CNC for everybody

The CNC Studio machine has been developed specifically for people who need a CNC machine but, for whatever reason, have never actually bought one. Although they realise that a CNC machine would pay off handsomely, they are often reluctant to take this step. They say that the investment is too large or they don’t have room for it, or they’re afraid that they would never be able to use it.

CNC Studio has been developed from this perspective as an affordable professional machine that is able to do what the user expects, quickly and easily. It is designed so that it can be transported to the user inexpensively and installed in even the most unlikely places. Furthermore, thanks to the software developed specifically for this machine, it can be operated by anyone, including people with no prior experience with CNC.

Many sizes

CNC Studio machines are available in twelve standard sizes, most of which can be delivered from stock. Custom sizes are also possible.

Special features

• The main advantages of CNC Studio machines

  1. Excellent value for money
  2. Stable steel construction
  3. Comparable to machines costing up to five times as much
  4. Integrated controller
  5. High speed and acceleration
  6. Software compatible with all major CAM programs
  7. Remote diagnosis and repair via the Internet
  8. Integrated sensors for self-diagnosis
  9. Especially easy to operate
  10. Low cost shipping
  11. Can be installed anywhere and easily relocated
  12. A true 3D machine with extra large Z travel
  13. Unique expansion options
  14. Easy maintenance
  15. Belgian product

• The special CNC Studio concept

  CNC Studio machines are supplied as kits. The critical components are assembled in the factory, while the table itself is assembled by the customer. This approach has major advantages: transport costs are cut dramatically, the machine can be installed in even the most unlikely places, and the price of the machine is significantly lower. The CNC Studio concept ensures that no compromises are made in quality. Using integrated sensors, a test procedure that runs before the machine is put into service checks that everything is exactly as it should be. Assembly is very easy, and mistakes are virtually impossible.
  Of course, all CNC Studio machines can also be supplied fully assembled and ready for use.

• Excellent value for money

  CNC Studio machines are fast, powerful machines with very reasonable prices. Their modular architecture allows the user to personally define the desired machine configuration. CNC Studio offers a full spectrum of options, from absolute bare-bones machines to machines equipped with highly advanced accessories. However, the basic unit in all cases is a professional table milling machine that performs all tasks with high speed and precision.

• 3D controller as standard

  Is the machine you’re considering a true 3D machine or a simulated 3D machine? This is often far from clear. There are many machines on the market that do 3D simulation but are not capable of interpolating three axes simultaneously. The difference is clearly evident in the end product, and the machining time is usually a good deal longer. The CNC Studio machine is equipped with a full 3D controller as standard, which means it is able to fabricate very attractive 3D workpieces.

• Dual-drive bridge

  Driving the bridge on both sides has considerable advantages compared with central drive or single-side drive. They include better acceleration and smoother motion, but the most important advantage is the assurance that the bridge is always perpendicular to the table. The two powerful motors eliminate any possibility of distortion. If one end of the bridge tends to lag behind, for example due to heavy milling work near the edge of the table, the two motors act to counter this tendency and keep the bridge perfectly perpendicular.

• Easy operation

  Operating a CNC Studio machine couldn’t be easier. The powerful user interface lets you operate the machines in many different ways − including the customary manner of a real machinist or using a fully graphic screen where you can control everything in a familiar Windows environment. It’s well known that anyone can learn to use a Colinbus machine in just a short time, but it’s even easier with the CNC Studio machine.

There are hundreds of specific areas where CNC Studio machines can be used. Check this page regularly for more information!

CNC Studio software

• What are the main advantages of CNC Studio machines?

  1. Excellent value for money
  2. Stable steel construction
  3. Comparable to machines costing up to five times as much
  4. Integrated controller
  5. High speed and acceleration
  6. Software compatible with all major CAM programs
  7. Remote diagnosis and repair via the Internet
  8. Integrated sensors for self-diagnosis
  9. Especially easy to operate
  10. Low cost shipping
  11. Can be installed anywhere and easily relocated
  12. A true 3D machine with extra large Z travel
  13. Unique expansion options
  14. Easy maintenance
  15. Belgian product

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• How much do installation, training and support cost?

