OK friends
After reading and learning for more then 6 month the very basics of the mechanical principals on a router table I end up with my first machine. It is a wood machine inspired in Joes first one. I really had fun making it and help me understand what every body says but I cold not see. I had no experience at all in electronics and good, very good new friends help me put it together and took their time to help me set up MACH3 with my Xylotex 3 axis kit. When I first start building I thought it was going to be a school and I could use it to do a second one ( Joes 2.006) . Now when I am ready for the second one, I decide to use all that time dedicated to read and check every single tread and try to build not a second wood machine, but a steel machine. (no aluminum frame in my area)
I want a very rigid machine, for cutting wood, acrylics and engraving non ferrous metals. (Commercial signs, kitchen cabinets, educational toys etc)
I am designing a machine that can be totally disarmed.
I might have problems with the treaded rod because I can’t buy them in mi country (the acme type) I can only get the regular treaded rod. Any way when I get to that point I should have an answer.
I am planning on using structural tube 4” x 1 ½” for the Y gantry. My linear will be made of double ride of bearings type 638zz that is 5/16 in the inside.
The frame will be tight up by inside 5/16 treaded rods and after everything is aligned correctly I will use single spots off welding just to keep the alignment and that I can take out very easily any time y need to change any part (I don’t want to use sow many bolts and making tread for them)
I know that the Y frame and the X frame I am hoping to use are pretty heavy ( not sure yet but I guess that around 25 Kg sow I need help and advice to know what I am planning to do is viable and what kind of stepper I am going to need for moving that “tank.” to 100IPM
I want to use the motors direct to the rod.
Right know I am posting some general drawings and hope that my project can be of the interest off you people.
I owned the little I know to the efforts of all of you sharing and helping each other and I want to thanks for that.
By the way I am sure you all notice that English is not my native language and imperial my numerical system.
Regards
Hugo Carradini

PD. You can check what I really do at www.vitrales.com.ve

Any progress Hugo ? make sure you post some pics as you build it, do you have a log of your first build ?

Russell.

Nice stained glass by the way...

Hi epineh.
Thanks for your contact. I guess i was timid to show progress if nobody had interested in the tread. I made modifications of the original drawings and finish the basic structure. I am happy and it is rigid and heavy, and i was worried that the gantry was to heavy but it rides softly and the weight disappears. Right now I am in a mini vacation but as soon I get back , will be a pleasure to be posting many pictures to show my progress and listen to your commentaries. A have many questions to make and hope you people can help me.
Thank for your commentary about the stained glass
Regards
Hugo Carradini.

Looking forward to seeing the machine also.

Just post the pics Hugo the visitors will come like bees to honey.

Jason

No probs Hugo, look forward to some photo's when you finish your holidays.

Russell.

Hello every body.
I started mi project but did some changes in the original drawings. In the X rails I was going to use two ¾” pipes for each side but I change my mind because the welding that I need to hold the pipe was going to affect the straightness necessary in the rails so I went to rectangular tube that it can be adjusted easily so I had to change the way the gantry is going to run. For this project I had to learn all by my self to weld so that’s the reason some welds might look very poor but they are strong (I hope so, jaja)
I cut the basic frame of the gantry.
The gantry is armed using 5/16 fasteners. That help a lot to square, because it can be tied up when you are satisfied, and can adjust easily when is need it. I am going to ad ¾ angles in the bottom corners of the gantry (not yet in the pictures) to help keep aligned and tight. The Y rail in the gantry will have two bolts on each side to lock the rail to the gantry (not yet in the pictures). Like I said before am using structural tube 4”X 2” X 4/16” . I am posting the first pictures of my second baby and counting with the help and advice you guys can give me.
Thanks .
Hugo Carradini

Hello friends.
Like I said in my last post, I change the way my gantry was going to ride.
I am posting the changes I made. I made angles with bearings easy to adjust and I am going to ad an extra screw to adjust the bearings to the rail. I will be sending pictures when it is done.
I am planning to insert a screw in the angle at the bottom of the gantry when everything is square out , the same at the ends of the Y rails sow it will be very tight.
The other strange piece is my moving Y side that is ready for painting. It clamps over de Y rail un run nicely.
Hope to hear any commentary. I am a strong guy sow you won’t hurt me.
Thanks to all.
Hugo Carradini

Looking good Hugo.
Have you found something to drive it with yet?
Know you were having trouble finding acme threads. Have you concidered belts? Don't know if they would be any easier to find. It depends on the size you are trying to achieve. Car timing belts and the timing gears out of old cars could get you almost a metre of travel if you are really desperate.
Paul

I had to learn all by my self to weld so that’s the reason some welds might look very poor but they are strong (I hope so, jaja)
Hugo Carradini

Those welds look as if they will do the job Hugo, pretty good for a self taught beginner!
I once heard a man describe his as "gorilla welds", his explanation was they are ugly, but strong. :)

Very ingenious bearing mounts you have created.
Keep up the good work & thanks for sharing your progress.

