****Testimonials****

The AeroSpace Engineering Department, Oklahoma State University:

"Thanks a lot as the CNC unit is now working for 3D objects and we are starting to learn how to make molds directly using the CNC. We are seeing that what formally would have taken over a week to do can now be done in less then an hour. Once again we look forward to using your unit and in fact there has been talk about purchasing a third unit as well.

Overall we have been very impressed with the table and are looking forward to many more hours of CNC fun."

Joe

Jim

"Great cd, thanks, great to do business with. AAAAAA+++++"

Robert

Joe

Thanks,"
Dave

 "The machine is a work of art! Very nice!

Thanks very much"
Raymond

 "You WAY UNDERSTATED how cool this CD is. The high quality of the descriptions, the bill of materials, the DXF files and the photographs [especially] is without a doubt one of the best I have seen.

The design is very good too, in that it is simple [relatively] and straight forward. It appears inexpensive to build as well, without being cheap, which is a big downfall of many of the plans [I have more than one.].

Being a designer of furniture, clothing and automobile interiors there are subtle clues to quality, one of which is presentation of the idea. The manner and completeness of the presentation of the ideas on this CD are just a small clue to the quality of the thought behind the product. "

W.R.

"PHIL!    I made my first cuts today!

its finally all up and running...   finally done!....    making parts, assembling, painting, computer building, software, basement cleaning, wiring, testing, on and on and on..  And now it all works!!!!"
Steve                

"Phil, Got the CD today! I'm impressed! I have an aluminum frame that's welded 1.5" X 3" tubing, measuring 55" x 40" that I'm going to use as the foundation. I'll upscale the X and Y to fit my frame. Going to use 1250 in-lb Nema 34 motors on the X and Y. I'll let you know how things turn out."

Gary

"PHIL, MACHINE WORKS GREAT, WHEN YOU SEE MY NEXT PICTURE OF A LITHOPHANE YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT!
THANKS" JOSEPH
   

"Hey Phil,

Sorry I did not email you sooner.

Thanks for the kind words on cnczone.com. I had a great time building from your plans. You need to charge more for the CD. This thing has so much information and the pictures where a huge help. Anyone could modify your plans to make this just about any size they wanted. My welding experience was little to none but I had no problem welding the ends up using your jig that I built. It would also be very easy to bolt the ends together if someone did not have access to a welder. I would recommend that anyone even thinking of building a CNC router purchase your CD, it is packed with information.

Thank you,"
Dennis (xmac)
  

"Phil, Everything is falling together. Very impressive design and the templates work flawlessly! Outstanding Method! I am very impressed with your design and it is apparent that you have spent much time and thought on your designs."

Mike

"Hi Phil,
I am 61, retired, hold a couple patents and was GM of my own division of a company with 650
employees. We built a  product I designed. I had come up through the ranks starting out
working on the Apollo heat shield re-entry program.

I feel fairly confident that I am somewhat qualified to evaluate the quality of your product, as well as the content of your presentation. Simply put, yours is the best I have seen---period. I am truly proud of some of my accomplishments and means of presentation. This machine of yours is top line and the subtleties and variations you offer are astonishing. Hard for an old dog to admit it, but I wish I could have shared the helm with you before I retired. I think we would have had great fun! I really look forward to completing your design.

Warmest regards,"

Ray

"Phil... Attached is the carving just completed on DeskCNC in the Carve Mode. I used a .125 ball end mill at 30 IPM. X & Y step over was set at .020. The depth was set to .060. The carving took just under 4 hours to complete.

The carve is that of an Open Wheel Modified Race Car that competes at Stafford Motor Speedway where I am a Director, here in Connecticut. The Photo was imported directly into DeskCNC and then set to carve. Actual size is 15" X 7.5". This carving is part of a larger piece that will be given to
the driver of this car to commemorate his 100th victory at our speedway.

The machine runs and performs flawlessly. The fact that I can produce this kind of a project and still be able to complete other work at my shop at the same time makes this a cost effective addition to my custom furniture and cabinet business.

Thanks for your continued support"
Jimmy

"Phil,
Enclosed are pics of my machine. I had a great time making it. If you look at the "Z" axis, I have installed limit switches. I have also fully detailed it in Solidworks."

