ULTIMATE Bee CNC Router Machine 4 Axis - Open Source / Mach3

Product Description

Neotronics SA has been in the CNC & Laser industry for over 10 years. With unmatched support and price, we are one of the largest CNC & Laser stores in South Africa. Purchasing from Neotronics SA will give you free access to our large WhatsApp support group where you can be part of the Laser Art Community.

Join the Neotronics experience! 

Unlike other CNC machines in the market, which use a smaller and cheaper option, like the Makita router, which doesn't last as long as industrial spindle motors, these are a lot stronger and more durable. They are meant for industrial use as well as small to medium-sized businesses. Our Machines use industrial-grade controllers suitable for businesses.

The machine comes with a complete 1 year end to end warranty and lifetime support.

The ULTIMATE Bee is a solid and reliable CNC Machine. Featured by HGR Rails and Ball Screws, the ULTIMATE Bee CNC excels at cutting through plastics, foam, softwood, hardwood, and even soft metal such as aluminium and brass.

Unlike other CNC machines in the market which uses a smaller and cheaper option like the Makita router, this is using a spindle motor which is alot more stronger and durable. This is meant for industrial use as well as small to medium size businesses.

The ULTIMATE Bee is our second CNC Machine based on the initial WorkBee design lineage, which is characterized by the use of C-Beam Extrusions and rectangular-shaped Y-Plates.

There have been many improvements from the Workbee to the Queenbee and now the Ultimate Bee.

The unit can be purchased as a mechanical frame only, or the option of taking the full machine with all components.

We also offer closed-loop stepper motors and servo motors that can be added to the Ultimate BEE CNC Machine, providing excellent movements and faster speed rates.

Available in Sleek Silver or Industrial Black. Sleek Silver will be shipped as a default color. Should you require the Industrial Black, please let us know on the order comments.

Please note: The following parts are not included:

• MDF Working Table and Drill Bits are not included with this kit. ( This can be purchased at any hardware store ) Drill bits can be found in our store directly.
• Mach3 License is not included with this kit. This License can be purchased directly from the official website.
• Alternative software can be used at users' discretion.

ULTIMATE Bee Mechanical Kit contains:

• Quiet Transmission Precise SFS1210 Ball Screw
• Cable Drag Chain System
• XYZ Touch Probe
• 4x Nema 23 Stepper Motor 2.45N.m-High Torque (Optional)
• Controller Bundle with Wiring Cable Kit (Optional, Highly Recommend CNC xPRO V5)
• Spindle Bundle with Dust Cover (Optional)
• Note: Drag Chain System is already included in the design and does not need to be added after!

After taking feedback from CNC owners and members of the community, some approached us requesting a linear rail solution for their machine at an affordable price, our technicians worked hard researching different options available and ways we can improve on existing designs. The result of the project was the QueenBee Pro CNC Machine.

Carrying on the tradition of community engagement, CNC owners and members wanted more, our technicians went back to the drawing board researching more improvements based on community input, the resulting machine is the ULTIMATE Bee CNC Machine.

The ULTIMATE Bee mainly distinguishes itself from the first design, the QueenBee PRO, by having Ball Screws as a transmission system instead of the traditional ACME Lead Screw. The Ball Screw has high-efficiency levels, delivering more torque to the motor when compared to an ACME Lead Screw used in the QueenBee PRO. 

CNC Model Generation

The ULTIMATE Bee is not only a machine capable of cutting through a wide diversity of materials. The ULTIMATE Bee excels at cutting materials outperforming others.

Compatible Material for Cutting/Milling/Engraving: Aluminium / Hard Wood / Soft Wood / Oak / Plexi Glass / Delrin / HDPE / Foam.

Please note we stock the following sizes: If you require a custom size, please contact our Sales Team.

• 750 X 750
• 1000 X 1000
• 1500 X 1500

Workable Dimensions

Product Features

After many hours of research and prototyping and also getting feedback from the community, we worked on creating the ULTIMATE Bee. The ULTIMATE Bee has many features over previous CNC designs and our team has once again brought an innovating machine to overperform others.

Ball Nut Bracket Gaskets

Precision laser cut 1.5mm rubber gaskets are used on all Ball Nut mounting brackets to allow for easy alignment while maintaining a ridged and secure join to the gantry plates.

The Gasket aids in the building by compensating for any minor misalignment as well as acting to absorb vibrations during operation (essential in a more ridged drive system).

Quiet Transmission Ball Screw Drive System

There are many benefits in using Ball Screws, such as high efficiency and reversibility, backlash elimination, high stiffness, high lead accuracy, and many other advantages. Compared with the contact thread lead screws, a Ball Screw adds balls between the nut and screw. The sliding friction of the conventional screw is thus replaced by the rolling motion of the balls.

The ULTIMATE Bee drive system has been upgraded to SFS1210 and SFU1204 ball screws and ball nuts. The 10mm pitch SFS1210 is used on all axis giving a noticeable increase in speed while maintaining the ability to be accurate and with measurable repeatability greater than or equal to 0.01mm. Using the Spark-Concepts xPRO V5 the calculated resolution of the Y, A and X-axis of the ULTIMATE Bee is 0.00625mm at 1/8th micro-stepping.

The Z-axis SFU1204 Ball Screws have a 4mm pitch so the Z calculated resolution is 0.0025mm.

By using an SFU1204 with 4mm pitch on the Z-Axis the system is able to maintain its position even while the motors are not energized – even with heavier 2.2kW water-cooled spindles! This simple choice means no more broken bits or spindles falling into stock when powering off.

