I am wondering how fast people are cutting and rapiding with there Joe machines.
I have considered building Joes machine with acme 1/2-10 5 start which would give me a theoretical rapid or max speed of 400ipm (screw is 800rpm) just wondering what others are doing. I plan to cut mostly signage at about .04" deep so I was thinking I could probablly cut at 200-300ipm with (hitachi 2 1/4hp router). I have a jgro that rapids at 75ipm and I can cut with a 3/4hp router and vbit at 75ipm. Can Joes rapid at 400ipm? I intened to put a dado in the gantry walls and glue in a piece of 1/2MDF between the inner and outer walls to reduce the flex in the gantry walls. Does anyone have any ideas about mods (if needed) to get Joes machine to rapid at 400ipm?

Thanks

for fast rapids you will definately need to anchor the machine well, with no movement at all, Use quantum not mach3 this will ramp the reverse rapids for the machine, and another thing to consider is the type of cutting you do, if it is straigh cuts then fast rapids will work, but if it is alot of cutting and turns the machine will have to do, the slower the rapids will become this is typical with any machine used. for cutting I mostly go 60 to 80 ipm that is just a safe and person prefference when i set "it and forget it".

for what you want to cut i would go 120ipm, beef up the gantry walls, and little else needs to be done.

Joe

Joe,
You said 120 ipm you dont think it can cut faster since I will be using a vbit and 21/4 hitachi and only cutting .04" deep the machine will travel straight line stop move over .01" and then travel straight again during the straight runs the z is moving but not the Y just the X at highest speed possible and the Z at highest speed possible I really need to get into the 200+ range 200 being the lowest I will slow down for deep cuts such as cutting out parts etc.

need the speed

Then i would definately go with the 1/2"- 10 5 start and dumpsters anti-backlash nuts, and also use the 405ozin motors you will need a little more torque at the lower turns per rev.

I do not forsee any problem getting over 300ipm with what you describe your cutting. another note is possible upgrading your pipe rails to a harded steel, if you have a steel supplier then you should not have any problem getting 20' lengths for 25 to 30 dollars each.

Joe

Yah hardened steel rods are no problem I thought about hardened rods and pillow block bearings and blah blah blah but then I end up with a really expensive machine and this is a hobby/side income ( reason for speed) I just wasnt sure if the gantry would want to try and sway at that kind of speed rapiding one way then the other for a half hour or so straight running. I thought about something like your 4X4 but not enough info and I just dont have the time to design it out I am curiouse though if you could post a DWG for the pipe standoffs you used on your 4X4 I know you said you might if you get everything together post the info/edrawings for your 4X4 is this going to happen anytime soon as that machine might be better suited to what I want to do as far as speed goes.