Tim
   
 

"Hi Phil:

Attached are several images. Feel free to take your pick.

I designed a cabinet from birch plywood that supports the CNC machine and contains the computer, controller board, power supply and a built-in vacuum. The top of the cabinet is melamine. Interior shelves are adjustable. The cabinet is on rollers so I can move it around my garage. Doors are located on the front and the back. The computer, power supply and controller are in the front. The vacuum is in the back.

I constructed a plexiglass housing for the power supply and controller board. It has a cooling fan mounted to one end that slides into a PVC Irrigation fitting allowing air to enter from the outside of the cabinet. I placed some filter foam inside the irrigation fitting that blocks sawdust from entering the unit. You can see the connection in the interior cabinet shot and also the exterior shot that also shows the three section switch that controls the vaccum, spindle and controller.

Everything works great and the machine is very reliable."

Dean

(Very Hot!)

(Note the fans on the stepper motors. This is more than a good idea, it really makes a difference in performance.
- Adding grills increases safety)

"There is zero slop everywhere. Nice tight system."

Dan K.

 
 
 
 

Dan runs the web page "The Hobbyist Machine Shop" and has documented this build. To see the machine come together please see his web page at http://thehobbyistmachineshop.com/shop30-3.html

(This build is using 5/8" lead screws for X and Y and they are Teflon coated! Dan has made motor heat sinks that are very nice and worth a look.)

"Hi Phil!

I have finished building the machine!"

Leonardo

"Here are some pics with the screws installed. Its on a temporary stand. I welded a L steel on the bottom of the frame to keep it centered on the stand and to provide a lip for the MDF board to sit on. Had Mach 3 drill me a hole grid. Routed stepper motor wires through frame. Loose wires are for home switches which I still did not order."

Large machine travel of 56" by 33" coming together.
Jim B.

"As I said along time ago this is a dream come true for me building a machine like this, truly a monumental achievement for me."

Ricky S. - CNC for life!!

(Great job on the build and the stand looks great as well - Phil)

John

Hi Phil,

"Just an update, I have got most of the mechanical stuff done and now into wiring. I've got to make a purpose built table yet to suit but it will come soon.
I've attached a few photo's fyi."

Regards"
Simon

"I also included a picture of my last guitar which was the first job I used the CNC on. It worked just great! I could not have done that name inlay without it. My web is www.poehneltcreations.com if you want to see the kind of things I normally do.

Thanks again"

Dan

"Hi Phil

Thanks for the help today. I did get the screw installed and double checked everything for square. It is working flawlessly! I have even moved beyond cutting just inlays and am now starting to cut out parts.

I have included pictures of the stand. The stand actually has a 2x4 framework with plywood attached to the frame. I also installed adjustable feet to the table so it can be leveled. I did put 1 drawer on the side opposite the controller opening but if I were to redo it, I would have put in as many as would have fit. Never enough storage space. The plywood top is dadoed for the T track and then the T track is screwed through the plywood into the 2x4 frame. I use the T track to clamp the various tables to the stand and use double stick tape to attach the parts to the tables. It works very well.

 

Thanks again"

Dan

Very Cool!

"Hi Phil,

...

Here are a few pics of the cabinet that I constructed.  This will cover the machine when I'm making sawdust with other projects.  All of the electronics are stored beneath in a fan cooled compartment.  The panels on top (which are a workbench height) come off to access the machine.

 

Thanks for all you do,"

John

"Perfect!"
"The machine has been running great.  I've been experimenting with different projects. ... so far all on V-Carve. 
Here's my weekend project."






"Hey Phil,
 
I learned a technique to scan a design from a design book, create the vectors in V-Carve, and then cut out the design on the CNC machine.  In this case I used a pattern from Wayne Barton's design and pattern sourcebook. (bought it online for less than $20.00). ... check it out.
Thanks,"
 
John

"We'll call this my first successful piece.
Kind Regards,
A very happy - Jeff"

"Hey Phil,

Thank You!"

Scott

26" X 42" TRAVEL!

Scott is the maker of Cake safes for transporting cakes, to see his work check out his web page at - CakeSafe.com

"Phil:

Thanks again for a great machine, I am really enjoying working with it.

