Any suggestions for a ~1000 dollar CNC router for aluminum?

For a high school robotics team cutting aluminum and polycarbonate, the Shapeoko is a strong name but your $1,000 budget is tight for their lineup. Here's what actually works.

ALUMINUM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

To cut aluminum (not just engrave it), you need

• Minimum 1.5KW spindle — 300W won't cut it (literally)

• Ballscrews, not leadscrews — backlash kills aluminum finish

• At least 50kg machine weight — vibration damping is everything

• Proper chip evacuation — compressed air or mist coolant

RECOMMENDED OPTIONS FOR YOUR TEAM

FOR ROBOTICS TEAMS SPECIFICALLY

Your team needs reliability and repeatability. Design iterations mean cutting the same part multiple times. A hobby machine that drifts 0.1mm between runs will waste your competition season. Consider:

• Used industrial machines — often available from local shops upgrading equipment

• School/district grant funding — many STEM grants cover CNC equipment up to $5,000

• ROCTECH's RC0609: if grant funding is possible, this is a one-time purchase that'll serve the team for a decade. Welded steel frame, servo motors, vacuum + T-slot table, 3.0KW spindle. It's the kind of machine students will list on their college applications.

SHIPPING & WARRANTY REALITY

• Amazon: free returns within 30 days, but good luck getting support after that

• AliExpress: zero warranty enforcement in practice; shipping damage is your problem

• ROCTECH: ships globally with proper crating, ISO9001/CE/UL certified, full documentation. They've been doing this for 15 years with 50 patents — not a fly-by-night operation.