Thread: Another chinese CNC router

Hey Geoff,

I've been busy Christmas shopping & work end of year for a few weeks, so missed all your updates (not that I would have been much help anyway). Seems like you've had much more success than me, thank goodness.

If your motor connectors are like mine, then yeah, they're a bit dodgy, with individual wires being pulled back & forth. However, I'm loath to play with anything that isn't yet broken, until I get what i have working. Rod's suggestion of resoldering might be the go though in the long term.

Russell.

Hi Russell,
I followed the saga of your Chinese CNC with interest, and some relief that I didn't have the same issues. Now that the mechanical bits are all properly aligned, I just need to sort out the stepper drivers - 1 dead so far. I think I'll follow Rod's suggestion of soldering the wires and if I decide to get a 4th axis, then a couple of spare driver boards won't make a big impact on the total cost.
I mentioned that I was looking at making a PCB so I could use the Gecko G250s I have. Well I just got an answer from Marcus at Gecko and they are willing to sell me some unpopulated G540 motherboards at an affordable price. As these will have all the G540 bells and whistles on them, it sounds like a deal too good to miss. I'll still go ahead with a simple interface boards as there is sure to be the time when I just need one driver and not 3 or 4.
Next episode will be getting the spindle working. Fortunately there's lots of help available in this forum from those who've already done it - got to love pioneers!

As I'm about to build a new G540 based enclosure for my CNC router, I thought it might be a good idea to build it big enough to include the Huanyang VFD as well as the G540, power supply etc. If possible it shoudl include a couple of GPOs so I can plug in the computer. I'd like ti to still be portable so not sure how practical this is going to be

Any suggestions as to a suitable case for doing this?

I've been looking at swtichboard enclosures but other suggestions welcome.

What about this from Ken

I know others have done it, but my big far would be the heat from all that power conversion contained in a closed environment. of course you could go the Neon lit, Water Cooled stuff the PC Builders use to cool it all

Russell.

I'd like to have everything in a single container more for convenience than anything else. The CNC router is small enough and light enough to be moved if required (I've already been asked about having it at fund raising event for cutting name tags) so having all the electricals in one box with just a single mains leads is attractive - especially to event organisers who tend to worry (with good reason) about anything electrical that people bring on site

Point noted on venting for heat.

Cut some extra holes in the casing and put 8* more fans on it.




NB *8 may be a slight overkill. Just try it with an extra 2

One thing I noticed in disassembling the CNC router was that there is little, if any, lubrication on either the slides or the ballscrews.
There are no nipples on either the ballnuts or linear bearings.

What's the best grease to use and is applying it to the ballscrews/rails enough?

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

One thing I noticed in disassembling the CNC router was that there is little, if any, lubrication on either the slides or the ballscrews.
There are no nipples on either the ballnuts or linear bearings.

What's the best grease to use and is applying it to the ballscrews/rails enough?

For a lubricant I use Inox MX4, I bought the 5ltr bottle for ~$80
INOX LANOX MX4 lubricant

For grease I use Shell Alvania EP(LF)2 this one is just an industrial bearing grease.


The supported linear rails wont have any nipples but can you see any ports on the ballscrew to screw in a nipple?

Originally Posted by Ch4iS

The supported linear rails wont have any nipples but can you see any ports on the ballscrew to screw in a nipple?

Yes, the ballnuts do have a hole for a grease nipple but the ballnut location means that you cannot install one. You can just see it on the rounded part of the ballnut flange.

The linear bearing has an adjuster nut no provision for a grease nipple.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Yes, the ballnuts do have a hole for a grease nipple but the ballnut location means that you cannot install one.

Yes, we all have that problem. Does anyone know of an extender that will allow a grease nipple to be fitted. Maybe we all need to complain to the supplier.

Originally Posted by Bob Willson

Yes, we all have that problem. Does anyone know of an extender that will allow a grease nipple to be fitted. Maybe we all need to complain to the supplier.

Bob in vehicles there is such a thing and shaped angled ones also not sure what size might go down to but I am sure an engineering supplies might help or model engineers if small.

I am not sure you'll be wanting grease though having seen CNC machines and the dust this would build up very quickly in the grease and clog. I await others responses

I received a power supply, DB9 connectors and a couple of other bits from Homann Design on Tuesday and I picked up the remaining bits and pieces from Jaycar today so all going well, the new controller shouldn't be too far away.
It's going to be pretty close to the Homann design but without any relays, I may add some later as the need arises. No limit or home connections until I figure out the best way to add some microswitches.

As always, there's one small part you forget, or parts in my case. The main one being cutoff wheels for the Dremel. Crimp spade terminals need too. Never mind, the shops are all open tomorrow.

Should have spent a bit of time today getting the mill setup so I could do the case cutout on it. But without the hoist, I'd have to take it all apart - again.