CNC Router

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8849077#post8849077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blfuller123


Fluxion,
Looks great. Are you happy with its performance? What have you cut with it? [/B]
Click to expand...

Actually I am quite pleased with its performance for what I have in it. I am going to upgrade the leadscrews to 1/2-10 ACME thread here in the next few weeks if I can find the time to make use of the larger steppers I used. I am planning on building or buying a much bigger machine for my business when I get this little on e mastered. I am working on a fourth axis right now so I can learn about that and I hope to build a four axis machine with a working envelope of 24"x24"x120. So far all I have cut are a few Acrylic pieces for the Geosapper I am working on that ended up in the scrap bin and some wood parts for custom computer desks that we manufacture at my shop. That is after running the roadrunner file and the punisher skull a few times;)


Oh and I use Mach 3 with a Xylotex 4 axis drive 24v powersupply and 425 in. oz. steppers.

If any of you are contemplating the construction of a cnc machine definatly hang out at CNC zone for awhile!
 
hey guys does any one have auto-cat 2006 i just got me a copy but i will like to talk to some one who does work with it
 
Okay... how many of you guys are serious about doing a CNC unit but have not yet started? It may be nice for everybody to work on the same machine (including choosing a good design).

There is not much price difference between the 200, 400 and 900 motors.... so my thinking is to go with the big boys. The linear bearings are nice, but most of us can not afford them, so a iron pipe/skate bearing setup is likely the most affordable. I can't see using a rotozip and being that limited... so the hitachi router capable units are likely the most bang for the buck.

Thoughts?
 
OK i have most of my parts cut out for the sosylva plans i have all the bearings and dolts and nuts plus i have the xylotex combo of 3 motors of 435oz this weekend i will put it together or try

for sofw i have auto cat 2006 and i like to know or get some help on beginning with it plus i am looking for mach3 or 4

what ells i need for this

BTW

beananimal i will like to talk to you if you like send me a pm with you're number thanks
 
thesaent we can talk later this week... as far as autocad, you may want to go buy a book.. It is a rather steep learning curve :) You may also want to check your favorite websites for ebooks.

Bean
 
Bean, it sounds like you've really fallen for that Lumenlab kit!

I'm a year or two out from building one--I need to have a house first. Otherwise I like to think I'm serious about it though :)

Dan
 
Yeah... either it or one similar. I just don't want to pony up $700 for a kit. I like to build things myself, but don't think I have the tooling to tackle some of the other kits and do it accurately.

Bean
 
hey beananimal what do you tink about what i am doing plus i forgot to say i am building that machine but i have the new plans for the biger sosylva machine wich i will make after i learn with this one
 
What machine are you building first?

I think I am going to build JOEs machine, but may try to do it without CNC parts. I will cut out templates and then use the router to duplicate them. I do not see how the sosylva machine can be that accurate.... I am going to go spend a day or two at the cnczone and catch up on learning about this stuff.

Bean
 
Well I picked up the steel for the gantry today and took some of it it is over to my buddies house for welding. Hopefully I will have it back in the next couple of days and I can get it put together. I also got the last piece of aluminum for the z axis. MAybe this weekend I will get something worth taking pictures of.

I think I have convinced myself to use one leadscrew under the cutting area on the X axis instead of two screws and steppers.

If any one is looking for some linear bearings, pm me. I have some 30mm ones that I dont need.
 
I have meant to reply to this thread but I am out of town and I have finally found internet access in the Ozarks!

Bean,

I noticed that you want to go with the larger motors. With the larger stepper motors you will need to either gear down the drive or move to a more efficient screw with a coarser pitch. The smaller motors have more stepping torque at lower speeds. The Zone had a lot of information on this. That said the acme threaded rod in 1/2-10 two start seems to be just right for my motors. I get plenty of speed on my y-axis (the only one with the acme thread right now) and I seem to get less chatter a slower cutting speeds. I will be upgrading the other two axis very soon!

As far as the accuracy, I have measured a repeatable move in the X and Y axis to +or- 0.003". Pretty good for cheap Lowe's allthread. ;)
I haven't measured the Z axis or the Y since upgrading to the Acme threaded rod.

Now for the price of the machine, I will have to add it all up when I get home on Sunday. Aside from the stepper motors, drivers, powersupplied ect. I only had to buy the threaded rod, aluminum extrusions, Bearings and the belt drive components. I own a cabinet shop so I had all the plywood ,(mine is all laminated Birch plywood) nuts, bolts, screws, conduit and even the HDPE for bearing blocks lying around in the shop.

I am pleased for what I have in it!

Here is a acrylic stand for hatching brine shrimp in 2 liter soda bottles.

DSCN1529.jpg
DSCN1528.jpg


I cut the large 4 1/4" holes for the soda bottles in the top and the holes with the open side for the neck with the cnc router. It took about 45 minutes for me to make the drawing create the code then set it all up and cut it out. I could have done the same thing in less that ten minutes with holesaws. LOL! This was more fun, at least I can make something with it!

Here is a few more recent photo's

The first one shows the cabinet on which I have mounted the router.
DSCN1522.jpg

DSCN1525.jpg
DSCN1520.jpg


This one shows the pullout shelf with the driver board and power supply mounted.
DSCN1524.jpg


I have a lot more work to do on this one but I am planning my next two machines already!
 
I am torn now... that is dirt cheap, but Joes machine looks like it "should" be a better machine but a LOT more work and without CNC it will be a long process getting all of the parts exact.

I have read that some of the guys liked the belt drive, others hated it. TOO MANY DECISIONS and I would like to get started on something.
 
You seem to be in the same position I was a few months ago. I thought the Solsylva design would get me going faster then I would build my own design. I don't really like following someone elses directions!:)

Joe's is a fine machine I had thought about building one for my second machine using my first to cut the parts. But with all the metal working equipment at my disposal and the 1kw servo's I scored for cheap, I will be building a much bigger machine out of steel next. THe belt drive is tricky to get running right. Too much tension on the belt and your speed suffers. Luckily with the small router I have mounted speed isn't that much of an issue. With Joe's design you can mount a heavier router. I don't think the Solsylva design anything larger that the Bosch colt would work very well. I have a Porter-Cable Trim router mounted and for the small work I have done its fine but I won't be happy for long.
 
Exactly... I keep thinking... hell I can build a rigid frame and gantry....

I would like to be able to mount a full sized router...

This is somewhat frustrating.
 
hey guys sosylva have a new plans for a biger machine i have averyting cut and set to built the big machine from the old pans this weekend and i just got the plans for the new machine i am tinking to learn the most with the first machine and then make one more powerful the 4th machine for sosylva is biger and is in aluminum i tink it can be built in steel if so can it be bad idea
 
Why 4 machines? I can't even decide on one.

I would love one that could do 4'x8' but that is not realistic for me. So the machine Fluxion built or joes machine are about the biggest I could deal with. Though the machine fluxion built does not suit be because of the router size and joes machine is a bit too complicated (and expensive) for a first project.

Bean
 
i am sorry the plans are for 4 machines from the Small's one to the las one which is the biggest till now i am planing on making or finishing the second biggest which is the same as fluxion ,then go to the bigger one later after i learn the steps

fluxion what software are you using now i just got my hands on auto cad 2006 and 2007 which other one you recommend i am leaning to mach4

thanks
 
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