CNC Router
- Thread starter blue7
- Start date
my homebrew rig is built! it lacks lead screws and stepper motors/controller, though. in fact im working on the power supply for it right now. planning on using two freebie atx power supplies in series for 24V 9A for the steppers. i have decided to use the hobby cnc 3 axis controller and stepper motor kit. the one with 200 oz-in motors. i figure anything more would be unneccessary. still undecided on the lead screw - maybe someone can point me in the right direction. i'm thinking 1/2 10 5-start acme rod. this should give me very fast rapids. but anyone care to chime in if its excessive on a homebrew router?
blfuller123
Premium Member
I know this is an old thread, but I got all of my rails for my machine now. Will be working on it over the holidays.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Pictures would be nice... and also a budget and materials list.
Bean
Bean
blfuller123
Premium Member
I will get some pictures when I get a couple of things together. I figure I will have about $1500 in it when I get finished. It will have a cutting area of about 42x36.
Here's a render of the one I'd like to build. 2'x4' work area and is pretty robust given that its mostly MDF and HDPE. The designer sells a kit, but I think he offers a cutlist and CAD files free or cheap. Each axis rides along iron pipes using rollerskate bearings set around the pipes. I'd have to dig through the thread but I think he quotes ~.001 inch precision.
Joe's CNC Model 2006 - Lumenlab
Joe's CNC Model 2006 - Lumenlab
i was working with the Heian cnc router 4 heads and 6 heads but those are big cnc machine and the best one .
for small work you can get point to point normal it's mix with router drills and saw in this type of machine you can do different job but the tabel build different to.
for small work you can get point to point normal it's mix with router drills and saw in this type of machine you can do different job but the tabel build different to.
Hello,
I built a small CNC router out of MDF and Igus Track slides for about $300 bucks. It was rather easy to build and it was accurate enough for the model sailplane parts I was making with it. If you need lots of travel things can get costly as good long slides can run hundreds apiece. I really like moving table over moving gantry designs. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
I built a small CNC router out of MDF and Igus Track slides for about $300 bucks. It was rather easy to build and it was accurate enough for the model sailplane parts I was making with it. If you need lots of travel things can get costly as good long slides can run hundreds apiece. I really like moving table over moving gantry designs. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
blfuller123
Premium Member
I decided to go with THK supported linear rails. I will be making the gantry and frame out of steel. I am waiting on a couple of quotes right now but hope to get it all started soon.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8717339#post8717339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DHyslop
Here's a render of the one I'd like to build. 2'x4' work area and is pretty robust given that its mostly MDF and HDPE. The designer sells a kit, but I think he offers a cutlist and CAD files free or cheap. Each axis rides along iron pipes using rollerskate bearings set around the pipes. I'd have to dig through the thread but I think he quotes ~.001 inch precision.
Joe's CNC Model 2006 - Lumenlab
Any word on the kit cost?
blfuller123
Premium Member
Someone was asking about a kit, here is one I found, but I dont know anything more than what you see here about it.
http://www.mikebeck.org/
http://www.mikebeck.org/
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
that kit does not look as substantial as the one at Lumenlab.
The shame is that it takes a CNC to make a CNC. It appears that the 200oz motors are the way to go no matter what you do and the mach3 is the best driver software to use.
I am getting more interested in this than I should be. I spent days researching the designs a few years back and came up disheartened that it would cost me $1500 to make a decent machine.
I am not even sure what I would use one for... maybe a plastic part here and there and small woodend projects here and there.
I don't build models and don't do lost foam casting (though I would like to some day).
What exactly do you guys use your cnc routers for?
The shame is that it takes a CNC to make a CNC. It appears that the 200oz motors are the way to go no matter what you do and the mach3 is the best driver software to use.
I am getting more interested in this than I should be. I spent days researching the designs a few years back and came up disheartened that it would cost me $1500 to make a decent machine.
I am not even sure what I would use one for... maybe a plastic part here and there and small woodend projects here and there.
I don't build models and don't do lost foam casting (though I would like to some day).
What exactly do you guys use your cnc routers for?
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I think 5/8 of the allure is simply building something that "can" do so much or be so accurate. It is kinda the same as wanting a slushie or softserve machine for your basement, even though it will NEVER get the use required to make it worth the trouble.
I MUST build one of these... even though it will not get used and will likely never pay for itself.