Yeah, I won't knock your welding either, its amazing what a coat of paint and creative camera angles can disguise later on ... lol
So long as they do the job they are sweet.

Your machine is taking shape, good work, great to see progress happening, keep the photo's coming.

Russell.

Hello friends.
I am posting the solution I am going to use for Y axis.
Next week, will be receiving from McMaster, precision acme rods 5 TPI ½ for Y and Z and ¾ for X .
I was planning to get 3 495 onz/in Nema23, but y have 3- 269 onz/in Nema23 and to keep cost under control , I think I will be using while I keep learning and I can change eventually to bigger motors.
My gantry is going to be 75 Lbs including the Hitachi router

Great job Hugo. I'll be watching this thread with interest. I like the way you made your mounts, definately a possibility for future use.

Do you mind telling me what type of welding your using?
Im just curious because Im doing a course to get my welding qualifications at the moment.

Great looking machine so far. It looks strong. Keep it up. :)

Hi diarmaid .
I have no idea of welding. I just got a small welding machine , practice for two days with some metal scraps and that is it. I have some theory but definitely , practice makes the difference, so I hope that for my next machine I can show some decent welds. Right now i am concerned in keeping the pieces together, jaja.

Well done! (Or should I say weld done?.. ;) )
I like simple ideas that looks good, and it seems you've caught a great idea.

--S

I'll second that!
Well done! (Or should I say weld done?.. ;) )
--S

Hugo
Thanks for the photo updates. Keep them coming.
It looks as if you have captured the interest of at least 8 different areas of the world.

Keep up the good work, Hugo!

It is very stimulating your commentaries . This forum help me a lot when i started and i just want to turn something back , if it is possible.
Thanks to all of you guys.

Hi diarmaid .
I have no idea of welding. I just got a small welding machine.

Diarmaid probably wants to know what type of welding process your welding machine is.
Does it have a wire feed for the continuous electrode, with gas shielding or flux cored electrode?
Another common process uses "stick" electrodes each about 35 CM long, with flux coating on the surface.

Thanks Weldtutor .
Now i understand.
I generally use stick electrodes 3/32 for common steel. They are probably little for the thickness of the steel i am using but it looks to mi that they are holding well. Like I said , my welding machine is little .I tried stainless steel electrodes that are easier to burn, but they are almost twice the cost .

Thanks weldtutor/Hugo, I was thinking either stick or Mig, but just curious.

OK guys.
This is the simplest way a figure to work out z axis. As you all notice I am doing every thing with basic tools so I have to use very simple solutions . I am using these project to learn because i find out that I love to build them and seems that I cant stop . Know I understand the meaning of the word addiction, jaja. When I finish these project I am going to buy a small mill and a small lathe so I am sure my next next project will be more attractive.
Regards to all
Hugo Carradini

Nice work Hugo, seems to be a common practice, Hobbyist has need for a CNC machine, Hobbyist builds CNC machine, Hobbyist gets addicted to CNC and starts planning his 2nd, 3rd etc machine hehe

Glad to see another "Addict"

Machine is looking strong, keep up the good work.

Russell.

That's a good Z axis design Hugo. I like the fact that the router is so close to the linear rails to reduce any pivoting forces.

Jason

You are right Jason, that is the intension.
One thing I learned from my first machine was the flexing off the linear rails and the pivoting of the Z axis sow i have been concerned basically in those two basic problems problem . I don't understand why many designs have the gantry sow hight and the router has to ride sow far if many of us are basically going to work with 2.5 axis .The upper the gantry , the more flexing possibility . I am building a machine considering that I am not going to cut nothing bigger than 2 inches so I want my pushing force to be close as possible to the bit to reduce the pivot effect to a minimum. If I need to change the bit, I change it on the upper side of the Z rail sow i can have mi gantry as low as possible.
Thanks for the commentary

You are right Jason, that is the intension.
One thing I learned from my first machine was the flexing off the linear rails and the pivoting of the Z axis sow i have been concerned basically in those two basic problems problem . I don't understand why many designs have the gantry sow hight and the router has to ride sow far if many of us are basically going to work with 2.5 axis .The upper the gantry , the more flexing possibility . I am building a machine considering that I am not going to cut nothing bigger than 2 inches so I want my pushing force to be close as possible to the bit to reduce the pivot effect to a minimum. If I need to change the bit, I change it on the upper side of the Z rail sow i can have mi gantry as low as possible.
Thanks for the commentary

:idea:
Now why didn't I think about that? Maybe... :withstupi

(wedge)

Great work, Hugo!

