AltMill 2×4 and more coming soon

Posted on December 17, 2024January 29, 2025 by Andy Lee

Hey everyone. I’m excited to share more details about the AltMill 2×4 (the AltMill with a 4×2 ft working area) and other sizes coming soon. We are expecting the launch of the AltMill 2×4 A few months ago, Ben took some time to put together a version of the AltMill with a 2×4 foot (approximate) working area using spare and scrap parts left over from production and posted a video about it. Since then we had a lot of interest in smaller versions of the AltMill.

~~Availability to order the AltMill 2×4 is tentatively scheduled for Jan 29, 2025 and expect to ship at the end of March.~~ The AltMill MK2 2×4 will be available for order on Jan 29, 2025 at 11AM EST.

AltMill MK2 2×4 order page

AltMill MK2 2×4 (machine only) to be $3890CAD or $2790USD. Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit pricing at $690CAD/$515USD

Since showing off this version of the AltMill, the response from the community has been overwhelming, encouraging us to develop and work on exploring different sizes of the AltMill.

Why different sizes?

After building and testing the AltMill, it became clear to us that the design and platform had a lot of potential to be used in a lot of different applications. The main innovations of the AltMill come from optimizing the design for rigidity while making it as easy and efficient to assemble at scale, which translates to different sizes as well.

As it stands, we believe we haven’t fully unlocked the power of the AltMill. We still have a lot of development and progress to make with:

Higher power spindle options
Automatic tool changers
Coolant options
Advanced clamping, vices, and other hold-down methods

The main goal for building all the different sizes, ultimately, is to serve a larger audience who want to use their machines for different applications beyond just the typical woodworking projects that our machines and industry have been focusing on such as:

Aluminum milling
Steel milling
Plasma cutting
Fiber laser cutting
Automating tasks such as drilling and tapping

Fundamentally, the AltMill serves as a platform for CNCs designed for many different uses and leverages development across all of the different platforms to trickle through the whole ecosystem.

Who is it for (AltMill 2×4 and smaller)?

We’re not a 100% sure yet but here’s some of our thoughts.

People who want to do small-scale production for a specific part:

Although a larger machine is more versatile, for users who want to have a machine suitable for machining specific products and parts, a machine just large enough for that specific part may be the best option, especially in space-constrained locations. For example, the AltMill could be jigged up to make guitars in a production setting, as the workspace is large enough for a full neck and body.

Another advantage of the AltMill is that businesses that need to do production can in theory order and have a machine shipped to them directly on short notice (or at least once we finish optimizing our production), allowing them to scale production quickly when they need additional machines.

Education or use in an institution:

We’ve also gotten interest from people who want to use CNC for teaching or institutional use, where the focus is less on producing parts and more on learning and testing. This could be in CNC software companies testing their CAM software or colleges that need lower-cost CNC machines that are robust enough for students to use while fitting in smaller classrooms.

The AltMill works on the same core technology as any industrial CNC machine, which means that it can provide an entry into CNCing without the risks and costs which come with industrial machines. The open-source nature of our designs and company also allows for institutions to adapt their machines to their needs as well.

For fun:

While AltMills are not cheap, they do come in at a price point that makes it accessible to most dedicated hobbyists. We expect pricing for all versions of AltMills to be around the current price of our 4×4, with variations based on size and configuration. This means that users may choose to buy a CNC machine just for the heck of it.

Sm-AltMill (Small AltMill)

Concepts of a smaller, metal milling-focused CNC internally called the “YesHappy” or “Sm-AltMill” have been tossed around in the shop for some time. From our perspective, we feel there’s a gap in the industry for a small, benchtop-sized CNC machine for milling aluminum and steel. While there are some options in the $2000-5000 range, we feel they are either underpowered and only good for small parts, and consumers need to spend around $10,000-$30,000 to purchase a smaller milling CNC or VMC.

Here’s a list of machines that we found that are sort of in this space.

Machine	Price (CAD)	Cutting Area(in)	Spindle Power(kW)	Motion System	4 Axis Compatible From Factory
Makera Carvera	7800		0.2	Slide Bearing	Yes
Shariff DMC	4550		2.2		No
Sainsmart Gemnmtsu	1945		0.4	Delrin Wheels	No
Yorahome Crossriver 6060	4107	24x24x5.8	0.5	Linear Guide	No
Carbide 3D Nomad	3640	8x8x3	0.12	Slide Bearing	No
Source Rabbit Quantum	12800	13x13x4	1.4	Linear Guide	Yes
Langmuir MR-1	6500	23x22x6	2.5	Linear Guide	No
Kitmill AST	11000	8x5x4	0.1	Linear Guide	No
Stepcraft-3 D420	3000	12x16x5	1		No
Coast Runner					No
Onefinity Machinist	2400	16x16x5	Makita	35mm Rail	Yes
Bantam Tools	11000	7x9x3		Linear Guide	Yes

So where do we land for this? Here are some considerations:

With our software and hardware stack, we can support advanced functionality such as 4th axis support, coolant control, closed-loop steppers, and more without additional development, since functionality has already been worked on and developed for AltMill and LongMill already.
Since we are already assembling and building AltMill at volume, we can take advantage of economies of scale for many of the parts used in the other-size machines.
The rigidity and accuracy of the AltMill generally exceed the majority of the machines on this list and can be optimized further. Based on our testing, we’re able to reach material removal rates on the regular AltMill 48×48 compared to the highest-powered machines in this list, and we expect that a smaller version of the machine would increase the overall rigidity to continue to meet or exceed performance across the board.

There are a couple of things that we’re working on now including:

Reaching out to people in the machining community to get their thoughts on this sort of product
Figuring out the balance between cost, features, and performance
Playing around with different add-ons such as ATC and coolant
Building a small batch of beta units
Testing metal-specific tooling

Larger machines (AltMill 4×8)

On the other hand, we’ve also been getting a ton of interest in a 4x8ft version of the AltMill. Our team has been considering this as well, and identified two main short-term challenges and one main long-term challenge in bringing this to market.

First is the packaging. One of the main advantages we have is being able to pack and ship everything through a courier like UPS. This avoids the need to deal with complicated freighting and equipment needed to load and move large CNC machines. However, using a courier for very large shipments can be expensive and sometimes not possible depending on the size and weight of the order. Additionally, shipping items through couriers run a higher risk for damage, as shipments go through many hands and get stacked and piled on top of other shipments.

We believe that using the courier method does make things more accessible since we can deliver CNC machines to residential locations. However, the larger and heavier the machines become, the more difficult it is to work around the limitations. That being said, we’ve seen lots of examples of this, and we believe, we can sort out something that works.

The second challenge is with power transmission. Since the Y-axis needs to get longer, it also means that the Y-axis ball screws will become more prone to whip if we keep the same design. This can be mitigated with a number of options, such as using rack and pinion, larger ball screws, or something else, but this means that we’ll have to engineer another way to move compared to the existing solution. Of course, designs and solutions already exist, and we believe that we’ll be able to figure something out in this area too.

Lastly, the other, perhaps long-term challenge comes down to our company scale. Larger machines take up more space, and although we just moved into a larger office about a year ago, we’d be looking at moving into an even larger space as soon as we start production for 4×8 ft CNCs. Additionally, and perhaps the even bigger challenge, is hiring and onboarding more team members to support the new product.

