Samurai 120 CNC Machine was the brainchild of Ben Izen. The initial series of machines are being funded by a kickstarter page that is running until 30th November 2021.
The specifications and features of the Samurai 120 CNC machine are impressive:
- Spindle
- BT30 1.2kW 6000rpm
- Pneumatic drawbar
- 350mm (13.5″) Spindle nose to table
- 280x190x220mm XYZ travel (11×7.5×8.6″)
- Linear rails on all axis
- C7 Ballscrews on all axis
- Automatic precise homing on all axis and spindle
- Automatic tool height probe
- Automatic crash detection
- High performance grease lubrication
- Flood coolant capable
- Steel clad way covers
- Overheat protection
- E-stop, start, pause buttons included
- USB or Ethernet PC connectivity for increased reliability
- 5 Axis capability
- PoKeys 8 Axis CNC motion controller, with 80+ outputs and 100+ inputs
- Mach 4 hobby license
The initial price is £5000 + delivery on kickstarter. However, longer term this is targeted at £4400.
This machine looks like serious competition for the Tormach and Syril.
The prototype machine looks good and the design has been honed based on it being used in a real job shop.
This machine has been through hundreds of iterations over the years. I used this machine for a job shop business so any time there was something I didn’t like, I would change it. I repeated that cycle for years and thats how we have ended up with an exceptional machine.
Ben Izen
This also means that the specification has been optimised to something that works in the real world.
The conversion kit is £5000 if you pay by PayPal and £2.5k on kickstarter. The difference is time, with the PayPal route you will get a kit in around 5 months. You will not get the kickstarter kit for 12 months. That’s quite a few months when you can be making parts.
You are supporting the development of a new design CNC machine. Even with a number of parts made in China this will have significant content made in the UK.
Lots of the images on the kickstarter and instagram pages are rendered CAD. The spindle is one of those and it looks stunning.
However, the prototype machine looks just as good.
Spares and Repairs
This machine has been designed to be fairly easy to repair and for you to do the repairs. This is a good way of keeping the costs down in the longer term. This also means you are more likely to understand how the machine design in detail and so treat it with the respect to ensure a very long life.
Unlike most companies, we charge less money for replacement parts than they cost us. That way if you need to buy a replacement part, we lose money, and therefore there is no conflict of interest. Many other companies charge way too much on replacement parts, essentially making money from that, therefore they have no interest to make a more reliable product since they make money when something goes wrong.
Conclusion
The specifications of this machine are good and the parts made by the prototype machine backup the claims on capability. At the target price of £4400 this will be a serious contender for the small machine shop and the serious hobbyist.
Ben’s aim is to design and make an affordable and desirable CNC machine that is great for the hobbyist and professional. If this new CNC machine company makes it off the ground fully with the aspirations they have posted then this will be exciting.
Get yourself onto Kickstarter and support this project – be quick though or you will miss out and you will kick yourself.
Follow Samurai Machine Tools on Instagram to get the latest status and progress.
We will update you once we get a chance to see one of these machines first hand and maybe even get to use it. Hmm, I wonder how many engines I could make with a CNC machine like this……
CAD Software II
CAD Software II or more simply a second go at learning FreeCAD. Back in March 2019 I looked at CAD software options. I installed FreeCAD 0.17 and had a go at creating a flywheel. Then my interest fizzled out, mainly because the learning curve was too steep.
Then I updated the software, sat down and spent a few days learning and using it. The key point being that I had a need to learn it.