:cheers:

Well here are some more pictures. It is raining a lot around here , so painting has been not possible. I am making a table where I can add the rails, and use some screws to adjust, pushing out, and at the same time i will have tree fasteners pulling the rails inside so that will give me the opportunity to tight the rail when is already square and wont move.
The bottom legs will have some 1/2 inch re-bar to to keep them from moving, and at the same time , that can be take apart easily.
I don't like yo post wit out paint (looks so messy) but at the same time i really want to share so hope you don't mind;)
Thanks to all

I don't like yo post wit out paint (looks so messy) but at the same time i really want to share so hope you don't mind;)
Thanks to all

No probs Hugo, we can appreciate your work without paint, good to see more progress.

I can relate to the rain, it has rained for about the last 7 months around here, I have to fire up my driver cards soon or they will start growing mould, at least we don't have to water the grass lol

Russell.

Hello friends.
For some strange reason McMaster send me this answer when I ask what happened to my order that appear as shipped in their web page but my courier never receive "Due to the ever-increasing complexity of U.S. Export regulations, McMaster-Carr has decided to only accept orders from a few, long-established customers of ours overseas. We cannot accept your order, and regret any inconvenience this causes you.
Melly Garza"
They just have to send to an address in Miami where I have my courier.
I send the 10-26 a letter to homeshopcnc , because they have good ballscrew but haven't had an answer yet, so I am starting to get nervous, because this baby needs action. Hope you guys can show me a couple of places where I can buy on line.
Thanks for the help.
Hugo Carradini

PD. McMaster had a nut that I was very happy to get and it was around $112. If I can find one similar would be nice. I am going to use one in the base of the X gantry and the acme rods are 3/4 5Tpi, 2 starts for the X gantry and 1/2 -10, 5 Tpi for Y and Z.

Hi Hugo
Were in Venezuela are you I visit Maracaibo once a year
my wife is from there.

Hi mactec54 I live in Pto. Ordaz and I am glad to know your wife is my "paisana". Keep in touch.

Hello People.
I Finally Had Answers In My Stuff And Every Thing Will Be Here For The 19 . I Just Had To Say Something Sow The Tread Would Not Freeze Out. I Am Spec Ting Some 3/4 Acme Rods 5tpi And The Respective Precision Nuts And Also Got Some V Bearings And A Couple Rails To Tried Them Out. Is A Problem When You Depend Sow Much On Importing Your Stuff From Out Side Because You Cant Get Them In Your Country, But What Can You Do Beside Waiting And Going Crazy While You Wait Jaja
Regards To All And Hope To Be Back Working Soon.
Hugo Carradini

That's good news Hugo, we await your progress reports.

Jason

Finally my stuff is coming in. I got to say I am very excited,but earlier was very worried because my acme rods came in but the box was bended on one corner and i tough the rods were bend and you all know that if they are bend they are not useful anymore, but they where OK .
I still expect other things but there goes some pictures.
Regards

Looks good hugo.
Where did you order your ACME rods from?
Im having trouble getting them over here.

Hi diarmaid.
I bought my rods and nuts at this address www1.mscdirect.com .
They are quick and items well package.
Hope it help.
Regards

Hope to see those rods a 'spinnin soon...

Russell.

Hello friends.
Back to work. I had to stop for a while because to much work in my studio.
Any way I was not satisfied with the bearings assemble y made for Y because it was not stiff enough, sow I change it for V bearings and made some modifications.
First a thought to put a couple off angles on the Y gantry and have it flat out with a mill but then I check and they would fit very nicely, I was just missing so little that I tried using some aluminum foil and when I ad the fifth piece it strait out nicely so I went over and weld the angles carefully not to bend then and it work beautiful .Putting de V rails in a flat surface is very ease and I am sorry did not use it for X rail.
Adding the Z gantry is going to easier and I hope it will be a lot more stiff.. In my original design the acmes where on the back side of the Y rail now I am going to put them in the top of the rail.
Regards
Hugo Carradini

Hugo,

What is the total width of the Z-axis assembly as shown in post #22 ?

Jason

Hi Jason
Dimensions are 9" x 3" x 16" x 6mm
I am going to rebuild because is unnecessarily heavy. The 6mm are going to come down to 4mm keeping the same dimensions.
Monday I am having fix the rods and hope have something to show at the end of the week
Regards
Hugo Carradini

Thanks Hugo.

