It’s been a short 10 months since we first launched the AltMill.

We’ve learned a lot with our first batches of the AltMill and we’ve combined all those things into improvements to our latest version. We’re now excited to share our second iteration of the MK2, which bring improvements to the quality, ease of construction, and quality of life, as well as preparing for new iterations and development for the Sm-AltMill and 4×8 machines in the future.

The MK2 refers to the platform change, which means that any machine with the new design changes are part of the MK2 family, which means that the AltMill 2×4 is also a MK2 machine.

If you’re looking for more information about the AltMill MK2 2×4, please check out this other blog post.

Production changes and challenges

AltMill lead times have continued to be long since the first launch of the machine. While our production rate has continued to increase over time, decreasing lead times have also coincided with increased demand, due to the growing public knowledge and interest of the AltMill. We are working on a number of things to decrease lead times and our goal is to eventually have units ready to ship in 1-2 weeks on average.

Batch sizes

To mitigate the risk of quality and technical issues in the shipping of our first batches, we’ve kept batch sizes relatively low, with Batch 1 being 50 units, Batch 2 being 200 units, and Batch 3 being 250 units. Batch 4, which we are currently in, is something of a split batch of 500 units. I am calling it a “split batch” because some components have been ordered and produced in a batch of 500 while some have been ordered in a batch of 250, based on cost, size, and our confidence in the part quality. Additionally, we’ve been working to diversify our supplier portfolio, so that we can split up parts from the same batch across two or more suppliers, allowing us to decrease lead times.

Supplier diversification

As our part complexity and quantity grow, we’ve worked to diversify our portfolio of producers and manufacturers. The first is to distribute work to decrease lead times. By using more than one manufacturer to produce the same component, we can ensure that if one manufacturer has issues or is delayed, we still have a second source for the products. Plus, if parts take a long time to make, having a smaller batch to produce can reduce the total production time.

Second, we’ve been working with different manufacturers to understand their strengths and distribute work based on their competencies. We found that some manufacturers may be proficient in extrusion production but not in machined components. Traditionally, it was easier to aggregate production to reduce the number of suppliers and logistical overhead, but at this point, we’re at the scale where it makes more sense to have manufacturers focus on their core competencies to have the best quality possible.

Production space changes

Since moving into our new space in north Waterloo in November 2023, our space has adapted significantly. We’ve implemented new racking and equipment to increase the storage capacity of our production area. However, as we increase our batch sizes, our demand for space will increase as well. At this moment, our team is working on expanding the production area with potentially taking over more of our current building, as well as looking into a second space for warehousing.

Design changes and challenges

When working on the first batch of AltMills, we encountered a number of problems, some we were expecting and some we weren’t. Much of MK2 development is to address and improve the overall manufacturability and ease of customer assembly.

Extrusion

As we found when we first developed extrusions for the LongMill MK2, we knew that ensuring the flatness and straightness of the new extrusions were going to be critical in ensuring the precision of the machine. With the AltMill, with larger rails and the addition of linear guides, tolerancing was going to be an even more important part of the process.

Having material furthest from the center of the axis of rotation or flex offers the most rigidity in a structure. This is why in the initial design, the inside of the rail did not have any cross bracing. This might be counter intuitive, but actually is the most optimal way to design the rail. However, what we learned was that having some sort of cross-bracing would improve the straightness of the rail in production. While there is a small tradeoff in weight and potential performance, these differences are negligible for the added benefit of having higher production yield.

The original design and the current design both use machined surfaces to ensure that even with some deviation in the straightness and flatness of the rail, the linear motion would still mount without binding, but we found that in extreme circumstances, the rail would be so bent that the center of the rail wouldn’t get machined at all. These rails would need to either be re-machined or scrapped.

Another unexpected small benefit was the fact that the cross-brace increased the resonant frequency of the system itself so that the machine “rings” less.

Additionally, to aid with assembly, the Y-rails come with a small extruded “ledge” that helps keep the crossbeams supported and straight. This also improves the speed of assembly as the crossbeams can be held in place by the ledge while being bolted together, and the table does not need to be flipped twice during assembly to mount the table legs.

Crossbeams also now mount using a custom tall-head screw, making it impossible to drop into the rail, and improving accessibility of the screw head for easier assembly.

