I am going to be building a foam cutting CNC. I plan on using the complete 4-axis kit from hobbycnc.com with the 4 200oz-in motors. My wire will be stainless steel .020 single strand trolling wire. The axis will be heavy duity drawer rollers (the ball bering ones, not the cheap slides) either from Home Depot or Lowes. The ones at Home Depot are about $1 cheaper. The supports for the X-axis rollers will probably be angle aluminum or steel with the rollers facing in. The Y-axis will be 2" square aluminum or steel tubing with the same rollers mounted to a bracket that is mounted to the X-axis rollers.
Now here is where my major question comes in to play. I would like to use a stainless steel ballscrew and a spring loaded ballnut for the actuators, but that is going to cost a LOT
Heres my alternative. Lowes and Home Depot have VERY LONG threaded rods. The one I was looking at is 6' long and the threads are 1/2"-13. Is it going to be possible to use this? I realize there may be some backlash in the setup, but with some grease on the screw I think I can pull it off. Has anyone done this for a foam cutter or any other CNC? I am guessing that the CNC program (most likeley GMFC-PE) will be able to be set for the thread size of the leadscrew, right?? I have done the old G-code crap before so this should be a breeze. I am also proficient in AutoDESK products (AutoCAD, Inventor) so the design aspect will be a piece of cake once I figure out the program.
Steve