Jason

Hello friends.
I am really upset.
I have 20 days waiting for some one to fix my rods and build the stand for the nuts and they take the work and then never have time so I decide to build the stand for the nuts. Finally they call yesterday to tell my there was a chance to fix the rods on Monday, well lets see. Thats the problem in this part of the world , need more responsibility.
Hope you people don't be to critic with the nut stand details, all I got to build is a disk metal cutter , a small stand drill, an even smaller welding machine and lot of enthusiasm.
I will use something similar for X axis
I rebuild the Y axis because it was unnecessarily heavy and keep the same structure but lighter tube.
I all sow ad a screw to tigt the bearings in X axis and works great (the wood will go away)
Regards
Hugo Carradini

Hello friends.
all I got to build is a disk metal cutter , a small stand drill, an even smaller welding machine and lot of enthusiasm.

Hugo
With all your enthusiam, you will succeed.
Anyone could do it with all the right equipment.
It takes a real craftsman to build it with basic items! :)
Thanks for sharing the new pictures & keep up the good work.
WT

I like your persistence Hugo even in your 20 day delay. Your enthusiasm will keep you going.

Jason

Well new day new opportunities.
I spend the morning fixing my rods and ahhhhhhhh, got them.
I was sow anxious that spend the afternoon working with the Z axis the only problem, my wife, she is trying to tell me there are other things more important than the MACHINE (thats the way she calls it) I am almost ready to change her for some used servos, ja,ja,ja
Hope you like the photos

Excellent Photos as usual Hugo.

Let the wife know that the machine rules all. :D :D :D


Jason

I am almost ready to change her for some used servos, ja,ja,ja


Thats a bit harsh Hugo, I'm sure you could get some shiny new servo's with drivers... lol

Keep up the good work, good to see more progress.

Russell.

Hello everybody.
This is the way i am going to organize my cables.
It was very easy to do and works fine.
Regards

:banana: I am celebrating.
Finally finish painting end started to build up. I am very happy with the V bearings. They ride soft and very tight. The Z axis is very stiff and it is easy to move with my fingers. My "invention" for X axis looks OK and rides very decently. Let see how it works when the real thing start.
I hope I can finish for the week end and show the finished machine.
Hope you guys like the pictures.
Regards.
Hugo Carradini

Almost there Hugo. Hopefully you can cut something for christmas.
Love the black stripes with the yellow.

Jason

Coming together nicely Hugo, can't wait to see the first cuts.

Russell.

Hello friends.
Finally the "machine" is running.
I finished putting everything together, had a hell of time aligning (definitive the hardest part of the mechanics) and started doing some test. I was so anxious to finished that used and old plastic cover fore the cables instead of the chain channel i was going to use.
I still have to improve in the aligning, but I am very happy because my little 269 onz/inch motors move this heavy machine easy and the speed is nice. It is a lot more precise then my first machine and stronger.
I made a first cut off two pieces I am going to use for the dust extractor and came out nice and identically. Then I make some other stuff but or the designs where wrong or use wrong bits nor went to deep, but still had a good time.
Now I have time to find out what my wife wants jajaja.
There goes some pictures and hope to keep in touch
Hope you all have a nice New Year and thanks for your support.:cheers:
Regards
Hugo Carradini

I forgot.
I don't know why the sing came out that way.
Have to check, but very weird.
Bye

Great work Hugo, good to see you have it running !!!!

As for the sign, it looks like the Y-axis is reversed, maybe happened in software or you might just need to reverse it on the machine.

Great first cuts!!! Now to make some serious dust...
I will have a beer for you to celebrate, well not right now it is morning here, I will wait till after lunch at least :cheers:
Russell.

Congrats on your first cuts Hugo.

As Russell said you need to check your axis settings.

Stand with your keyboard in hand and facing the machine so that X0, Y0 is on your left as in a piece of graph paper.

Jog using the arrow keys, in doing the respective axis should move in same the direction that the arrow on the key is pointing.

Jason

Just found this thread... :)


Holy smoke! - that's one incredible build Hugo ---> straight from a science fiction movie.

I absolutely love it! This has to be one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen on the Zone. Congratulations, You Are The Man...:cheers:

.

Hi friends.
After a nice short vacation it is time for the serious work.
Like Russell said I have the Y axis running in the wrong direction. I need some help because i was looking around and dint know how to fix it. I am using Mach3. Axis X and Z are OK.
Thanks for the help.
Hugo Carradini

Go to ports and pins configuration.
Select motor outputs tab.
For the y axis change the Dir lowActive field.
It will change from a green tick to a red cross.
Click apply.