To add one more change to the Y-axis extrusion design is the integrated dust cover for the ball screw, instead of the stainless steel covers used on the MK1, which serve the same purpose, but reduce the assembly time and total part count. The addition of the ledge for the drag chain also helps keep it aligned during use. This recessed area also exists on the X-axis rail to help align the drag chain as well.

A last subtle difference in the MK2 extrusions is the consistent use of a more fine bead blasted and anodized finish on all extrusions including the crossbeams. This is more costly than the unanodized crossbeams used in the MK1 AltMill, but greatly enhances overall polish of the machine – even if these parts get hidden by the wasteboard.

Machining

One aspect of the manufacturing that proved to be a larger headache than expected was with the threading of the extrusion, notably, the M4s used with the linear guides and end tapping with the crossbeams. With the manufacturing of the LongMill MK2, we ended up developing a system to tap the extrusions in-house, especially since we had also started cutting rails for each of the various sizes for the LongMill as well. However, given the larger number of tapped holes, we had to bring the tapping out of house.

We found that some of the tapped holes had weak threads, causing them to strip during the assembly of the linear guides or when installing the crossbeams.

We’ve improved the quality control and documentation so that our manufacturers are able to catch poor threading, however, we recognize that ensuring proper threading would always be a part of the manufacturing process, so we are working towards bringing the machining and tapping in-house as well. As a redundancy, threaded sections of all rails have been strategically thickened for reducing the likelihood of strip-out when over-torqued.

Wire management

One of the common criticisms of the AltMill was its lack of well-thought-out wire management. This means that users would end up with a pile of wires at the SLB. Since all of the motor cables are the same length, depending on how far the motor is from the controller, the user would end up with varying amounts of excess cable. Additionally having bundles of long cables going to each corner of the machine can be unwieldy and prone to assembly error.

The MK2 implements new wiring that comes with pre-determined lengths and is pre-bundled for each axis. We’ve decided that although the packaging and supply chain may be a little more complicated on our end, ultimately, the improved tidiness and ease and speed of assembly would be worth it. This means that each cable is labelled and comes to an exact length to reach the controller. This also makes it easier to catch errors in assembly as wiring plugged into the wrong location would also be more apparent due to different wire lengths.

Additionally, each cable harness now includes an integrated limit switch cable, meaning less individual cables to route during assembly, as well as an easier time to identify where each limit switch plugs in.

Limit switches now connect to the integrated wire harness using a small locking connector. This makes installation of the switches and wiring a bit easier, as well as allows for easy replacement of limit switches if needed.

This work is also done in conjunction with adjustments to the front and back motor plates used on the Y-axis to utilize the inside of the extrusion to hide and protect the wiring. Additionally, we’ve made some changes to the SLB-EXT controller case to make wire management easier and cleaner.*

Please note that changes to the SLB-EXT are expected to come near the middle of the AltMill MK2 batch. Both controllers are the same and are cross-compatible with each other.

Motor covers

On the AltMill MK1, motor cables exit from the rear of the motor and curve backwards towards where the cables are routed from. In some instances, this could cause connectors to fall out, or individual cables to break in extreme cases. Early on, right after launching, the individual cable crimps were changed to prevent these individual cables from breaking or coming out, but it was still possible to have connectors become come loose from their socket.

On the AltMill MK2, molded plastic motor covers are used at all four motors to:
-Mechanically secure motor connectors from coming loose
-Provide strain relief for each cable harness and redirect this towards its cable routing path
-Provide protection of the motor and connectors without impeding any heat dissipation of the motor.

Backwards compatibility to AltMill MK1

It’s important to state here that the updates and changes made to the AltMill are primarily for ease of manufacturing and assembly. If you already have a AltMill MK1, it’s unlikely you’ll need or want to change or upgrade your machine to a MK2. Many if not most components are still cross compatible, which means that some replacement parts that will be available for the MK2 will also work with the MK1.

If I have an AltMill MK1, can I update it to the MK2?

If you already have an AltMill MK1, most of the parts are backwards compatible with the MK2. However, most of the updates made are to improve the assembly and manufacturability of the machine, so if your machine has already been assembled, there is little to no practical advantage to updating your machine from a AltMill MK1 to a MK2.

