CNC4Newbie New-Carve CNC

About the Machine

The New-Carve CNC covers six sizes on one build, CNC4Newbie's only machine family with a dedicated GRBL settings guide and Easel setup instructions: 500 at 15 3/4 x 14 1/2 x 7 in, 750 at 25 3/4 x 24 1/4 x 7 in, 1000 at 35 1/2 x 34 x 7 in, 1045 at 35 1/2 x 52 x 7 in, and 4545 at 51 x 52 x 7 in (all with 4.5 in clearance under the X carriage); CNC4Newbie also sells a 4510 size option but does not publish its working area separately from the others. It runs 15mm square linear bearings and 12mm precision leadscrews with adjustable brass anti-backlash nuts on X and Y, direct-drive leadscrews with no belts, a square linear Z axis, a 2040 aluminum extrusion frame, and 6061-T6 aluminum motor mounts. Motors and electronics are not included by default; CNC4Newbie says you can wire up any GRBL-based controller, or add its own C4N Controller/UCcnc or Masso G3 Touch package.

Cut Settings on this Machine

Every cut starts with one formula: Feed Rate = Spindle Speed (RPM) x Chip Load x Number of Cutting Edges (flutes). Chip load is the thickness of material each cutting edge removes in one revolution of the bit. This number comes from the manufacturer of the bit, which publishes a chip-load chart for each bit diameter and material. Look up your exact bit and material, start from the middle of the published range, and you have the third number in the formula. The chart below shows the recommended spindle speed for each material and bit type.

The New-Carve doesn't include a spindle, motors, or electronics by default, so its top RPM depends entirely on whatever GRBL controller and spindle or router you build it with, check that unit's rating plate against the chart. Its 15mm square linear bearings and precision leadscrews with anti-backlash nuts on X/Y are solid for a self-sourced kit, but this is a lighter build than CNC4Newbie's rack-and-pinion or ball-screw machines. A truly rigid machine with a powerful spindle can cut as deep as the bit is wide in a single pass, but that takes real spindle torque, a drive train and clamps that hold firm, a gantry that will not flex, and enough mass to soak up vibration. The New-Carve falls short of that bar, so take shallower passes. Push too deep and the bit deflects and chatters, leaving scalloped edges, or it rubs instead of cutting and burns the material. The fastest way to dial in a cut is to see what has already worked for other people.

Worked example for feed rate: 1/8in (3.175mm) two-flute solid carbide end mill in hard wood. The chart says 16,000 RPM. This machine ships without a spindle or electronics, so check the RPM rating on whatever you build it with and use its actual number if it differs from 16,000. With the bit maker's 0.025mm per tooth (0.0010 in), at 16,000 RPM: 16,000 x 0.025 x 2 = 800 mm/min (31 in/min) feed. For depth per pass, start shallow and check Community Cut Settings in Easel for what works on this machine. If the cut sounds strained, reduce the depth, not the feed. Slowing the feed below the chip load makes the bit rub instead of cut.

Community Cut Settings shows the spindle speed, feed rate, and depth per pass other makers actually run for your machine, material, and bit.