cnc build - Aluminium

Nismo · #1 9th Nov 2009, 11:51 PM

Hi all

I was bitten by a cnc bug about 9 months ago and my baby is nearly here,

its been a fairly slow build doing little bits at a time
but its coming along, I used 60x30 and 30x30 aluminium profile for the frame
all axis's run on 16mm SBR with 4 bearing blocks on each axis

All the electronics come from ttjarrett and have been running fine using Mach 3
at the moment im using cheap allthread with 20 turns per inch with speeds of upto 1300mm per minute, im leaning towards emc2 instead of mach 3 only because its free
just waiting for 2x 256mb ram to turn up so i can run linux on the cnc comp,

Still looking for free cad n cam software though

attached is a few pic's of the frame i don't have any recent one's but will have some tommorow if i get time

rodm · #2 10th Nov 2009, 02:19 AM

Welcome to the Forum Nismo.
Your machine looks good and will be interested to see more of it.
I like the step in the gantry and the aluminum profiles make for a neat machine.

Nismo · #3 10th Nov 2009, 12:50 PM

Camera was flat so had to take the pic's with my phone
Sorry the pic's arn't the best,
Does anyone know of any free cad n cam software?, not trial or demo
I've been playing with Gsimple but keep getting a no suitable finishing tool error when saving gcode doesn't matter what tool i select or using auto select get the same error

Regards
Andrew

Greolt · #4 10th Nov 2009, 02:17 PM

Andrew

In 2D CAD there are any number of free offerings.

ProgeCad is a free Autocad lookalike. Which means it is fairly powerful, but also like Autocad, has a learning curve.

For more artistic style CAD like Corel Draw or Illustrator, then look at Inkscape.

Free 3d CAD is a different story. Some use Google Sketchup. I am not familiar with it.

Alibre Design used to have a free version. Not sure about that.

In CAM there are a couple of possibilities, CamBam has a free version and there is FreeMill which is 3D.

Can't think of any others.

If you thought about buying a 2D CAM then make sure to look at Vectric Cut2D

Greg

seafurymike · #5 10th Nov 2009, 04:40 PM

Welcome aboard Andrew.

Given the photo background in the second lot I have to assume your looing to build planes with the CNC?

I started into CNC with this intention. To date i have never cut a part for my RC aircraft.
CNC is so addictive. I love it.

I agree with Greg, given the money you have outlayed on the machine, a couple of extra dollars on a good CAM software like vectric is worth it.

/M

Nismo · #6 10th Nov 2009, 05:28 PM

thanks greg and seafurymike
I have tried trial vectric cut2d with mach 3 and really liked the easy to use feel i may end up using them just can't afford it at the moment,
i also now have to buy a window's xp CD as I put Linux on my CNC comp to run EMC2 but it won't run properly the work display window in emc2 line floods the screen

just more money to spend

@ seafurymike one thing i was planing on using the cnc machine for is to make Depron RC plane's Nice guess

, If i can ever afford to finish it

I might see if i can get a windows xp CD with Key on ebay cheap

snowyskiesau · #7 10th Nov 2009, 05:47 PM

Andrew,
Don't forget to check out the traditional auction places for second hand PC'

I picked up a small IBM desktop (P4 3Ghz, 512MB, 80GB disk) to run Mach/EMC2 for only $55 from Grays. I might have to add a standalone graphics card but still a cheap option.

Nismo · #8 10th Nov 2009, 06:08 PM

Thats alot better than the comp i got mine's 1.2mhz 512mb 20gig wasted $5 buying it as it won't run emc2, but it run's mach 3 and windows xp and linux fine,
it also won't run Vectric cut2d but i didn't expect it too, I use my main comp for that,

I might just wait till i can afford cut2d and mach 3 licences because all the free stuff has driven me up the wall

John H · #9 10th Nov 2009, 06:59 PM

Nice looking build there Nismo.

You can't go wrong with any of the Vectric software, it makes things so easy to use. I've never tried emc2, but if you go for Mach 3 there are few guys around that know it pretty well to provide assistance.

Nismo · #10 10th Nov 2009, 09:42 PM

Thanks john
EMC2 looks good on my main computer, I downloaded Linux ubunto version which allready has emc2 installed, i run linux straight from the boot cd and it all run fine on my main comp, Then i done the full install on the cnc comp wiping windows all to find out it couldn't handle running emc2 tool path screen

can't beleive windows xp is still around $100

Nismo · #11 19th Nov 2009, 10:21 PM

ITS ALIVE

its been machining parts for itself,
building my cnc machine would have been so much easier if a had a cnc machine to make the parts,

parts that took me 1-2hrs only take it like 10 minutes

plus i get to sit back with a cuppa tea and watch,

I do need to get a longer bit though, as the router bit im using only has a 15mm cut
and it tends to burn the mdf when it rubs on the shaft,

rodm · #12 19th Nov 2009, 11:04 PM

Wear that silly grin for a week - we all do after it runs for the first time.

Nice to see it running and cloning itself.

John H · #13 20th Nov 2009, 07:51 PM

Well Done Nismo!

Nismo · #14 20th Nov 2009, 09:17 PM

Thanks John
Know have to get a 3d cad program and 3d cam
I have been using Cadstd and cambam with mach3 and its been going really good,
but the funs limited with 2d

also have to buy the licence for mach 3 to get more than 1000 lines of gcode

Nismo · #15 21st Nov 2009, 04:09 PM

Was Sketchup pro always $495 i thought it was a lot less than that 6 months ago
I think i'll go with vectric 3d cam program
Still looking for a good 3d cad program that doesn't cost $1000 +
don't plan on spending more on the cad than the complete cnc machine cost me to build