Paul

Hey paulC. Thanks a lot. Your answer was quick and correct.
Hope be posting soon the pictures of the base i am going to do for attaching the dust aspirator or my wife will run me out of the house jajaja
Thanks again
Hugo Carradini

Hello friends.
¿What is the best extension to save a drawing made in CorelDraw sow the majority of the cam program can read?
Thanks

I would think dfx but I am no expert.
Paul

Yes Paul. A think its the best way. Now I have a problem. I make my design in Corel , use millimeters as my natural system and when I check in Auto Cad it comes out very big . I know there is a simple way to adjust the size but I don't know sow I will have to learn how to do it.
I finished an emergency system to keep clean my work area and it works very decently. I first use it cutting some Styrofoam and the area keep nice and clean. I know it is not good looking but y had to tried it first to see if it works and the results are nice.
There goes some pictures.
Regards

Hi Hugo,

You have been busy, good work I like your cuts.

How is the Z axis in terms of stiffness, any backward or sideways movement.

In terms of the file being big in autocad there should be an adjustment in one of the menus for switching from inches to mm, I use another program so I am not much more help.

Jason

Hi Hugo,

You have been busy, good work I like your cuts.

How is the Z axis in terms of stiffness, any backward or sideways movement.

In terms of the file being big in autocad there should be an adjustment in one of the menus for switching from inches to mm, I use another program so I am not much more help.

Jason

Hello Jason . Well finally I am ready to start working and tried the machine to see her real capacity. Z axis is very stiff, no lateral movement at all but after I tried those V bearings I use for Y axis y would prefer them because I could redesign Z axis in a lighter way (all those pipes, angles, bolts are unnecessary heavy) Y axis works very nice and show me the importance of a careful alignment. I still have to improve in alignment to be totally satisfied(this is definitely the hardest part building a machine)
X axis is the part I am not satisfied. The adjusting system works great. I can adjust the rail and the angle that holds the bearings, the only problem is that I welded the nuts that holds the bearings, is very hard to be precise and I was learning all by my self to weld sow ........but with the bearings angle adjustment screw I can tigt decently. The funny thing is that when X axis is working the machine moves, maybe because a balance situation of the table and the legs.....well i am just beginning to check and the cuts in Styrofoam looks very precise. Today I am going to cut a sample part in different materials to compare and will be posting the pictures.
Regards
Hugo Carradini

Excellent job Hugo, if you are anything like me you didn't have a complete machine shop to make your machine, but still ended up with a fully functioning CNC router at a fraction of the price of a commercially bought version, it may have faults that might bug you but it is still working and pretty damn well, you probably learned a lot about electronics, power supplies, motors and so on... good job!!!!

And remember, you can also use this machine to make a second machine, or at least some nice parts for it, you have my respect :cheers:

Russell.

You bet. I think I am ready to start designing my next machine. I got a big problem. I found out I love building this machines and thats is a big $$$$$ problem jajaja . Any way I am having a lot of fun and is nice to share moments with you guys.
Regards
Hugo Carradini

Hello friends.
I have not disappeared y just realize that I was not satisfied with my machine, that I have to change the small bearings from my X axis because they were not as rigid as I would like so I decide to use all the little experience y gained after all this year and half and start something more efficient and that I can make some money with (In my country you own a decent CNC machine and there are lots off big opportunities) sow I am getting ready,thanks to a a man, Gerald ,and his MechMate machine. Hope to let you guys know my progress and shears my impressions.
Regards
Hugo Carradini

Hey Hugo, been a while, any news or progress on the machine ?

If you are like me you are now thinking of everything that went wrong on the first and planning the second machine...lol

Russell.

Man that looks like a huge amount of work ...would have been cheaper just to buy some linear bearings -- No?? .If only the heavens would open and one could fall to my lap ...prefferably not in steel ..could do some damage to me!

Hello fellows.
I find a forum www.mechmate.com that got me. My machine end up nice, but I wanted something more professional and stronger so I decide to tried making a Mechmate that with the nice and professional guide of Gerald D. I hope will be ready in a couple weeks. The good thing about the first 2 machines I build with the advice and tips you all gently gave me, is that I learned a lot about the basics and got basic experience. At the same time I had to move my shop and that was a lot of work that keep me away from the forum. Now I have to get up date with all the huge amount of new information that this great forum produces.
Glad to be back.:wave:
Regards to all.

Good to hear you are still around Hugo, also good to hear your plans for the next machine, make sure you post a log on this forum for us to see as well :)

Cheers.

Russell.