With that in mind, we do believe that there is a space in the market for an AltMill 4×8, and we have been chipping away at the design and logistics to eventually bring it to market. Make sure to stay tuned for new updates.

Pricing

There are some fixed costs associated with all versions of the AltMill, such as:

SLB-EXT controller
Spindle (although the specific version may vary depending on the use of the machine)
Closed-loop stepper motors
Gantries (although there may be variations for machines designed for milling metals to accommodate vices and additional workholding)
Couplers, bearing blocks, and other assorted hardware

On the other hand, costs for items that are size-dependent include:

Linear guides
Rails
Packaging and shipping

We predict that material costs for smaller machines will be relatively close to the 48×48 AltMill. Some additional costs include:

Resource and support costs for each variation of the machine
Unique packaging and assembly costs
Development costs
Additional machine-specific accessories such as coolant support and vices

All in all, we don’t expect pricing to be dramatically different compared to the current AltMill, which we believe is well-priced on its own. Customers should expect pricing for the AltMill 2×4 to be similar to the current price for an AltMill 4×4. Finalized pricing will be available near or at launch.

Next steps

Production for more AltMill rails is now in production, which includes approximately additional rails needed to build around 100 AltMill 2×4 We’re expecting them to arrive around the end of February, which means we’ll have the first parts needed to start building around 100 units.

Our team is currently working on media and marketing materials to prepare for the launch of AltMill 2×4 on the store, which is tentatively scheduled for Jan 29th.

We expect AltMill 2×4 to start shipping in March.

Additionally, we are in production for an additional 25 sets of rails and parts for a 16×16 inch working area machine (Sm-AltMill), which will be focused on metal milling. We do not have a specific launch plan for this yet, but we are collecting feedback and doing market research to understand how we want to configure the design for this. We will be reaching out directly to potential users for sales of the first batch, so if you’re interested, make sure to fill out the survey.

We are expecting the Sm-AltMill to be sold and built on an individual basis and customized and tested for different uses, which means that they will not be publicly available for sale at this time.

FAQ

Is there going to be a way to upgrade from a 2×4 to a 4×4?

It is likely we will have a kit available, but we likely will need a few months after the launch to sort out the product and resources for size changes, so we recommend picking the size you’ll be committing to up front for now.

What is the footprint of the AltMill 2×4?

The footprint is approximately 52in wide and 39in deep. From the bottom of the foot to the top of the motor, the height is approximately 56in.

Do the legs come with the AltMill 2×4?

Just like the AltMill 4×4, the AltMill 2×4 comes with steel legs.

What accessories work with the AltMill 2×4?

Any accessory that works with the 4×4 will work on the 2×4. This includes any spindles, gControl panel computer, Vortex Rotary axis, and more. We expect that future add-ons and features designed and developed for 4×4 will work on 2×4 as well.

What is the price for an AltMill 2×4?

Official pricing has not been established, but users should expect pricing to be similar but slightly less than a 4×4.

When are AltMill 2×4 expected to ship?

2×4 machines are expected to start shipping in March 2025.

Where can I buy an AltMill 2×4?

Pre-orders will be available on our website at the end of January.

Will there be any other sizes of the AltMill?

Besides the Sm-AltMill with a working area of approximately 16×16 inches, we don’t have any immediate plans for other sizes at the moment.

December 2024 Production Updates

Posted on December 5, 2024December 5, 2024 by Andy Lee

AltMill

Due to port strikes in Vancouver, some parts that were expected to arrive earlier in November have been delayed. We have been working on packing and preparing everything else so that we can make a big push for the end of the year to get the remaining AltMills in Batch 2 out the door.

Rails and other parts have just arrived at the start of this month. and we are resuming shipping AltMills.

All of the parts in Batch 4, which is our next 250 AltMills, are expected to finish production and arrive at the end of January.

Ben and Daniel have been chipping away at the packaging layout for the 2×4 AltMill, here’s a photo of some 3D modelling that’s been done. We are now officially starting production for the 2X4. More info to come. If you’re interested, please feel free to fill out our survey. https://forms.gle/LV9erqPFEr1boPWx7

Also, amongst other cool stuff we’ve been playing around with, here’s a look at Mike and Jon’s “SmaltMill”, designed to automate some of the tapping we do for LongMill and AltMill parts. This is part of us dabbling with the idea of using our own machines to do some of the machining and production for the LongMill and AltMill.

LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kits

We are now fully stocked on LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kits and they are expected to ship within 1-2 weeks of ordering.

Vortex Rotary Axis

Vortex Rotary Axis including the closed-loop stepper motors are now shipping!

LongMill

LongMill kits are shipping without delays. Our team has recently pre-packed around 150 LongMill in advance of the AltMill parts coming in, so we can focus efforts on clearing the rest of the queue.

gControl Panel Computer

We have now shipped the first 45-50 computers out! We are now in production for another 300 computers. We are expecting them to arrive in mid-January and ship to the remaining customers in our queue. We are also working on a new production batch for another 500-1000 computers as the gControl computer has been more popular than expected.

We have received a small number of customers who have not been able to turn on their computers. After working back and forth with the manufacturer, as well as doing some of our own testing, we found that a standoff may contact part of the screen driver board, causing it to turn off. We’ve addressed this problem in the upcoming batch that is currently in production.

Otherwise, we’re super excited to see that folks have already set up and started using gControl, and we look forward to getting them out to the wider audience soon.

In other news, a lot of customers have been asking if the gControl has upgradable RAM and memory. After going through the process of opening up the computers, the answer appear to be yes. Although we believe that users will not need to make changes to their computer, we believe that having the peace of mind that these parts can be upgraded and replaced is valuable to the user. You can learn more about memory updates here: https://resources.sienci.com/view/gcontrol-memory-and-storage-upgrades/

LightBurn Seller and Pricing Changes

There are some changes happening with Lightburn. If you guys don’t know, Lightburn is a software for laser cutters including the LaserBeam. We have been an official reseller for this software for some time.

The first major change is in the pricing. The original price started at 60USD and is now going to come up to 100USD. While we understand that a higher price isn’t necessarily great for customers, we do think that the software at 100USD is extremely reasonable and provides incredible functionality for lasers in general. Additionally, given that the Lightburn team has continued to provide support and updates frequently, the additional income from license sales are expected to help push development and improvements on further. This is called “Lightburn Core” now

The second major change is in the licensing structure. Originally, we were able to freely sell the software. At this moment in time, although there is no specific agreement in place, Lightburn wants us and other sellers to only offer the software as a bundle to another product. This is to reduce the number of unsavory sellers in the market who do things such as selling the same license code three times. Since each Lightburn license can be installed on three computers at a time, they can sell the same code thrice. When customers have tried to install licenses on multiple computers as they should be able to, they have found that they are not able to and adding extra burden on the Lightburn team to resolve.

I am not really a big fan of “bundling” software with products, as I believe that users should have as much freedom as possible when choosing software, especially when there are multiple options, which is why at this time we haven’t bundled or offered the software for sale on our site at the moment.

We are discussion possibly using an online portal instead, where users can buy software direct from Lightburn, but allow us to take a commission and provide some support to customers as well. I have found this to be a fairly straightforward and easy way to allow software providers to have control over the software distribution.

We are still working through this, as we do want to make sure Lightburn is able to sustainably provide software. If you want to purchase the software, you can still do so directly through them on their website.