We will not have parts immediately available for purchase, but we are working stocking and uploading parts that can be used between the two machines.

Additionally, if you already have a MK1 on order and would like to change your order to a MK2, please contact us. Please note that changing your order from a MK1 to a MK2 may delay the shipping of your order, plus have a price difference, as we will complete shipping of AltMill MK1 before AltMill MK2.

Electronics and software remain the same and will continue to be updated in line with the MK2. Resources and instructions, and tutorials will still continue to be relevant to both versions of the machine.

If I have an AltMill 2×4, can I update it to a 4×4?

Theoretically yes. To update it to a 4×4 size, you’ll need to replace the Y-axis rails, ball screws, motor harnesses and add an additional 2 crossbeams. It is our plan to have, as we currently do for the LongMill, parts available for purchase in our store for modifications and changes. However, the cost of the conversion on an individual basis may be high, and we don’t have a specific timeline or roadmap for a dedicated kit or instructions, so we strongly recommend ordering and committing to the size that you plan to use for the long term.

Pricing

Base price for AltMill 4×4 goes from $3990CAD to $4290CAD or $2950USD to $3160USD, ($300CAD difference or $210USD difference).

Base price for AltMill 2×4 to be $3890CAD or $2790USD.

Pricing for spindles and other accessories remains the same.

We are adjusting pricing for the AltMill to reflect some of the changes and improvements we’re making to the MK2 and better reflect our current costs for production.

The AltMill 4×4 MK2 and AltMill 2×4 will be available to order with updated pricing on Jan 29th, 2025 11AM EST. On Jan 29th, only the AltMill MK2 versions will be available for order.

Please note that this is expected pricing but pricing may change.

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 (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Hey guys, Johann here. Ever since we announced the Sienci spindle for the Altmill, there has been a tremendous amount of interest from the community in bringing a Sienci-supported spindle option to the LongMill platform. While it has always been our intention to do so, we were busy finishing up the AltMill and other projects, which prevented us from giving this project the due diligence that it deserves.

If you want to read about our previous thoughts, testing, and opinions about spindles for the LongMill, check out this blog post.

The LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit is now available in our store. First orders are expected to ship August/September 2024

Below is our analysis and additional info about ordering the kit.

TLDR Version

• It’s about half as loud as a router
• Easy to connect 
• Offers precise control over your spindle
• New features and functionality when paired with the SuperLongBoard.
• Offers gains in performance over 20,000 rpm
• Orders are open now and will ship August/September 2024

Key benefits 

Noise

In a previous survey of the LongMill community, most people placed “lower noise” as their second highest priority feature (only behind auto tool changing).

In our testing, a 1.5kW spindle is consistently 10dBA quieter than the Makita router at every speed, which makes it a drop-in upgrade that is easily half as loud (half the noise every 10dBA). While a water-cooled spindle would be even quieter, we believed that a small amount of extra noise was a reasonable tradeoff to the extra complexity of a water cooling system.

For some context, this air-cooled spindle produces less noise than the quietest of dust collectors/shop vacs in most use cases up to 23,000RPM.

Plug and Play/Easy to Install

The Sienci spindle comes pre-wired, pre-programmed, and connects to your controller with a single RJ11 Cable (a telephone cable). As with all of our other accessories for the LongMill, come with excellent resources and support. We are currently finalizing the installation guide to upload to our resources site soon.

Advanced Spindle Control

Another benefit of a spindle system is that you can control the start/stop and speed of the spindle directly from your g-code sender or gSender.  With this digital interface, you:

• Can precisely control the speed of your spindle down to the single RPM
• Know when your spindle is at speed
• Know if your spindle stalls 
• Communication between the VFD and gSender to improve the chances for job recovery in the event of a failure

Caveats, Provisos, Warnings, and Disclaimers

Marginal Cutting Performance Gains

This is an area we spent a lot of time and effort digging into since there are varying performance claims floating around the Internet and we’d like to give you our conclusions with some hard numbers. This of course pertains to our product in general, but likely to any spindle kit on the market. We believe we have conducted the most thorough testing and investigation in the hobby space for spindles.

