ACMER Ascarva 4S CNC Upgrade
Recently I reviewed the ACMER Ascarva 4S entry level CNC machine. It is a great first machine but is greatly improved by adding a beefier power supply and faster spindle. The ACMER Ascarva 4S CNC Upgrade kit replaces the existing spindle which is a 70 watt, 8,000 rpm motor.
The upgrade kit adds a 500 watt and 12,000 rpm air cooled spindle. This will give the Ascarva 4S a lot more bite.
In The Box
- Power Supply
- Spindle
- Mount
- Hardware / Zip Ties
- Cabling
Major Components (click pics to enlarge)
Installation literally takes just a few minutes and is super easy. The video below highlights the process:
Testing
I went right for the gold and inserted a 1/4″ 60° V bit and did the word “TEST” 3 times at varying feed rates on oak plywood.
Then I went back to the 1/8th bits provided in the Ascarva 4S bundle.
The 1/4″ bits trembled just a little bit and you can discern some rounding on the corners and not perfectly straight lines. Subsequently, the 1/8″ cutting job is greatly improved. From a distance they all look decent enough though.
While the spindle power is greatly improved the Ascarva 4S still behaves better with smaller bits. Can you get it to cut harder woods with a 1/4″ bit? The answer is yes, but you have to play around with feeds, speeds, and plunge rates a bit. Maybe take tiny, repeated passes in depth to get better results.
While the machine can utilize 1/4″ bits, I still recommend using 1/8″ bits to obtain the best results.
The addition of the 500 watt, 12,000 rpm spindle is a game changer and gives this machine a lot more range than before.
Video Example Of A Simple Project
Just a simple carving of my name. The end results were as expected! While I only went down 0.03″ in carve depth the letters are almost perfect although a little hard to see in the video. Believe me when I say that the carve looks great.
Should You Get The Spindle Upgrade Kit?
If you own the ACMER Ascarva 4S then this is a must have upgrade. I have owned a couple other beginner CNC machines and this one by far is the best. And with the 500 watt spindle it is by far the best.
I can almost promise you though that CNC carving is infectious and you’ll be ready to step up to the big league machines.
This is a natural progression. No one wants to buy a $4000 CNC machine and not be able to figure out how to use it.
Having said that, the ACMER Ascarva 4S with the spindle upgrade allows for you to learn your craft inexpensively. This really should be your first CNC machine.
Also, this machine plus the upgrade is great for smaller signage or plaques. It can certainly do a lot for not a lot of money. This is the best way to get started in CNC carving.