LaserBeam and UltraBeam

As you guys might know, Ikenna has been at the forefront of the LaserBeam and UltraBeam projects. Not only have these been big projects in general but also brought to light thoughts and discussions about the structure and ownership of these projects and products. While initially, the plan was to keep UltraBeam under the Sienci Labs umbrella, it became more clear that we had to reconsider this as the project progressed.

Since the UltraBeam CO2 laser project has encountered complications as we previously noted, we have put that project on hold until we figure out the best path forward. We have heard from customers regarding our current LaserBeam product, and we continue to support the LaserBeam. However, as we’ve revisited our LaserBeam line, we’re making plans in developing and offering newer improved versions of a diode laser attachment soon. Make sure to stay tuned for more news.

You can read more about this in this article here: https://sienci.com/2024/11/26/discontinuation-of-the-ultrabeam-project/

Toronto Woodworking Show

Hope you guys got to check out the Hamilton Woodworking Show. If you haven’t, the Toronto Woodworking Show is coming up! Find out more here.

Holiday Closures

This year our offices will be closed from Dec 25th to Jan 1st. General shipping, phone support, and email support may slow down or be delayed.

Addressing the potential trade tariffs between US and Canada

Posted on November 27, 2024November 27, 2024 by Andy Lee

A number of customers have expressed concerns over the potential trade tariffs announced by Trump, so I’d like to address this in an article. The proposed 25% tariff on Canadian imports by President-elect Donald Trump marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. Framed as a measure to address drug trafficking and migration concerns, the tariff threatens to disrupt one of the world’s closest economic partnerships.

We understand that this may be a concern to our American customers, in case they should be expecting additional costs to bring their machines and other products from our company in Canada to the US.

Likelihood of a tariff being put into place

With such a significant amount of business being done between US and Canada, this tariff would potentially create a huge impact on both economies, with potential price increases for imported good in the US, and slower sales for Canadian companies. Additionally, this creates a burden on the customs systems put into place, which could mean longer times for products to clear across the border.

It should be noted that, at least according to Trump, these measures are put into place to address drug trafficking and illegal immigration by creating a potential economic punishment for governments that don’t crack down on these things. If both governments are able to find a way to solve some of these issues, it may mitigate the need for a trade war. Additionally imposing tariffs between US and Canada may potentially violate the USMCA trade agreements, which allow for easier trade between United States, Mexico, and Canada, which can cause other economic implications and political repercussions. The USMCA took over a year of negotiations and nearly 3 years to fully implement, and unravelling that could have serious consequences.

All this means that the situation is very nuanced and complicated. I don’t expect there to be dramatic changes right away, but we are keeping an eye on the situation as it progresses. There may be a chance that there won’t be any tariffs levied, the tariff amount is smaller than originally proposed, or it may be only to certain products and materials that pertain to us.

What happens if a tariff gets put into place

We intend to honour our pricing and responsibilities to cover duties and taxes for products shipping to the United States as we have continued to do so in the past few years.

However, an import tariff will impact our costs and the bottom line of the business, and we may need to address that when we know what will move forward with tariffs if there ever is one. We will reconsider pricing for our products once we learn of changes in the tariffs if or when it occurs.

From my personal experience and opinion, while there may be some tariffs imposed, the direct impact to us and our customers in general may be more nuanced, such as interventions from the Canadian government to support Canadian companies. There have been many changes in the political and economic landscape that our company has faced, and I believe that regardless of what happens, we’ll figure out a way through like we always have.

Discontinuation of the UltraBeam project

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by Andy Lee

We are discontinuing the UltraBeam project. The UltraBeam was a standalone CO2 laser designed for higher-power cutting. This article outlines the circumstances and series of events leading up to this announcement.

The UltraBeam project was started and led by one of our employees, Ikenna. From the beginning of the project, Ikenna had expressed interest in spinning the product into part of a new company, separate from Sienci Labs. However, I decided that at that time, the best chance of success for the product was to keep it within the Sienci Labs umbrella and build it under our roof. Since that point, Ikenna has worked on the CO2 laser full-time.

Our company has gone through a lot of changes internally, and with that, changes to our company structure, distribution of resources, decision-making processes, and more. Alongside this, we’ve had a number of employees leave or get fired, which has affected the balance and relationships within the company. In the midst of everything, it felt to me that spinning the CO2 off into a separate company may alleviate some of the pressures to manage all of the changes and allow Ikenna to build a new company structure around a new product that was suitable for his vision.

We started working on a rough plan for this spinoff. The general plan was for Sienci Labs to transfer the prototypes, materials, and IP around the CO2 laser to the new company in exchange for a minority stake in the new venture. This meant that Ikenna would leave Sienci Labs and then work for his own venture. This structure would allow Ikenna to access all of the work he had already started without restrictions,

After his departure, it became clear, after some back and forth, that Ikenna no longer had the intention to work with me or involve the company in the new venture.

This puts things in a complicated situation, since as far as I understand, Ikenna plans to continue the development and eventual release of a CO2 laser. However, Sienci Labs still retains the intellectual property and customer information created during Ikenna’s employment.

Given these circumstances, I am putting a hold on the UltraBeam project. This means that there will be no new development or product release at this time. Additionally, I would note that external use of customer information and IP created and owned by Sienci Labs is a violation of our working contracts and any products.

November 2024 Production Updates

Posted on November 1, 2024November 1, 2024 by Andy Lee

Hey everyone, here are the Nov 2024 Production Updates!

AltMill

We shipped more AltMills out last month. We’ve ramped up production and you should find if you already ordered a machine that lead times may have gone down. We’ve worked on streamlining production, bringing on some more staff, training current staff with new skills in management and operations, and setting new production goals to move things along. We are aiming to finish both Batch 1 and 2, a total of 400 AltMills to be shipped and delivered by the end of Dec 2024. At this time, we currently have around 50 more machines left in Batch 2, so if you want to be part of this group, make sure to order soon!

We’ve now ramped up production for AltMills, and this past month we’ve shipped out around 70-80 units. We’re now waiting on some additional parts expected to arrive Nov 4th, and we will be aiming to keep increasing production more to clear the rest of the queue.

Some parts for Batch 2 have arrived, which means we are starting to build our next 200 AltMills. We expect the rest of the parts to arrive in November. We are currently ordering and building stock for Batch 3, which will be another 250 AltMills. Many of the parts have already been ordered for Batch 3, and we expect most of those items to arrive in Jan 2025.

We did run into a hiccup with our VFDs because this chip was changed, causing communication issues. Since then we’ve received a new batch of VFDs plus are expecting to receive new boards to replace these VFDs. This means we will have around 400 full VFDs in stock once our fix is complete.

This did slow our production a bit at the beginning, but we have been shipping machines without the VFDs first so that customers can get their machines ready prior to the spindles arriving.

Additionally, we’ve received a few messages from users about the spindles being wired incorrectly. We’ve implemented an additional QA step to check the full functionality and wiring of the spindle and VFD. Additionally, we’ve received some notes from users who have changed their VFD settings inadvertently, and so we are implementing a VFD setting lock to prevent users from changing settings without the proper precautions.

The good news is that the cables and spindle motors were here first, which means that they can be tested and packed first, so that we have some things we can work on in the meantime.

New batch of expressed shipped VFDs to make up for the bad ones

Additional to this, we’re making updates to the firmware to improve the communication and reliability between the board and the VFD. Although we expect the old chip to be more stable, updates to the firmware is expected to decrease compatibility issues for third party spindles.

