1.5 KW Spindle Gecko G540 machine build

**bodabalina** · 6th June 2013, 07:47 AM

Hi all. I have been reading some forums (including this one) and found a wealth of information on building a CNC machine.

I took to building one from mostly E-bay components as many have done.

XYZfront.jpg XYZside.jpg

I didn't know where to start so I looked for whatever linear rails I could find in pairs with 4 blocks. I managed to pay about $200 per axis for the rails and blocks. From there, I determined the ball screw dimensions.

The rail lengths are (X) 32.25" (Y) 28" and (Z)14" inches.

(Z rails were shortest I could find with blocks at the time, should still work)

The ball screws are from LinearMotionBearings2008, the rails are all second hand (Y, Z) THK HSR 20 and (X) HSR 25.

The main tools I used were harbor freight reciprocating saw, 5 speed drill press, a bench sander, and a black and decker hand drill.

I'm pretty close to completion, just have to wire the home switches and VFD to the G540, and make the motor mounting blocks for the stepper motors. Also installing a small second load center (Any tips??) because my house's box is full.

I've learned a lot since I set out to do this and there are already some things I would change if I started over, but so far I'm happy with it and I'm looking forward to making some chips soon.

Let me know what you think

**rusel** · 6th June 2013, 09:54 AM

Looking good
What do you plan on cutting?

I might be jumping the gun here as you say you have not finished yet ...I would add some diagonals to you upright post so to add some stiffness to the z axis.

" Also installing a small second load center (Any tips??) because my house's box is full." Do you mean second fuse board?

Russell

**bodabalina** · 6th June 2013, 10:15 AM

Sorry, by load center I mean circuit breaker box. I don't have any 220v outlets and I'll need a new breaker box since there's no room for any more breakers in current one. I bought Siemens Indoor Load Center E0408ML 1125F s Type 1 Includes Breakers | eBay this thing, and I'll check out some videos online about wiring one of these to the main power.

I'm planning on cutting woods, machinable wax and urethane tooling board with it. I'm planning on using a vacuum chamber and pump to degass resins and silicones for casting molds and prototypes all from molds made on the mill.

I would like to also try aluminum for the hell of it but I'll hold off on that until I have a decent flood coolant system and carbide endmills.

I see what you mean about diagonals to reinforce the upright posts, I'll pick up some 1/4" aluminum plate to make some reinforcing brackets. 80/20 sells them but they seem just a little overpriced.

I tapped the ends of the 80/20 with M8 threads and used M8 button head cap screws inside the slots of the 80/20. I had to drill access holes through to get a hex key in to tighten those screws.

**rusel** · 8th June 2013, 09:27 AM

Like you I am in the process of getting more power to my shop. I get the quote next week....

For the light machining that you are looking at doing your cnc looks to be spot on (with angle bracket fitted..

)
Moulding of resins can be fun just got to have the set up right before you start or you find yourself in a ever increasing mess...been there and done this...

Russell

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