  The Colinbus installation team is available for customers who don’t want to assemble the machine themselves. In this case your CNC Studio machine is assembled in the factory or on site at your premises. Transport costs depend on distance and accessibility. If the machine is delivered fully assembled, the customer must provide a suitable fork-lift truck. Training courses are conducted periodically at our offices in Hulshout (Belgium) or at one of our authorised dealers. Training courses on operating the machine, machining materials and various CAD and CAM packages can also be conducted on site. The prices of all the services mentioned above are stated on our price list. There is no charge for technical support from Colinbus. It can be obtained by e-mail or by phone. Colinbus’s unique remote service system enables our technicians to check your machine remotely, detect any problems that may be present, and remedy them if necessary.

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• How much maintenance does the machine need?

  CNC Studio machines are designed to allow users to perform maintenance themselves. This means that service calls by Colinbus technicians are rarely necessary. The user guide supplied with the machine includes a section on maintenance and troubleshooting. It clearly describes what the user is expected to do. The most important maintenance task is periodic basic lubrication of the machine. Other maintenance, most of which is required only once or twice a year, is limited to checking the parts subject to wear. All CNC Studio machines are equipped with low-maintenance brushless drive motors and have diagnostic routines that constantly monitor the electronics and software to ensure that the user is notified promptly if something goes wrong. The machine is fitted with sensors that automatically adjust the machine the way it should be if the user needs to change anything in a drive system. Most of the components are industry standard and can therefore be purchased virtually anywhere in the world.

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• How long does it take to learn how to use a CNC Studio machine?

  The user interface of the CNC Studio machines is so intuitive that even people who are all thumbs when it comes to technical matters can learn how to use them very quickly. Unlike other CNC machines, the user interface is entirely graphical and no program code is necessary. People with CNC training can use the machine in the way they are accustomed to if they wish, but most of them change their habits after they become familiar with the Colinbus interface. Working with the machine itself is very simple, and you can learn how to use it within 15 minutes. Aside from that you need to become familiar with the supplied software packages. The learning time for this may vary depending on you needs, ranging from around two hours for simple tasks to four hours on average for more complex tasks. Most users can easily handle their jobs within this standard environment, but in some fields it is common practice to work with other specialised software. CAD and CAM packages are available in all sorts and sizes, from very simple to highly complex and from free to very pricey, and the learning time depends on the package concerned. As the CNC Studio interface can import all commonly used file formats, the options are virtually unlimited.

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• What about the warranty?

  We are proud of the quality of our machines, for which reason we provide a two-year warranty on all CNC Studio machines. This warranty applies to the entire machine with the exception of parts subject to normal wear and tear. Accessories such as spindle motors, vacuum pumps and so on that are not made by Colinbus are covered by the warranties of their individual manufacturers, which may differ from the machine warranty.

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• How are CNC Studio machines delivered?

  Unlike all other Colinbus machines, CNC Studio machines are delivered in the form of several components for assembly by the customer. The customer bolts the mechanical parts together and plugs the cables into the connectors provided for this purpose on the industrial controller cabinet. If you think this sounds easy, you’re right. All critical components are pre-assembled in the Colinbus factory. The only thing we leave to the user is the assembly of the table. This approach has major advantages: transport costs are cut dramatically, the machine can be installed in even the most unlikely places, and the price of the machine is significantly lower. The CNC Studio concept ensures that no compromises are made in quality. A test procedure in combination with built-in sensors is run before the machine is put into service to verify that everything is exactly as it should be, and mistakes are practically impossible. Naturally, Colinbus can also deliver fully assembled machines if so desired. Our charges for assembly and transport are stated on our price list.

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• Why does the CNC Studio machine have an integrated controller?