As we mentioned in a prior update, we’ve been working on figuring out some improvements to make to make sure rails are straight and at the correct tolerance before assembly. Unfortunately, our current extruder continues to have some issues with having a good yield on these parts. As a way to mitigate issues and try something new, we’ve moved production to a new manufacturer for extrusions. This means we have around 200 sets arriving this month, and another 200ish sets being produced at this moment. The best case scenario is that the 200 rails we get in the next few weeks are flawless, but if there are a lot of issues, the new batch of rails should arrive a month or so later.

We’re currently working with two additional extrusion companies to build future batches of rails. These will be for Batch 3. We are also starting to work on production details for the 2×4 AltMills as well during this period.

Additionally, we’re working on vetting a few new CNC machine shops, as the shop we currently work with has been struggling with keeping up with the volume of parts we need, causing delays in their production shop. We are working on splitting up production of parts between different shops so that we can mitigate these types of issues.

In other, other news, our engineering team have started dabbling with the ATC spindle that we have in the shop. We don’t have any expected days we will have something available, but we are testing some different systems to make sure that third party support can be more streamlined, or we can understand and identify needs of the user for an ATC system.

LongMill

LongMills ship out on schedule, within a few days.

LongMill Spindle Kits, which use same components as the AltMill Spindle Kits, have also been delayed in shipping due to the same issue. We have started shipping some of the LongMill Spindle Kits, and we are expecting to have the rest of the queue completed at the end of the month.

gControl Panel Computer

The gControl Panel Computer has now launched! You can learn more about it here.

The first 40-50 units, we are aiming to ship out before the end of the month. We have now sold over 100 computers, and we are working on ordering an additional batch to cover new sales. These computers are expected to ship in December/January.

The brackets have for mounting the stand to the LongMill and AltMill, we have received the license codes for Windows 11 IOT, and we are expecting computers to arrive on Nov 1st. We have been working on filming and making the resources in anticipation of the new panel computers.

I also had a chance to test the computer with Centroid using the Ethernet cable. This opens up a wider set of options for people to use their panel computer on other CNC machines. From our testing, it worked flawlessly. Thank you John for letting us give it a whirl.

Vortex

The Vortex Rotary Axis continues to ship as usual. We’re excited to announce that our close-loop versions of the kit have started shipping.

You can now find additional resources on installation on our Resources Page.

LaserBeam

We’re excited to share the Magnetic LaserBeam Mount, compatible with standard LongMill and AltMill mounting! This has been designed to make it faster and easier to mount and unmount the laser, rather than using the screws.

Shipping and production are proceeding as normal, we currently have 27 LaserBeams packed and prepared for shipment within 1-3 days. New Driver Boards have been ordered, as well as more LaserBeam Mounts. Both will arrive well before we run out of our current stock.

We will be adding two of our LaserBeam accessories for purchase in our shop.

First is the steel LaserBeam Mount. We’ve found some of our customers enjoy using this mount for their own projects, setups and designs. Although it was designed specifically for our LaserBeam, it’s a versatile and robust piece of material.

Second is the Replacement Focus Finder Set. Every LaserBeam order is shipped with a full set but we understand that the parts are small and easy to misplace, so we created a solution.

As well as making these accessories available for purchase, we have added a new resources page to our website where you can find the design files for each accessory. Feel free to experiment and try making your own at home.

https://resources.sienci.com/view/lb-files-for-download

PWM Controllable Router

Sine we can’t call our thing the “Sprouter” anymore, I’ll just use PWM Controllable Router for now (or just “router” here for brevity). Here’s a short demo of the speed control being used to play music while cutting at the same time! (turn on your audio).

We brought down the newest version of the prototype router down to Austin TX for the Vectric UGM, where we did some basic demos switching between different speeds. We’re excited to share that we’re able to successfully control the router using a PWM signal!

Since we want to be able to make sure the router works with other popular hobby CNC machines, we’re looking for some volunteers who have machines other than an AltMill or LongMill, who’d be ok with us plugging it into their controllers. If you’d like to offer your help, please reach out!

Thank you everyone who’s been suggesting names for the router. We’re likely going to have a more official contest to help with the naming of the product, so keep an eye out for that!

Everything you need to know about the gControl Panel Computer

Posted on October 17, 2024October 21, 2024 by Andy Lee — 1 Comment

Hey everyone, I’m excited to finally share details and launch the gControl Panel Computer. We’ve been running several of them in the shop and they’ve been incredibly handy and versatile in running our CNC machines, and I’m sure you’ll find that too.

Visit the Product Page

Here at Sienci Labs, one of our main goals is to make our machines as reliable as possible. This means designing, developing, and testing every aspect of our product. The development of the SuperLongBoard was one of those initiatives to improve the electronics side of our machines.

While on the original roadmap, we had planned to integrate a computer directly onto the SuperLongBoard, which would allow users to run gSender and control their machine in a single board, we found that doing things this way would greatly complicate the process and cause other potential issues, so we decided to split the development into two parts, the board, and the computer.

Excerpt from Nov 8, 2023

For those who might not have been following Andy’s production updates, we’d originally envisioned the SLB as being a system of two different parts working together. The first being the board itself, containing all of the core CNC functionality controlling motors and handling g-code, and second being an optional onboard compute module that would act to replace a computer or laptop and instead be integrated. Users could connect a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to control all functions of the machine directly through the SLB. This was very exciting to us given the considerably low price of the compute module over a computer, around $40-80 dollars plus the cost of the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, as well as the extra speed, user experience, and reliability of an onboard system.

In our extended tests with this idea in mind, we weren’t finding the success we’d hoped in creating a seamless user experience with this solution. Despite trying many Linux kernels, drivers, GPU acceleration, and bringing many more efficiencies to gSender, the Broadcom and Rockwell-based processors used on smaller compute modules were not powerful enough to accommodate the visualization of g-code directly onboard. This also meant they didn’t have extra headroom if in the future we wanted to implement other features such as having a camera monitoring system or other sensor inputs. With many months delay trying to chip away at a resolution we decided to split the development of SLB back into its two parts; prioritize improving the baseline machine performance first so CNCers don’t have to wait any longer for the SLB to make better machines, and strip out all the on-board connectors and switch to a higher-power off-board solution that we’ll implement at a later stage. This will mean anyone could still upgrade at a later date. Higher-power Fanless PCs will cost more, from our initial budget of around $80CAD/60USD for the compute module, to somewhere around $100-$200USD depending on the specs and configuration, but would ensure a smooth and seamless experience as well as provide headroom for future applications.

To summarize, we decided to take the concept of the onboard computer and divide and conquer on it at a later date. It would’ve been really cool to have a fully integrated system but it kept pushing our board delivery back further and we felt it would benefit everyone if we just pushed ahead on the other features that will all still bring great benefit to the CNC experience. This means that users will still need to connect their computers to the board to control their machines when the first batch of SLBs release, but should still see drastic improvement.

I’m happy to say that we’ve seen significant improvements to the overall reliability of people’s CNC machines. However, the computer side of things is still an area we need to tackle.