Bob"






Check out these signs!

Grim reaper radio - http://grimreaperradio.com
Using the Pilot Pro CNC to make high powered PCBs

"Hi Phil

 

Building a CNC machine has been a lifelong dream since purchasing one outright was always way beyond my means but working with Phil at PDJ over the past 14 months allowed me to build it piece by piece so it became a reality. The system functions flawlessly and has enabled many projects that would otherwise not be possible. I build scale radio controlled model aircraft and this tool has allowed me to make precision parts that actually fit in half the time. Plus, it is an investment that pays for itself time and time again. I would do it again in a minute."

Sincerely,

Earl J. Aune

Vancouver, WA

Photos of large scale radio control model aircraft  for national competition (U. S. Scale Masters Association). F4U-5 Corsair night fighter with radar that sweeps across the CRT and a 8 foot wing span Ryan PT-22 trainer dash board built by the Pilot Pro 2







Photos of the Corsair dash board with radar sweep, leather engraving and a leather pin cushion as a Christmas present for our neighbor.  Built by the Pilot Pro 2

"Hi Phil, just wanted to show you a circuit board I made for my sons business (www.eficonnection.com). I use to etch them but doing it on the CNC machine is much quicker." Mark

PCB's with slotted holes and custom outline - Very impressive work!

"Just for you here is some pictures of some of the work i have done with my CNC machine. These first 
three are very simple boxes i made to display and carry polished stones or rocks. one of my other hobbies. 
More picture in my next email to follow right away."
Greg G.
  
  
 
  

From a hand drawn drawing to a work of art, young master Brian completed his high school wood shop project the Viking Box. After approximately 2 hours of drawing, 6 hours of digital conversion and design of each individual piece (36 pieces in all).

"Machine is up and moving. I have a few small things left but that's it. Opened the boxes 
and it put itself together. I have attached a  pic. I will send some better ones when I finish it."
Mike W.


"Phil, 
Have  been using the machine and love it. I have yet to set up the digital probe or a axis but
that will be soon. In the meantime here is some of the stuff I have done so far."
Mike W.
 
 
 

"Attached are pictures of our completed waterjet machine.  I covered the ball screws and 
slides with polycarbonate to keep the water spray away from them.  We do not use an 
abrasive.  The machine is mainly  set up for cutting foam rubber and soft plastics."
Wes A.

This is so SWEET!!!

"Hi Phil, 
Dad and i did a test the other night using Vetric Software which interfaces quite nice with your
system. We milled the Open sign in Styrofoam and it turned out real nice. It is great to see 
your machine you sold us does this kind of work for thousands less than what other 
advertised CNC machines would cost. We are learning more and more each day. Thanks for 
getting us started."
Jonathan 

"Sorry l did not get back sooner. I have been in Wyoming hunting. Here are some photos. Let me know
what u think. Slowly learning bobcad. Hope to make a pilot pro sign on front of cabinet." Phil

Outstanding job! Nice over head arm for the vacuum hose. I bet it swivels. Note: Move the vac attachment so the vac
hose is in front of the router.

Ben – Carrollton, Texas - Great system, looking forward to many projects! 

Excellent!

Bill – Great looking anodized system!

 

"Hi Phil,
...These grooves are all of uniform depth. I have cut forms with tapered 
grooves on practice stock and I am achieving accuracy of .001 +- .002. Awesome!
...One neat thing I learned about Mach 3, which I’m sure you knew, is that it interpolates
for me. That makes producing my tapers very easy!

I’m having a ball with your machine. I will send more pictures when I actually have a 
finished product! 
Stay tuned, 
Bill 

DAVID In North Carolina
First project - Making G's for a college party

Ultralight aircraft parts!

"Chassis cutout looking pretty good. 6061-0.063” Aluminum."
Steve



Tom's "Signs In Wood.com"






Here is a double sided sign I am working on. It is carved in 2" mahogany and measures 18" X 27". Tomorrow the Pepper tree and and words get painted. The tree trunk will be a beautiful gold. This was designed by my friend Greg Gurden. It was carved on my awesome Cnc Router Pilot Pro.