X-Axis Extrusion Revision

The 2040 Extrusion on the rear of the X-Axis has been replaced with a 4040 to allow for improved cable management and rigidity. By adding a 4040 extrusion to the back of a C-Beam Extrusion, the X-Axis is braced with stronger support.

Plate Design

All plates have been completely redesigned to incorporate better cable management, mounting sensors and switches, and allowing for more adaptive integrated applications. All of the main plates are made with thick 10mm aluminium. All surfaces where bearing carriages are mounted have been machined flat to provide a smooth surface for easy and accurate alignment.

HGR Linear Rails

The Y and A Axis each utilize a single HGR15 linear rail with 2 x HGH15CA bearing carriages on the gantry plates. By using 2x HGR15 linear rails, one on the Y and one on the A-side, instead of 4, this reduces the complexity of assembly and rail alignments without compromise on the performance.

Each HGR bearing has a dynamic load rating of approximately 14kN (or approx. 1,400kg).

Diaphragm Couplers

We have introduced diaphragm couplers with the ULTIMATE Bee machines. One of the main benefits of using diaphragm couplers instead of standard flexible couplers is that there is significantly less backlash, as well as drastically increasing the resolution and repeatability of the system. Diaphragm couplers are also designed to have noise reduction and vibration compensation. The vibration compensation increases the lifespan of the mechanical hardware used on the transmission system.

What are Linear Rails and Bearings?

Linear Rails consists of two parts, the rail, and the bearing.

The Rail is a precision machined strengthened steel assembly that has twin parallel tracks to guide a bearing (also know as roller) along.

When combining the rail with the bearing you achieve low friction and high stiffness linear motion for loads ranging from 1kg to thousands of kilograms.

Why use Linear Rails?

There are many applications for using linear rails including; industry, medical, science, defence, mining, construction, transportation. The benefit of linear rails over other types of linear guides is the rigidity, accuracy and load capacity. Linear rails are designed to withstand the force applied from loads in all directions, unlike other guides that are only designed to withstand a load in one direction.

Linear bearings use recirculating balls held in place under tensions for movement. The high strength construction of the bearings make them superior to previous wheel motion in respect to load capacity, displacement accuracy and rigidity.

Credits

“V-Slot” and ” C-Beam” are registered trademarks of OpenBuilds LLC as released under the Creative Commons Licence “Attribution-ShareAlike”.

Controller Options: 

Option 1  - Open Source based - Xpro V5 Controller Set / Makerbase Controller Set

Option 2 -  Mach3 Controller using UC300 Controller Kit

Option 3 - DDCSV3.1 Offline Controller Kit

Option 4 - No Controller Required

Spindle Motor Kit Options

Option 1 - 1.5kw Water Cooled Spindle Motor

Option 2 - 2.2kW Water Cooled Spindle Motor

Option 3 - No Spindle Motor Required

• Net weight: 5.3kg
  
• Spindle Spec: φ 80 x 215 mm
• Power: 2.2 kW
• Voltage: 220 ~250 V or 110 V
• Frequency: 400 Hz
• Speed: 0-24000 R/min
• Water Cooling
• Run-out off: less than 0.005 mm
• Grease Lubrication
• VFD Inverter 2.2 kW 220v
• Collet: ER20
• Sizes: 1mm, 2mm, 1/8″, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 1/4″, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 1/2″, 13mm

Stepper Motor:

NEMA 23( 2.45N.m) Stepper Motor: 

• Holding torque: 2.45N.m
• Rated voltage: 3.6V
• Rated current: 3A
• Step angle: 1.8°±5%
• Phase number: 2
• Insulation resistane: 100MΩ min.(500V DC)
• Insulation class: Class B
• Rotor inertia: 600g.cm2
• Resistance per phase: 1.2Ω±10%
• Inductance per phase: 4mH±20%
• Detent torque: 90mN.m
• Suit for Controller: CNC xPROV5, UC300, High Current GRBL etc.

• Stepper Motor model: 57HSE3N
• Shaft Diameter: 8mm
• Step angle/phase: 1.8 Degree
• Hold torque:  3N.M
• Encoder cable:  5000mm
• Motor cable:  5000mm
• Rated voltage/current: 3.5A
• Outlet mode: single output shaft
• Rated speed: 1000 rpm (no-load speed: 2000 rpm)
• Outlet mode: two-phase four-wire (must be wired according to motor label)
• Suit for Controller: DDCS V3.1, UC300

• Maximum peak current:  5A
• Impulse response frequency:  200KHz
• Subdivision: 200~51200ppr
• Voltage: DC16-70VDC
• Pulse Signal: 3.3V/5V/24V compatible. No string resistor required
• Protective function: overvoltage, overcurrent, tracking error out of tolerance
• Signal input Compatible:5-24V signal (Don’t need a resistor)
• Control Way: 32-bit DSP Vector Closed Loop
• Advantage: Closed-loop vector control to ensure high-speed and high-torque output of the motor and no step to lose

• Size: 52 x 76 x 148mm (2 x 3 x 5.8″)
• Input voltage: 20~50V DC (Typical Value 36V)
• Power: 180W
• Shaft Diameter: 8mm
• Torque: 0.6NM
• Rated Speed: 3000
• Impedance: 0.53±10%Ω
• Continuous output current: 6A
• Speed response frequency: 50KHz
• Peak torque: 1.71
• Maximum pulse frequency: 250K
• Default rate: 9.6Kbps (Required external conversion interface)
• Cooling mode: Natural cooling or forced air cooling
• Suit for Controller: DDCS V3.1, UC300