Over the past year, we’ve experimented with different computer hardware options, from mini computers from Amazon, to different compute modules, Raspberry Pi’s. Here are some of the hurdles:

Some items, like Raspberry Pi were often out of stock and hard to buy in bulk. This created concerns around us being able to get the number we’d want in the long run.
Lower power hardware, such as x86, ROCKCHIP, and Raspberry Pi did not have the graphics support or processing power to handle the graphics visualization for gSender. While the hardware would be less expensive, we would need to strip out features and spend more in development for compatibility.
Integrating a computer meant no upgradability in the future. If one of the parts breaks, you’d have to replace the whole board.

Going for an industrial panel computer felt like the no-brainer choice. Some of the pros being:

They are readily available from a number of manufacturers and can be configured in almost an infinite number of ways.
Would require no changes to gSender to run.
Given that they incorporate the screen and touch interface, would cost about the same as buying all the parts separate
Allow more features such as networking, SSH, and even be used to check your email

At the end of the day, I don’t think there’s a difference in whether the computer is on board the controller or off the board in terms of usability. I call it the “wizard behind the curtain”. If the use of the machine is the same, does it matter?

What is gControl Panel Computer?

gControl is a panel computer that is designed to be used to control your CNC machine. It runs gSender and connects with your LongMill or AltMill to provide an interface to send commands, jog, change settings, and send jobs. While currently, you need to provide your own computer to run your machine, gControl takes that place.

Here are some basic specs.

Screen: 1080P 15.6″ Touch Screen

Processor: Intel N100

Operating system: Windows 11

RAM: 8GB

Memory: 128GB

Connectivity: Ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI

The problem we are trying to solve

Reliability

At this current time, customers are required to provide their own computers to control their CNC machines. Since we don’t have control over the sort of computer, the condition of their device, specifications, and the quality of customer-provided computers, this can be a source of issues. Tackling issues that come from the computer can also be tricky, as we can attribute issues to so many things, such as the machine itself, the electronics, and the connection.

GControl also comes with Windows 11 IOT installed, a special version of Windows designed for applications that require a high degree of reliability. This version of Windows is designed for fixed functions, special-purpose devices, with an expected lifecycle of 10 years or more like medical devices, bank machines, and manufacturing systems. Unlike Windows 11 Home or Pro, Widows 11 IOT comes without bloatware and only performs updates that does not change settings or core functionality and stability of the operating system. We expect that this system will reduce issues that stem from Windows 11 related settings and updates.

By being able to provide a high-quality, tested, and reliable computer, we intend to reduce issues that come from the computer. gControl is essentially an industrial panel computer adapted for use with our machines.

Longevity

Computers used in a workshop setting are exposed to heat, cold, humidity, and most importantly, dust. From feedback from users and the community, dust is one, if not the biggest reason for computers to fail. Dust can fall on sensitive components and cause shorts, or clogged fans to reduce airflow inside the computer, causing them to overheat and eventually die.

gControl is a fanless design, which greatly improves the durability of the computer.

Fanless design uses a large finned case to dissipate heat

Versatility

There are now a few integrated CNC control solutions in the hobby CNC space. However, one of the main drawbacks is that they are limited to being able to do one job only.

gControl on the other hand is a full-fledged Windows PC, which means that any Windows program you want to run will work natively on the computer. This means you can run CAM programs, and simulation software, check your email, and more, just like you’d be able to with any computer. This also means you can use it for applications outside of CNCing as well.

This means that anytime there is an update to gSender, those updates will apply to the computer as well, rather than having to have it’s own compiling, testing and validation cycle, that comes with embedded systems or custom, locked-down systems.

gControl also has many connection options, including Ethernet and USB, which means that you can connect your SuperLongBoard with either Ethernet or USB, plug in external USB sticks and hard drives, and more. Additionally, you can connect other peripheral devices, such as a mouse and keyboard, webcam, and even an extra monitor, if those extras help with your workflow.

Additionally, gControl comes with standard VESA mounting points, allowing users to also use other mounting options if they so wish.

How I use gControl

I feel that the way I use gControl is probably going to be the same way the majority of users will use gControl.

gControl, first and foremost is dedicated to running the CNC machine which is why all computers come pre-installed with gSender.

gControl is installed directly on the CNC machine. I am able to tilt the screen toward and away from me so that I have close access to it when I need to jog the machine. While the machine is running, I can clearly see the job status and visualization from a distance.

Windows 11 allows the computer to exist on the network, which means that if I have it on the same wifi network as another computer in my home or workshop, I can directly send files to it. I have one computer I use for making gcode, and I can save files directly onto gControl from my workstation.

Some other convenient options in transferring files is to message it to yourself through something like Discord, email it to yourself, or use cloud storage like Google Drive. At our shop, we have an open Discord channel where the engineers can put the file on the channel from their own computer, then download it on the panel computer.

Otherwise, running gSender on the computer is exactly the same as any other computer.

Pricing

Pricing may change at the time of launch, but anticipated pricing for gContol is:

$430USD/$589CAD for the gControl Panel Computer, bracket, and mount for the AltMill or LongMill.

Build quality

gControl is a completely fanless computer which dissipates heat through a heavy metal casing. This means that gControl is impervious to the one thing that kills most computers: dust. From our own testing feedback from users in the industrial sector, we can greatly improve the longevity of a computer used in a workshop setting.

Mounting

Each gControl comes with a mount and bracket to attach to the front left or right of the LongMill or AltMill. The mount can clamp to the edge of a table or be screwed in.

This means you can keep the computer close to the action, making it easier to control and watch the machine.

Each panel computer has standard VESA mounting points, so you can also use an aftermarket mount or make your own if you want to set up your device differently.

Window 11 IOT

Windows 11 IOT is a special version of Windows 11 that has some notable differences between Windows 11 Home or Pro that most users will be familiar with, including:

Less pre-installed Windows software, which improves performance and stability by reducing the number of background processes.
Security updates only. Windows 11 IOT does not receive updates with feature or setting changes. This means that Windows stays the same as when it first gets installed. You can still manually install new software and features if you so choose.
Full reimaging and recovery media options. While Windows 11 Home and Pro have limitations on creating computer snapshots/images for recovery use, Windows 11 IOT allows recovery images to be created freely with all customizations and applications saved. This means that if you ever need to revert back to a certain state, you can save that version and reinstall it without restrictions.
10 years of extended support, which means that Windows 11 IOT guarantees support and updates for 10 years. Windows 11 Pro on the other hand receives 2 years.
No regional limitations. While Windows 11 Home and Pro have regional pricing and limitations on where it can be used, Windows 11 IOT allows for worldwide use. This means that we don’t need to carry different licenses based on the country you are from.

Windows 11 IOT otherwise works the same, and any Windows 11 users will be immediately familiar with the operating system, and you will be able to install any Windows 11 compatible software without restriction.

For more info, please check out this page.

In essence, Windows 11 IOT fits this application since we want to have the most compatible, reliable computer possible for as long as possible.

FAQ

Mostly an anticipated FAQ, since this is just getting off the ground. If you have any questions you can’t find here, please feel free to reach out.

What machines are they compatible with?

gControl, simply put, is just a computer. Any machine that needs to be connected to a computer can be used with gControl. Any LongMill and AltMill with any board and of any generation is compatible with gControl. As a rule of thumb, if it’s compatible with gSender, it’ll work with gControl.

Additionally, other machines like Shapeokos, XCarves, Genmitsus, Sainsmarts, Openbuilds, and others that need a computer connection to operate can use the gControl as well, as long as you download the software for each of their respective companies.

What’s the difference between buying my own laptop or computer?