Please let us know what the lumenlabs kit costs.... It appears to be well made and cheaper to do than most of the stuff at cnczone and the other sites I have looked at.
I MUST build one of these... even though it will not get used and will likely never pay for itself.
Please let us know what the lumenlabs kit costs.... It appears to be well made and cheaper to do than most of the stuff at cnczone and the other sites I have looked at.
It'll never pay for itself, but that's not why we make things. The aquarium will never pay for itself, either 
$700 for all the cut MDF and HDPE pieces, plus shipping (somewhere in the Lumenlab thread he gives dims and weight for the box so you can calculate shipping to your zip). This also doesn't include the hardware--rods, motors, fasteners--but there's also an itemized cost and supplier list in a pdf somewhere else in the thread.
Dan
$700 for all the cut MDF and HDPE pieces, plus shipping (somewhere in the Lumenlab thread he gives dims and weight for the box so you can calculate shipping to your zip). This also doesn't include the hardware--rods, motors, fasteners--but there's also an itemized cost and supplier list in a pdf somewhere else in the thread.
Dan
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Maybe we should ask about a group buy... or but one and split the materials cost to use it to fabricate more of them.
$700 ... how am I going to justify that. $250 for the steppers... $200 for the lead screws etc, $150 for the router...
So yeah maybe $1500
This does seem like one of the better kits I have seen though. I still kick around the idea of using heavier alumuminum and just designing and building something myself.
Bean
$700 ... how am I going to justify that. $250 for the steppers... $200 for the lead screws etc, $150 for the router...
So yeah maybe $1500
This does seem like one of the better kits I have seen though. I still kick around the idea of using heavier alumuminum and just designing and building something myself.
Bean
blfuller123
Premium Member
I dont think the one I am building will ever pay for itself. I just really like to build things and I really get the satisfaction of making something and then seeing it work like I wanted. I do a little wood work, but I really like playing around with acrylic too. I am to cheap to buy my skimmers, reactors, or tanks for that matter so I justify this to myself in every time I want to try and build a new toy, I have to right tool to make it.
I figure I will have $1500 in my machine, but it is not one made of wood and it uses real linear bearings and rails so it should last forever and be fairly accurate with the cuts. I have been doing a lot or research in the past couple of weeks and all the machines have the same basic concept. I am going to use steel for the frame and gantry to mount the rails on (scrap steel is cheap) basically so I dont get any flex. So far the rails and bearings where the high dollar parts. You can get a complete 3 axis kit (electronics) for $400 and using acme leadscrews seems like the best cheap way to go for around $200 total. So for my $1500, I am going to build something that will do what ever I want and maybe just upgrade the electronics if I want something faster in the future and not have to build another complete machine.
BTW, aluminum is a lot more than steel, but it is real easy to drill cut and it is a lot lighter. Just my 2 cents.
I figure I will have $1500 in my machine, but it is not one made of wood and it uses real linear bearings and rails so it should last forever and be fairly accurate with the cuts. I have been doing a lot or research in the past couple of weeks and all the machines have the same basic concept. I am going to use steel for the frame and gantry to mount the rails on (scrap steel is cheap) basically so I dont get any flex. So far the rails and bearings where the high dollar parts. You can get a complete 3 axis kit (electronics) for $400 and using acme leadscrews seems like the best cheap way to go for around $200 total. So for my $1500, I am going to build something that will do what ever I want and maybe just upgrade the electronics if I want something faster in the future and not have to build another complete machine.
BTW, aluminum is a lot more than steel, but it is real easy to drill cut and it is a lot lighter. Just my 2 cents.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
teh lumenlabs sites has a link to a (3) motor set with 200oz motors and controller for $250 or so. Are you going bigger than that? What plans did you end up buying and how are you going to fabricate the steel and get everything precise?
blfuller123
Premium Member
I actually have a couple of sets of plans, but the best thing I have was a book that I got from amazon. I cant remember the name right now, but when I get home next week I will post the title. Actually, I think the name of the book is posted in the first couple of pages in this post. The guy builds a 4x8 router basically from scratch. I am pretty much going with his instructions, but changing around the sizes to fit the rails I bought. All of the steel will be welded together. I am going to be using the http://www.xylotex.com/ setup with the 497oz motors because it is going to be heavy being made of steel.
