Hi guys. First of all this forum is incredible.
I have been researching CNC routers for nearly a year now.

If any of you seasoned CNC'ers have interest in helping a noob out and making some money at the same time, get in touch with me.

Building one of these units is beyond my skill level, so I am hoping someone out there may be able to assist.

Thanks in Advance

building is half the fun! It's not really a skill level thing, but more of a patience thing.


plus, (no offense) if you're not willing to take the time to learn how it works and how to build them, if it breaks or needs maitenance, you'll be clueless. You need to learn g-code, have a cam and cad package, and know cad to use a cnc router. also, have you looked at www.kleinbauer.com yet? he has many good plans too.

materials would probably be about $200 + $300 for the steppers, controller board, and power supply if you went the www.hobbycnc.com route. Softwae alone is very expensive. you could use a9cad which is free but doesn't seen very popular.

a cam program is anywhere from $60 upwards. Turbocnc (dos) is $60 Mach2 (more popular and runs in windows) is $150. assuming you leave the cad program out, you'll be spending over $1000.

what are you planning on cutting with it?

hope my post offers you some insights.

Bill

Bill, thanks for your comments. Are you interested in taking this on?

I regularly use more than 12 various software applications. I am also an inventor.
Perhaps my choice of words "skill level" were innacurate.

Due to long term projects I have ongoing at the moment, I don't have the time now to devote to the skill required to build it.


Believe me, there will be no lack of attachment to the device I will spend all the time i need to know how to use/maintain it.

Figured costs in the range you mentioned (depending of course on the controller and motors etc.)

I would love to build it, however there are better people here to do the job. I am a 17 year old high school student and am currently in the process of buying parts (and tools) to build my first. I too have limited time. next week I have final exams and during the summer I am working 7 to 5 for an IT department. you may want to look at k2cnc routers (you can find them through a google search) they are probably much more accurate than a mdf one. also check out e-bay. they almost always have j-gro stye routers.

I would be interested in building you a router, but it would not be the JGRO design, it would be my design. I can provide more details if you like.
Here is a link to my original thread, the design has undergone some significant changes since then. http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3059&page=8&pp=10
colin

I am intrigued...

Can you send me any pics, and what is the cutting area?XYZ
How is the accuracy?

there are pics in the link he left.

But he said the design has changed a lot :)

there's a neat vid in the link, 3.5 mb or so wmv. By the way yukon, great router!

Midevilone, I am in the final stages of the update. The major updates are that I will be using IGUS linear slides instead of the skate bearings, new thrust bearing mounts and new antibacklash nuts.
The machine will be completely CNC cut, accuracy and precision will be as good or more likely better than any other wooden router out there (due to the rigidity).
I am going to be building one for myself over the next month (or two, I have to move July 1) and it would be an ideal time to build two side by side.
This machine is already well proven, I have used it for production for over a year.
I have not got any new pictures since, as I mentioned above, I have not yet built a new version.
XYZ is 22 X 11 X 3 and the machine is R-I-G-I-D, I can stand on the table with no flex.
If you would like I can discuss further details through email. You can get me at colin@like90.com
This machine will cost more than the JGRO machine, of course, but I do not yet have an exact price.
Thanks for the kind words bkukowski.
Cheers,
Colin

I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes here but I'd like to offer another suggestion.

Have you conisdered buying some of the parts and making the others? The reason that I ask is mainly because of shipping weight. The JGRO router uses nearly one full sheet of 3/4" MDF and nearly one sheet of 1/2" MDF not to mention the nuts, bolts and gas pipe. I can't imaging shipping it for less than $80 with no insurance.

If you look in Joe's Thread (http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82750#post82750) you'll see that is he offering most of the difficult to machine parts for sale. If you were to buy all of the parts he has listed, I think all you would have to do is cut out the wood parts. I managed to do that in one weekend using a low-end table saw and drill press. The really hard part (read time consuming) has been machineing the smaller parts (especailly the Anti-Backlash Nutes), and final assembly.

Another idea you might want to consider is the K2 line of rotuers advertised on this site. The reason I mention them is because of your budget. A realistic estimate for the materials in a JGRO router is $650 - $700. If you add your advertised $500 you're in the $1200 plus shipping range for a wooden router. On the other hand, the K2 machines start at $1150 plus electronics (and possibly shipping) for an alum. machine. (To be fair, to match the JGRO capacity which I believe is 38" x 19" x 5" you'll find yourself in the $3900 range). I looked long and hard at the K2 machines and in the end decided that the experience of building my own machine was worth the effort for me.

I hope this helps.

have you got someone to build it yet? if not e-mail me. here's one I built using hobbycnc steppers and board.

have you got someone to build it yet? if not e-mail me. here's one I built using hobbycnc steppers and board.
Nothing final yet. Still weighing options.
I'm interested, looks like a nice design.
What size cutting area?
What kind of accuracy?
How much total cost including the $500 payment?
you may e-mail me directly @ timothy(at)presidiostudios.com (NOTE replace "(at)" with @ I am trying to prevent spam...)

have you got someone to build it yet? if not e-mail me. here's one I built using hobbycnc steppers and board.
Interested in discussing with you... :)

I am just curious as to whether you ever managed to get one built for you?

I am not in a position to offer to make one.. just curious as to the outcome of your quest...

Eddie