Both will serve the same purpose. However, the gControl computer comes with all of the hardware to mount it to your machine in a convenient way. Additionally, since it has a touch screen, using a mouse and keyboard is optional. Since our mounting option allows you to put the computer right next to the cutting area of the machine, it also makes it easy to control and operate the machine on the fly for operations like jogging, homing, and probing.

Given that gControl is completely fanless, we also expect it to last much longer in a shop environment than most consumer computer hardware.

What features does it have?

You’ll have access to every feature gSender and Windows computer comes with, including:

Wireless control with a phone
Wired and wireless control using a game controller
Networked file transfer
Access to thousands of Windows programs* such as Google Drive, Chrome Browser, CNC simulators, CAD and CAM software, and more.

*Not all programs are free. Please check system requirements for each program for compatibility.

Is it fast?

While the Intel N100 chip isn’t considered a high-end powerhouse by any means, it is perfectly suitable for running gSender and many other Windows programs. Check out these benchmarks for more info. In our day-to-day use, we experienced no issues with performance.

gControl also exceeds system requirements for popular software from Vectric, Lightburn, and Carveco.

Processors with similar combined benchmarks.

Can I run design software like CAD or CAM?

Although the main purpose of gControl is as a dedicated control station for your CNC machine, it is possible to run other programs on the computer. We recommend checking system requirements before running your software on the computer.

Can I upgrade my computer?

We don’t recommend opening it up for safety reasons. Users can use removable storage devices like an external hard drive or USB stick to provide more memory.

Why start with 50?

We feel like it’s a small enough number for us to be able make mistakes and iron out issues on an individual basis, but large enough so that we have a large enough audience to try the first batch.

In our second batch, we’re aiming to have around 300-500 units built.

Can I install Linux or another operating system?

Yes, you can install any compatible operating system on your gControl. gControl should work with many distros of Linux and older versions of Windows.

Please note that :

There may be additional security risks involved with different systems
You may erase or lose files and other content pre-installed

Do I need the internet to use gControl?

No, the computer can be used standalone without any connection to the internet. However, software that runs on the computer may need the internet to work. gControl allows for internet connection with Wifi or Ethernet.

Future plans

Here are our future plans for this computer:

Increase order quantities to reduce overall costs. Since we’re only ordering 50 computers, the price per unit is fairly high. Getting our numbers to around 500-1000 units per batch would reduce the prices significantly.
Explore other uses. This computer is great for running the LongMill and the AltMill. We believe it’d be great to run other CNCs as well.

Thank you John from Forest CNC for letting us test Centroid on your machine.

Testing Centroid on John’s machines from

If you want to share your thoughts on this project, please feel free to answer our survey below.

October 2024 Production Updates

Posted on October 1, 2024October 1, 2024 by Andy Lee

Hey everyone, here’s our October 2024 Production Updates.

AltMill

We’re excited to have another batch of parts arrived in September.

We’re sort of hitting an interesting new wall in manufacturing, where the number of parts that we need to make with each manufacturer is more than they can handle in a reasonable time, so we’re working on diversifying our group of manufacturers so that we can move faster in scaling up production.

Power supply samples for testing a new supplier

Shipping was put on a hold as we wait on restocking for spindles. They were expected to arrive Sept 20, 2024, but due to shipping delays at the port due to a recent rail strike, they are expected to arrive Sept 30th. We’ve asked for a rush on these items. Other parts for orders are being assembled now and we will work to ship as much out as we can as soon as the spindles arrive.

Assembly videos for AltMill are ~~coming very soon to Youtube, as they are going through final edits~~ now live on our Channel! These will supplement the written assembly instructions found on our Resources soon.

We now also have AltMill documents open-sourced! hey so I have the public version of the AltMill doc ready for release: https://resources.sienci.com/view/open-source/

LongMill

LongMill orders continue to ship out without incident.

We’re happy to share that the LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kits are shipping and resources for installation are now available!

Due to the shipping delay as mentioned above for the spindles, we are expecting spindles to arrive Sept 30th and will start shipping kits soon after they arrive.

Vortex

The big news for the past month is that closed-loop stepper support and full 4th-axis support is coming out now for Vortex. Learn more about it in our article here: https://sienci.com/2024/09/05/vortex-rotary-axis-close-loop-stepper-motor-update/.

Motors and cables for closed-loop steppers for Vortex have already arrived. We are currently working on testing, packing, and a few other details before they start shipping.

LaserBeam

Focus rings and sets are back in stock! New LaserBeam Safety glasses have been ordered and will arrive well before we run out of stock.

We are continuing to work on updating and adding new resources to the website for the LaserBeam.

We have started building a new, enclosed laser testing area to improve safety measures and also the level of technical support we can provide to you, our customers.

Keep an eye out for the new Magnetic LaserBeam mount, coming soon!

gControl Panel Computer

50-panel computers are now on the way! We are currently working on a few things to get these ready for ordering, such as the branding, the computer configurations, and other little things. Look out for a blog post coming out that’ll cover all of the details.

We now have 50 Microsoft licenses ordered and waiting on them to arrive. We are also working on doing the final configuration on the OS side. Brackets for mounting are also in manufacturing now and expected to arrive anytime.

Once we sell and ship the first 50, we’re going to be planning out how many we’re going to order for the second batch.

If you’re interested in this product and want to fill out a survey, please visit the survey here: https://forms.gle/E1vaWAaGsfuQB8yg9

Sprouter

So it turns out that someone else is using the name Sprouter for another project. So we’ll probably have to lay off on using that name going forward. If you have any suggestions for names, feel free to let us know!

Also, if you have a non-Sienci Labs machine, such as with a Masso or Shapeoko controller, we’d like to test if the PWM control integration works properly with your machine so that this router can work on all sorts of different hobby CNC machines. If you’re in the KW area and would like to let us test, please feel free to reach out.

Our first prototypes for the Makita clone have arrived and are going through testing. You can see from the photo, they are just like the regular router but with an extra cable sticking out the back for the PWM control.

In the mean time, the team is working on conceptual designs for the top motor housing to work with the extra cable for the PWM signal and for wire management and cooling.

In other news, we are currently waiting on a new version of a VESC driver to be made that can handle up to 200V. We recently tested VESC up to around 100V, with fairly good results, but to get to the RPM range of around 24,000RPM, we need to have a controller that can handle the 200V. One of the main questions we have now is if we’re able to get reliable and fast speed control response at the higher voltage and speeds. We expect the new drivers to arrive in the next month or two.

In our last tests for the BLDC version, we found that the bearings were operating at a higher temperature that we’d like. We suspect that this may be caused by a number of factors, suchas due to improperly machined bearing seats. New bearing seats have arrived and we are going through assembly and testing now.l

Vectric 2024 User Group Meeting

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be part of Vectric’s 2024 User Group Meeting! Join us at the Embassy Suites Round Rock in Austin, Texas, on Friday and Saturday, October 11-12, 2024, for a weekend packed with learning and fun. We’ll showcase the AltMill and Vortex, and Scott will be a guest speaker. If you’re attending, be sure to stop by and say hello!

For those new to Vectric, they’re the creators of VCarve, a top-notch design tool for CNC projects. You can purchase it from our website and enjoy full ownership without any subscription fees.

To learn more about the 2024 User Group Meeting, visit Vectric’s event page.

