Sienci Labs has launched the AltMill MK2, the successor to the AltMill, a CNC machine that is not yet a year old.
The AltMill MK2 serves as more of a refresh than a full-on upgrade of the original AltMill, however. The machines don’t differ in power or capabilities – instead Sienci Labs says the MK2 was built to “address and improve the overall manufacturability and ease of customer assembly”.
These improvements include redesigned extrusions with internal cross-bracing that reduce vibrations and increase rail straightness when the machine is in use. Another example is a newly added ledge that supports the Y rails, making them easier to bolt on and eliminating the user’s need to flip the table during assembly.
The AltMill MK2 also comes with “pre-bundled” wiring for easier and more convenient wire management. There’s also an integrated dust cover for the ball screw, as well as a finer “bead blasted and anodized finish on all extrusions including the crossbeams”.
The AltMill MK2 comes in two versions: the 4×4, with a 49 x 49-inch working area, and the 2×4, with a 25 x 49-inch working area. Specs-wise, the machines are equals, with closed-loop stepper motors that can cut at claimed speeds of 600 IPM, and compatibility with 80 mm spindles and routers.
Because the first AltMill and the MK2 are essentially the same machine, Sienci Labs says “there is little to no practical advantage to updating your machine”, so long as it has already been assembled. That said, most of the MK2’s parts are backwards compatible, so there’s seemingly no harm in giving your AltMill a facelift, should you desire to do so.
Prices for the AltMill MK2 4×4 start from $2,950, while the base 2×4 version costs $2,790. Users can opt to tack on a spindle and dust shoe kit for an extra $515 ($510 for the 2×4 version). Orders are expected to start shipping in March or April. Check Sienci Labs’ blog post for further details.
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