  It’s true that low-cost CNC machines are rarely equipped with their own processor board, although this is normal with more expensive machines. At Colinbus we are convinced that omitting the integrated controller is not the right way to lower the price. This is why Colinbus has been building machines with integrated controllers for over 20 years and assuming responsibility for the embedded software. Machines that operate without a controller are controlled directly from the PC, which makes them very vulnerable to communication problems. As Windows was never intended to be used for machine control applications, these packages often run under DOS or an Windows shell, but the basis is still the old-fashioned DOS operating system. Most manufacturers use the same software from an American vendor and are therefore dependent on this vendor. Generating a more user-friendly user interface (as Colinbus has done) is impossible in this situation, and making customer-specific modifications is entirely out of the question. At Colinbus we wish to have control over the entire process so we can respond to the needs of our customers. This is why we develop not only our own CAD, CAM and controller software, but also our on electronics and mechanical systems.

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• Is CNC Studio a true 3D machine or a simulated 3D machine?

  CNC Studio is a pure 3D machine, which means that all axes are interpolated. There are still quite a few machines on the market that are able to mill 3D workpieces but interpolate only two axes. You can hear this when the machine is moving, and you can clearly see the effects in the end products. These machines can execute smooth motions in a single workplane, but not in multiple planes. Sometimes “slicing” with a 2D machine is referred to as 3D machining. In this case the software slices the workpiece into dozens or even hundreds of layers in the Z direction, and the machine then mills these layers one by one to form a 3D object. This method is very labour intensive, and the quality of the result is naturally not especially good. CNC Studio is a full-fledged 3D machine that can move smoothly in all three axes at the same time.

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• Is it possible for the bridge of my machine to get skewed relative to the table?

  This is impossible with the CNC Studio machines because they automatically check that everything runs parallel and at right angles. Any deviation that occurs is corrected immediately. This is one of the benefits of the sensors integrated into the CNC Studio machines. In addition to initial setup and servicing, they are used to check the orthogonality of the machine.

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• Why are two motors used to drive the bridge? Isn’t that a waste of money?

  Two motors also means two drivers, two reduction gearboxes, extra rack-and-pinion sets, extra sensors and cables, and more complex electronics. However, the upside is that they make the machine a good deal more powerful and more robust. The two drive motors operate in perfect synchronisation to effectively prevent bridge deformation when relatively thick or heavy material is being machined. An incidental but nevertheless very important benefit is that the machine can automatically correct bridge misalignment. For example, if the built-in sensors indicate that the bridge is skewed by 0.01 mm, the controller issues instructions to the motors to correct this deviation immediately.

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• Isn’t a welded table much more stable than a bolted table?

  CNC Studio machines are designed to have practically the same stability as similar models with welded tables. After making extensive tests and measurements, we chose the bolted version without any hesitation. To the extent that a welded model is in fact more stable, this is totally insignificant compared to the advantages offered by a bolted model. In any case the difference in stability is so small that it is difficult to measure and virtually imperceptible in the milling results.

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• Isn’t the CNC Studio too light to be a good milling machine?

  There’s no question that more weight makes for a more stable machine, but the real question is how heavy a machine needs to be to perform a particular task. It should also be clear that there is a direct relationship between the weight of a machine and its price. Heavy machines also require heavy motors and consume a lot of power, which means they can only be used in industrial environments. In contrast to other machines in their price class, CNC Studio machines are made from steel. There are two reasons for this. The first is that steel has a much smaller thermal coefficient of expansion than aluminium, so the machine is much less sensitive to temperature variations. We know from experience that machines of this sort are often installed in rooms with temperature variations, especially between day and night. With aluminium tables this has a considerable effect on accuracy. The second and most important reason is weight. Colinbus builds quite a few machines with aluminium profiles, but when we were designing the CNC Studio machine we had no doubts about the choice of material. We wanted maximum stiffness and stability, high speed, and a versatile machine that could be installed in all possible situations, and that was only possible with steel. In conclusion, CNC Studio machines are more than heavy enough for their intended use, and light enough to be installed everywhere.

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Practical example