Vectric Aspire Now Available on Our Store

Posted on September 7, 2024September 7, 2024 by Andy Lee

Purchase Aspire Now

Hey everyone, we now offer Vectric Aspire on our store!

We’ve taken the jump to offering Aspire in conjunction with the demand for more advanced users.

Why are we offering Aspire?

In the past, our main niche was to serve the beginner, entry-level market for CNCers. However, as our products improved and we continued to come out with new features and accessories, we found more and more advanced users being drawn to our company. We’ve also started playing around with 3D designs and doing some projects where we need the advanced capabilities of Aspire as well.

Now with machines like the AltMill, as well as continued hardware and software advancements on the Vortex Rotary Axis, we’re also better able to take advantage of some of Aspire’s more advanced use cases, such as for making complex 3D models, reliefs, and creating lithopanes.

What is the difference between all of the Vectric software?

We’ll let Vectric explain for themselves. Also make sure to check out their comparisons on their website as well.

Is Aspire right for me?

To be completely honest, although extremely powerful, Aspire is a pretty expensive software. It isn’t something I would personally recommend to a hobbyist right off the bat. If you want to read about my opinion on free versus software, make sure to check out my article. I believe the majority of users, even experienced ones, will be happy with something like VCarve which is less than half the price. Just like with most software, it is possible to get the same functionality by using a combination of software, such as Blender for 3D modelling, and VCarve for the CAM, to get a similar effect. If you’re looking at software options, make sure to check out our Resources as we have lots of different options available.

Aspire however is very streamlined in working with CNC-focused 3D models, plus it comes with many free models that users can modify and change to fit with their projects. We have gotten a number of requests to carry Aspire from a small number of people which I would best describe as the “I want the best and money is no object” group.

Either way, I encourage everyone to do their research and try out all of the different software to find out what works for you. Additionally, even though we have a number of higher-end software options available in our store, we are still very much committed to offering content for alternative software and resources, especially for our beginner users.

Vortex Rotary Axis Close Loop Stepper Motor Update

Posted on September 5, 2024September 5, 2024 by Andy Lee

Hey guys, I’m sure many of you have been in great anticipation for the close-loop stepper motor option coming for the Vortex Rotary Axis. Here’s a bit of information.

Before we get started, I just want to apologize that we caused some confusion with a number of people, especially new AltMill users, as the current open-loop version that is currently available doesn’t work yet. We should have had some more info ready to share so that people knew what they needed to expect for the Vortex AltMill compatibility. If you haven’t heard from us yet, we’ll be reaching out directly so that you have the support and parts coming so that the Vortex will work with your machine.

Without further ado, below is Daniel’s write-up of what you should know about the Vortex Rotary Axis Close Loop Stepper Update!

First install of close loop stepper and AltMill

A novel feature of the Vortex Rotary Axis kit not seen with any other rotary axis add-ons is the use of a rotary switching module which ‘intercepts’ power going from the motor drivers to the Y-axis motors and instead sends this to the A-axis, allowing for use of an A-axis which would otherwise be impossible with any regular 3 axis CNC controllers such as the original ‘LongBoard’ controller used on the LongMill.

With the release of the new SLB controller used on the LongMill MK2.5, and SLB-Ext controller used on the AltMill, we now have an A-axis specific output. Instead of switching between control of the Y-axis and A-axis, we can now drive both simultaneously and independently.

A-axis control output marked by the red square

Please note that if you have a SLB controller, you can put your own motor driver to control the open-loop stepper motor on the Vortex. Resources and instructions for this can be found here.

Since the AltMill uses integrated drivers with the Y-axis motors, it isn’t possible to ‘intercept’ this control of the Y-axis motors, so we aren’t able to use this same rotary switching module. To use the Vortex Rotary Axis with the AltMill, it is therefore necessary to use the A-axis output, along with a motor and driver just for the A-axis.

Going forward, to complement the new capabilities of the SLB and SLB-Ext controllers shipped currently with the LongMill and AltMill users have the option of choosing the ‘Close Loop Motor’ option to pair with their Vortex Rotary Axis kit. This kit will not come with the rotary switching module, but instead with an A-axis closed loop motor and motor cable that will be installed onto the Vortex.

There are several benefits of this new arrangement:

No more need to toggle between Y-axis control and A-axis control.
The Y-axis motors stay ‘locked’ during use of the A-axis, preventing any possible drift while cutting rotary axis projects.
Higher torque at the rotary axis, with the ability to instantaneously self-correct position, should the position of the A-axis slip under cutting load.
Alarm feedback from the motor to the controller to stop a program if something goes wrong or A-axis position is lost.
Higher possible speed, and higher possible acceleration of the A-axis, to speed up projects with lots of small detail.
Simpler wiring with no need to mount a separate switching unit and two extra sets of cables.
Capability of full simultaneous 4-axis CNC programs, allowing for completely new types of geometries to be machined in one setup.

Vortex with closed loop motor mounted on AltMill

Closed Loop Motor Compatibility

If you’re unsure of the compatibility of your CNC machine and the Vortex Rotary Axis kit, please note which controller you have installed with your CNC machine and refer to the following:

30″ and 48″ Open-loop versions of the Vortex Rotary Axis are compatible with the LongBoard controller and SuperLongBoard controller used on the LongMill MK1, MK2, and MK2.5
30″ and 48″ Close-loop versions of the Vortex Rotary Axis are compatible with the SLB-Ext controller on the AltMill and SuperLongBoard controller used on the LongMill MK1, MK2, and MK2.5

The closed-loop motor variation of each kit will have a longer delivery time, and it is estimated to ship out sometime between Oct and Nov.

Order the Vortex

AltMill – Batch 1 Early Adopters

In the haste of production and development of the first batch of AltMill CNC machines, purchases of the original Vortex rotary axis kit and AltMill in combination were possible and shipped out together, meaning some folks received these two kits without complete out-of-the-box compatibility, as a motor driver for the A-axis would be required as described here.

For these few people affected, we’ll be sending out closed-loop motor upgrade kits to upgrade Vortex Rotary Axis kits for full compatibility with the AltMill free of charge. Customers who had placed an order for their AltMill and Vortex before August 15th included in this will receive a confirmation notice by email. If you have placed an order (or two separate orders) including an AltMill and Vortex before this date and do not receive a confirmation of this by September 18th, please reach out to us with your order number to get this sorted out. These will be shipped out in the coming 2-4 weeks.

Kits will also come with an updated 48” extension track section for improved compatibility with the AltMill.

For assembly of this upgrade kit, please refer to the assembly manual sections showing the assembly of the headstock motor mounting, and the wiring instructions.

September 2024 Production Updates

Posted on September 3, 2024August 30, 2024 by Andy Lee

Hey guys, here are our September 2024 production updates!

Getting filmed for “Made Right Here” segment for CTV

AltMill

In August we received a lot of parts for building the AltMill. We’ve done a lot to continue ramping production up including:

Building new carts and jigs to help with moving materials around and helping with assembly
A much bigger and more stable tapping setup

We also ran into a few new issues:

We found a number of the rail extrusions to be bent enough to have uneven machining. We do have enough for the time being to continue shipping, but we will have to make more to make up for the bad parts. We are currently in production for another batch of rails, so we are adding more rails to the new batch to make up for the bad ones.
Over-sensitivity of closed-loop stepper motors and default acceleration settings, especially on the Z-axis causing false alarms for the first 50 AltMills. Updates to the firmware settings, which should be found now in the latest version of gSender adjust microstepping defaults, and any other outgoing AltMills have this issue already fixed.

