Thread: CNC Router (Work in Progress)

Rod,

Your efforts to document the build are greatly appreciated. I've been fascinated by precision positioning systems for ages and i think a cnc is the next step for me.

Being in oz, getting access to the specialised parts is a problem. I have noted all the advice and sources mentioned in the CNC threads on this board. Are there any others you've since discovered or would have used with the benefit of hindsight?

Cheers
Gerry

Hi Gerry,
I haven't found any other suppliers and ebay is my main source these days. I have done a couple of small modifications to the machine in this thread and it has over 100 hrs of cutting time on it now.
I have started a second machine and have a build log for that on another forum. Second time round there is nowhere near as much head scratching and it is taking a lot less time to construct.
There is a growing interest in CNC routers and I regularly get emails from people wanting to build a machine. There is a group over east that meets for BBQ's and I can send you details if you are interested.

Originally Posted by rodm

I have started a second machine and have a build log for that on another forum.

I have followed this thread with great interest as the idea of making one is very appealing. Would you mind posting the link to the other forum so those interested can have a look there??

Thanks

Rod,

I'm wondering if there's any chance you could post the video on vmix or something similar. I missed the chance to see it when it was up!

http://www.vmix.com

There's no cost involved, and they convert your file to flash (which reduces it's quality a bit).

As an example, here is my Puddleduck Video page

Cheers,

P

Rowan
Link is here http://www.cnczone.com/forums/


Peter,
Sorry I deleted the file a while back.

Originally Posted by rodm

.....
There is a growing interest in CNC routers and I regularly get emails from people wanting to build a machine. There is a group over east that meets for BBQ's and I can send you details if you are interested.

Hi Rod,

Pleae send contact details for this group over east including location.

Thanks,
Ozzie

Ozzie,
Here is an extract of the invitation. Looks like it will be 13th or 14th May but it is in Melbourne this time - I see you are in NSW. Just send YNNEB (Benny backwards) a PM and he will give you all the details. They are a great group of people at all skill levels and are very willing to share knowledge and help to each other. Most reside on CNCZone and I have given the link to that in my last post.

BBQ Invitation for CNC

For the past 3 years we have had a few BBQ get togethers for like minded CNC users.
We have had many turn up and the conversation has been fantastic.
Its great to hear and see what others are doing with thier machines.

There will be another one this May, in Melbourne. Full details will be posted soon.

Please regester your interest in this thread.

http://machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=580.0

We do get a great team of guys together.
It will be BYO food and drinks. Otherwise its free.

I hope to have a video projector this meeting, so that we can have some
tutorials from our CAD / CAM nerds, on the day

Guys
I have been using/ applying/ distributing CNC Routers www.matcam.com.au (amongst others) for more than 12 years now and am quite happy to be of any assistance, wether with the machines or the CAD or the CAM or whatever.

I have been busy building a second CNC router (it is addictive ) and as I have been getting a few enquiries from Forum members about building CNC machines I thought I would update this post.

My second machine has a working envelope of 400mm by 400mm by 100mm depth. It is of similar construction to my first machine but I used commercial ralis and ballscrews.

I am happy with the smaller work area as it takes up less room in my shed and will do 90% of the current jobs I have been running.

I connected up the motors tonight and ran X axis at 15 metres a minute. That is very quick for a home made machine and I am not sure if a router bit can actually cut at this speed.

I have a build log for this machine on another forum and if anyone is interested then the link is here.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18369

A couple of photos to show you what I have been up to.

could you use brass or stainless threaded rod for x,y,z or would the thread pitch be to small?

Conventional thinking is that the threads too fine to get reasonable speeds from but if you were making a small machine for say circuit boards it would do.

However also keep in mind you are building a machine to do work while yoiu watch,
So does it really mattter how long it takes?

I agree Bob. If cost is really important then MDF design and allthread is the way to go. The machine will be slow compared to some but no big deal.

Most CNC machine builders eventually want speed from their machines so it is not impossible to retrofit larger pitch screws. The speed is partly because it does get boring after the novelty wears off and partly because some materials need speed to cut properly. I cut some polycarb this week and ended up with a 10mm melted blob on the end of a Vbit. I was using air but the feed was too slow at 600mm/min. Cure was to reduce the die grinder to the lowest RPM and crank up the machine to 1200mm/min. Perfect cut and the swarf was coming out in chips.

Just a point on using acme or conventional threads you really need to use double nuts and a connetion so that you can load up the nuts to take out the backlash.

Thanks Bob and Rod, i have a threaded rod off an old lathe 9 threads to the inch i might use that for the x axis and brass rod for y/z.