my opinion), And a stiff portal (is that the right word in English?) (Here, the smaller stepcrafts might be ok,  but the x-carve is falling way behind). Additionally, usb has got a real bad reputation in the cnc community, because it might cause some problems. I would go for parallel port, if the budged is tight. Also I would like to mention, that a cheap desktop pc will be an advantage when it comes to cnc working. The energy saving systems of laptops can cause some quite strange problems.