In other news, we built a 2x4ft working area AltMill with some spare parts. It’s mostly for internal use so that we can do testing, but we suspect a lot of people are going to be interested in a slightly smaller AltMill as well. If you’re interested in this form factor, feel free to let us know!

We’ve also started making the assembly videos for the AltMill. We did the filming in the third week of August, and we expect to have videos coming out sometime in September.

We now have about 100 AltMills shipped, and we expect to ship another 50-100 in September and October. We should also be getting our Batch 2 AltMill parts in the next 2 months as well, so we expect to continue scaling production.

LongMill

LongMills continue to ship out smoothly, with most orders shipping out within a week.

One main update to share is with the T12 Spring Loaded Anti-Backlash Nut Blocks. We’ve initially made them from injection moulded blanks which were machined after, however, we found out that due to internal stresses, the threading would be inconsistent and require additional processing to machine properly.

We’ve now started machining them from cast blocks, which have lower internal stresses, which means that there is little to no deformation and changes to the overall shape of the blocks after threading. This method is more expensive, but improves the quality, saves time in re-machining, and reduces the number of rejected parts, which we believe is worth the tradeoff. Due to the time savings and other benefits, there is a good chance we’ll switch completely over to the new blocks and scrap most of the old ones that haven’t been QA’d.

Due to some variability in the tightness of the blocks, we’ve advised users to do a bit of break-in before starting their job. Our expectation for the new blocks will be that this break-in will not be necessary and we will be able to have much more consistency in the resistance in the blocks. We have completed testing for the new blocks and expect blocks to transition into production any day.

Vortex and LaserBeam

Both Vortex and LaserBeam orders are shipping out as usual.

Ikenna and Jen are currently working on new resources for LaserBeam and SuperLongBoard to bring new features and details on improvements and setup, so make sure to keep an eye out for that.

LaserBeam Livestreams are also coming to an end after 2 years of consistent episodes! Congrats to Ikenna and the team for running these livestreams.

More livestreams and content to come out soon with the UltraBeam, so keep an eye out for that.

One big update for the Vortex is that we are finalizing details for a close-loop Vortex kit that allows for full 4th-axis support. That means you’ll be able to control all of the axis (X, Y, and Z), plus the rotary (A) axis simultaneously. This is one of the big features we’ve been working on gSender and SLB for.

Please keep an eye out for news in the next few weeks!

Spindles

We have received another batch of 50 spindles which have been allocated for shipping AltMills. We currently have another 350 spindles on the way, but they are currently delayed in shipping. At the current timeline, we expect the spindles to arrive in the third week of September. Once those are received, we should be shipping the LongMill Spindle Kits shortly after.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about spindle and router testing, make sure to check out our video here

We’ve also been experimenting with different size/voltage spindles since we know that the AltMill can handle more power. We’ve of course started with the 1.5KW 110V option since it makes things accessible for the typical hobbyist, we wanted to know where the limits of the AltMill are in case we start getting users that are more industrial or production-focused.

Here’s some testing with a 220V 4.5KW spindle.

It is important to point out that for most people, 1.5KW is still more than enough power for how fast hobbyists are comfortable pushing their machines, and the spindle is more than able to handle anything you throw at it if you slow down the machine to accommodate. Additionally, the 1.5KW spindle is the only option that can run safely on 110V power that comes out of your wall. Larger spindles will require higher voltage (220V) power.

I should also note that while we still recommend getting our AltMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit with your AltMill since it’s plug-and-play and will get you set up quickly, you can still also buy other spindles to put on yourself.

At least from our observations, we haven’t seen hobby users fully push the AltMill to its limit. However, we believe that people looking at the AltMill for industrial applications might be interested in a bigger, more powerful spindle, especially if they have power available in their shop.

If you’d like to share your thoughts and opinions, please feel free to fill out the survey below.

Sprouter

We’ve continued to work on this project this past month. We are continuing to test:

Bearing longevity and performance in different configurations
Heat management
Sound and motor tuning

We feel pretty confident in our motor design and construction. However, we’re still left with another frontier to tackle, which is the driver. Having a good driver is important as it allows us to properly and accurately control the speed, improve motor efficiency which in turn reduces heat, and makes the motor quieter.

We have been testing and working with the Chinese manufacturers of the motors to provide us with their drivers. However, while they are close to the performance we are looking for, they still lack the overall performance and speed control precision we want. We will continue to do testing and iron out as much as we can with these drivers, however, we are taking another approach of developing our own drivers.

Here are some pros and cons of going down this path.

Developing our own drivers means we can tune and perfect every aspect of it. However, we require more advanced hardware and computing on board which adds to the cost.
Some drivers are already safety certified since they are already used in different applications. Developing our own means we need to do the safety certification, which costs time and money. However, overall, a custom driver will likely be safer since we can use additional safety features like current control and stall detection to stop the device when there are issues.

We also have a first look of PWM control of the Makita router clone!

We are now working on next steps to figuring out ordering and production for the first batch so we can prepare for a launch near the end of the year.

gControl Panel computer

After a lot of digging, we’ve figured out a couple things with the Windows licensing.

Our computer hardware can run Windows 11 Home and Pro, but it is very difficult for us to get it at a price better than retail.
Different licenses are needed for different regions, which means that we need to differentiate between computers shipped to different countries.
An alternative OS is Windows 11 IOT, which is a version of Windows 11 that focuses on systems that require high levels of stability and used in specific applications. For example, they are used in bank ATMs, kiosks, and industrial machines.

As described on the Microsoft Website:

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC is intended for fixed-function, special-purpose devices that require a long support lifecycle of 10 years. These devices are typically found in industries including banking, quick-service restaurants, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail.

Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC is based on the same foundation as Windows Professional and Windows Enterprise, delivering the same compatibility, security and management capabilities required for commercial deployments. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC provides additional capabilities to lockdown the device experience for public facing or employee facing scenarios along with the ability to customize the operating system footprint.

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC is available for both x64 and ARM64 architecture.

For more information, see Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC Evaluation.

This is great, because, while a retail Windows 11 Home or Pro license costs over $100, the IOT license is around $35USD. Additionally, these computers can be deployed around the world without the same restrictions as a retail license.

I feel that Windows 11 IOT also aligns with the use case of why we want to offer our own PC solution, which is to improve reliability of the CNC system overall, and reducing the number of variables effecting the reliability of the system is an important way of doing so.

We have those first 50 computers in production now, and are expecting them be ready to ship to customers in late October/early November. More details to come. Depending on popularity and interest, we’ll scale up production for a larger batch shortly after.

Vectric 2024 User Group Meeting

We’re excited to share that we’ll be part of Vectric’s 2024 User Group Meeting! Join us at the Embassy Suites Round Rock in Austin, Texas, on Friday and Saturday, October 11-12, 2024, for a weekend full of learning and fun. We’ll be showcasing the AltMill and Vortex, with Scott as a guest speaker. If you’re attending, we’d love for you to stop by and say hello!

For those unfamiliar with Vectric, they create VCarve, an excellent design tool for CNC projects. You can purchase a copy on our website and enjoy the benefit of owning the software with no subscription fees.

To learn more about the Vectric 2024 User Group Meeting, visit Vectric’s event page.