Thread: diy steel cnc upgrade

Hi Michael,
Since you have steel channel for your X axis I assume you mean the gantry sides.
Your gantry is tall so I would be looking at 12 to 16mm plate. You could use 10mm and fix a strengthener at right angles same way you have used the tube on your steel design.

If it was me I would keep your steel sides as you will gain little by converting to ally. I would also increase the under belly plate to full width of the gantry sides to limit racking. This could be 5mm ally plate.

Is there a reason you want to change the gantry sides if this is what you are asking?

Or do you mean the Table? I think Rod uses 10mm aluminium for his, If I could get it I would use the same.

Willy

Sorry my mistake , I meant the z axis, every thing stays as you see in picture. cheers Michael

Hi Michael,
There is only one gantry on your machine. That is Y axis and is the nice new Item or 8020 ally beam. The gantry sides connect the X axis to the Y axis and are the vetical memebers that have the RHS tube welded to the steel plates.
I have been assuming it is the gantry sides that you are referring to.
The confusion mught be the way you have set up the machine.
The common method of working a machine is when standing at the front of the machine (in your case the right hand end of the photo) the X axis moves the gantry towards and away you, the Y axis moves across the table and Z goes up and down.
If you have set it up with the X and Y swapped that could explain the confusion - nothing wrong with doing that by the way.

Ok we are on the same page now.
At least 10mm ally and 12 is better and 16 best if you are attaching linear rails and ballscrew to it.
I use Smart Aluminum in Malaga as they do offcuts and are competitive.

Thanks for that Rod. I think I have these going the other way around, thats why I'm confused.every thing I cut comes out ok but untill now !! I better check all my settings. cheers Michael

Have priced up 16mm ali at capral in malaga, about $250 Thanks Michael

ouch
Try 12mm as you will get away with that.

Thanks Rod. Will go for 12mm. Now I better get back to work. Cheers Michael

Hi Rod

Spoke to a different guy at capral and was given the wrong price on 16mm plate.
About $80 so i will go 16mm plate on the (Y) axis.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, hate to be backwards all my life.

Cheers Michael

Originally Posted by mkc2

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, hate to be backwards all my life.
Cheers Michael

Rods good at that

Must be a monster to move that around the workshop oh and yep forgot to say
Welcome

Haven't see you around these parts before.

BTW nice design, nice and strong.

Just curious but is that 6mm plating on the side?

Hi guys
I mainly hang around the cnc zone but always hinding here in the shadows.
Yes the side gantry is 6mm plate steel with 40mm tube down the sides very strong.
My cnc is very heavy with feet and wheels to move around, no one will ever steal it, The main frame is C channel 150x75x10, Put a V8 in it then you have a tank
Here is before picture and now

Cheers Michael

Hi Michael,
You are not wrong those are big motors driving it.
I like mass in a machine and you have done it well including finishing off with a console.
I did a similar thing using bearing and fabricating my linear rails but like you I retro-fitted commercial rails eventually. A good move and you will appreciate the difference.
Down the track one of the Chinese spindles would be worth considering as they make a big difference over an Ozito both in cut quality and noise levels.