The key takeaway from our testing is that the spindle is not dramatically more powerful than the router. The spindle has more power and torque at higher speeds, while the opposite is true for speeds below 20000 RPM (despite a higher risk of overheating for the Makita).

For 0.25” (¼ inch) tooling, there is little practical difference in cutting performance when upgrading to a spindle since you are limited to 400-500W cutting with the rigidity of the bit. With surfacing, you can use the full power of the spindle, but it also means that you will need to run both the machine and the spindle fast.

SuperLongBoard as a requirement

To take full advantage of the spindle, including the advanced control features detailed above and the all-important partial holding current feature available only with grblHAL, we highly recommend that you upgrade to the SuperLongBoard.

While it is possible to adapt this spindle kit for use on the LongBoard (and we will release more information on how that can be accomplished), here are 6 key disadvantages that you should be aware of:

1. We will consider this a DIY configuration and support and resources will be limited
2. Start-stop control will be unavailable without a reflash of the firmware and additional components
3. The VFD will have to be re-programmed
4. Holding current must be applied in full which can overheat the drivers and motors
5. No stall detection or any other advanced features that are currently in development
6. High-speed machine movements (>4000mm/min) that suit the spindle are unavailable due to legacy driver stability issues.

Dust shoe hose size

The spindle is designed with dust collectors, not shop vacs in mind and as such fits 4” dust hoses by default. To use shop vacs with the dust shoe, you will need to purchase a commonly available 2.5” to 4” adapter (Example found here on  Amazon). We are trying to see if we can offer an adapter at some point, but there are no commitments on this item just yet.

Additionally, the original dust shoe used on the LongMill is not compatible with the 80mm spindle. The kit comes with a larger dust shoe included.

Spindle Mount

This spindle is 80mm in diameter and the mount will be included in the LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit.

The main difference between the AltMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit and the LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit is the addition of the 80mm mount. You can also purchase the mount separately from our store.

Additional Information and Insights

Cutting Volume and Accessories Compatibility

We’ve checked the spindle + dust shoe against every single LongMill configuration ever released (including the MK2 extension kits), and there is no loss to cutting volume to any configuration (the MK2 front feet can technically can collide with the dust shoe, but the overlap is only 2mm (1/16”) and only occurs when you are cutting below the wasteboard).

The story is a bit different with the Vortex which is a lot more height constrained. The additional length of the spindle collet eats into the cutting (and probing) height requirements of the Vortex, and for every machine configuration we recommend raising the feet of the machine up by 1.5” (2 sheets of 0.75” MDF) to restore the original cutting volume.

Weight of Spindle and Mechanical Effects

The new spindle is 2.8kg (6lbs) heavier than the Makita RT0701C router’s 1.8kg (4lbs) which may seem a lot, but according to our calculations and testing, this has a negligible effect on the X and Y axis, requiring only an extra 1-2% of available torque from the steppers motors even accelerating to 5500mm/min. The remaining torque should also be sufficient in making the hypothetical 1.5kW cuts which typically require less than 100N in cutting force.

With regards to the Z-axis, the additional weight can consume up to 27% of total available torque of the motor. Having said that, since boring operations typically involve pushing the bit down into the material, the additional weight is not an issue in such a scenario.

Lastly, it’s also worth mentioning that although the steppers can hold and push the spindle with an adequate amount of force, aggressive cutting can still result in significant deflection of the bit and cause your cuts to come out untrue, so after any aggressive cuts, you should always follow up with a skim/spring or finishing pass to make sure that the surface is accurate and smooth.

Conclusion

While the Makita RT0701 is an excellent option and recommended for most LongMill users, the Spindle Kit offers a high-quality, simple, and well-supported option for the community. To learn more and to order, make sure to check out the store page here.

LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit

$726.00

Docs The lead time for this item is 3 days. The LongMill Spindle and Dust Shoe Kit is designed to unleash the capabilities of the LongMill as a plug-and-play replacement for the standard Makita RT0701 router. Each kit comes with: 80mm Dust Shoe 1.5KW 110V Air-Cooled Spindle 110V, 1.5KW, 3-Phase VFD…

SKU: 064196

Category: MK1 Addons, MK2 Addons, Add-ons, LongMill

Tags: dust shoe kit, LongMill, spindle