Buildbotics CNC Controller

We bought one of thse a few months ago and resurrected an old mill into a CNC device and its been doing production ever since.

Now that we are a little better at programming, we looked into other applications and bought one of the chinese 3040 CNC beds, but the controller and software were pretty much impossible to work with, therefore we bought a send one of thse buildbotics units and will use it to run the CNC bed.
One of the great things about these units is that you dont need to have a computer to run them- just input the G code and you are up and running.

I purchased a Buildbotics controller after having used a controller that requred a separate computer, wow what a difference. I would recommend this product to anyone. Doug went above and beyond with helping me with the set up.

When a friend showed me this controller I was immediately interested. Wireless with SO many options built right in. If your familiar with Octoprint for 3D printers this is similar. The product is solid inside out and the personal support you recieve is second to none. The guys helped me set it up for my machine and in no time I was up and running. This is what a CNC controller should be in the 21st century. Thanks guys for a great product!

What a great product. The biggest feature is the WiFi Access Point. Everything is what you would expect from a CNC controller but the ability to the router table with your preferred computer or OS through a webpage is awesome. It took some getting use to the interface but once all the nuances were ironed out, this controller is a dream.

I'm a newbie when it comes to CNC and I was after a controller that just worked.
The Buildbotics Controller does what it says on the box, plug it in and it works.
I can't thank Doug enough, he answered every question I had before buying the controller even went to the trouble of emailing me during the shipping process to see If I had received it as the tracking seemed to be stalled in Australia.

Awesome Controller and Awesome Support

Thank You
Mick

This thing is great! Any issues or questions I've had have been resolved very quickly and the the controller software just keeps getting better!

I bought a used Dyna Myte 2400 mini CNC milling machine couple weeks ago but found out later that the controller doesn’t have its computer software and the company is out of business. I decided to update the controller and after some internet search found that buildbotics controller is very capable. I asked customer service some questions before I bought and Doug was extremely helpful and told me what the controller can and cannot do. Also some useful tips. So I ordered it and two days later I got it in my mailbox. The machine also come with pre made cables that are very easy to connect. I had experience with other DIY CNC controller and it usually have a separate break out board and driver board which is a nightmare to mount everything together. The buildbotics controller is super clean after all the wiring because of a single unit controller. Also I found that the game pad is very handy to jog around the axes. The biggest surprise to me is how the remote web browser works, it is extremely easy to setup and control. So definitely recommend buildbotics controller for CNC control!

Also I want mention that Doug was extremely helpful and patient, I am not a very experienced CNC machine guy but with Doug’s instruction and wiring diagram, I felt the whole conversion process requires much less effort and time. I spent 4 hours to wire everything on my Dyna and half hour to setup the buildbotics controller. I couldn’t done that without Doug’s help. Thank you Doug!

After all my Dyna was alive again and I tested it using the sample G code from buildbotics. And everything is good as what it should be. I felt great to see the old machine becoming very capable with buildbotics controller. Thank you buildbotics for the great CNC controller!

Xin from Michigan.

After a lot of internet searches and chat room conversations I felt that your product should be the easiest to use. Being new at retrofits, I didn't want something complicated. I have to say I was more than impressed at the ease of assembly and a lower price than the diy kits! It took longer to haul the old monitor out of the closet than to set up the steppers. Not only did everything work as promised, but the service was excellent! I ordered my unit and it was shipped that morning!
I expect to see great things from such a service and quality oriented business!

I am totally impressed with your Buildbotics controller. I have been looking for a solution to replace the controller for my 6040T CNC machine for several months and feel I have found the perfect solution. My CNC machine itself works well, but the stock controller is poorly constructed and leaves a lot to be desired in functionality. I looked at a number of different solutions, but I was not finding anything that would both replace what I had, without having to connect a jumble of ‘things’ together, and also simplify the work flow.
When I found the Buildbotics controller, I was skeptical at first and had a few questions which were quickly answered by Doug. Based upon that discussion, I decided to make the purchase. I received the controller in a couple of days and was able to get it setup within a few hours (most of the time was spent adapting the cables to my machine.)

After running it through its paces, I am very happy with the controller and pleasantly surprised at how much better my 3 year old CNC machine is running. The Buildbotics controller resolved a couple of issues with the stock controller and the various software packages that I have been dealing with for years. With one of the software packages, it would slow down to the point of burning or leaving an indent when transitioning between a line and an arc requiring extra time to sand out. An additional issue I dealt with was when the steppers were cold (< 50 degrees) they would miss steps or not even move (sort of vibrate back and forth) when the feed rate was less than 200 mm/minute, which created an even bigger mess.

The Buildbotics controller runs at an almost constant feed rate which leaves a much smoother finish and more importantly requires less sanding. I also tested when the steppers were below 40 degrees at a feed rate of 25 mm/minute and it did not miss a step. The stepper motors run quieter and seem to run cooler, and my system now has a better and more confident feel.

I have also found that having the software, hardware, and stepper drivers in a single package eliminates the complexity and compatibility issues I previously experienced. Being able to control it from a web page on the same system where I do my design work eliminates a lot of steps (both back and forth to the garage and in the workflow.) I am sure I will find a lot more to love about this controller as I continue to use it. From my experience, I would highly recommend this controller, and the guys at Buildbotics have been great to work with. They are extremely responsive and knowledgeable – a pleasantly unique experience in this industry.