Was just wondering how many people here had finished at least one cnc machine, and how many haven't.

Finished one, Modified one, using both, planning a third.

Marv

my router is almost done.

got the pieces, m/c is "mocked up" and ready to be built, now if i can only find the build time.....

Don't know if it counts but I'm almost finished my Retrofit :)!

Done two from scratch. Maybe a lathe retro next..but that doesn't count cause you didn't ask....:)

Eric

Finished, but no limit homing switches. It probably never will het them either.

Finished one Cranky design & working on a second one that is being created from many different ideas that I have seen at CncZone.

Bob

Finished 1 then redesigned and made some big changes - so seems like 2!
Next one in progress - a dedicated desktop (smallish) 3 axis digitizer with a moving table - fixed gantry. Using many recycled components.
Am thinking of using all of the controller cards and motors eventually in a 6 axis - this is a slippery slope!
Cheers - Jim

Up and running. Plan to upgrade to servo's. Hope I can make it my full time job someday.
Bill

Built at least six at home... plus I worked for years as an automated machine designer for automotive electronics testing and assembly... three maybe four machines per year.

Lots

One finished, the other will be finished TODAY!!!
co

My biggest challenge was to CNC a 35ft bed - two 30hp spindle head Gray Planer/Mill built 1952. Customer bought it to plane/mill rail switch points. Cost of retrofit $100,000.00 replacement cost $1.5mil.
Al

Finished but in a constant state of modification...

Garry

Building my first one from ideas generated entirely from this site. Cheap as possible for the first try. MDF, drawer slides, threaded rod, etc. Doing the mechanical first, though as electronics will end up being the biggest expense. Having a fun first go at it, though.

I just purchase some complete axis on e-bay for my first project:

http://i1.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/cd/06/12_1_b.JPG

But I have to find the spec of the stepper that was on it before choosing the rest of the electronic for it.... If someone could help me .... this is the post I made for a pic of the stepper:

******** My Mysterious Stepper ********** (http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4487)

Ron

why do you ask?
I know from personal experience on trying to complete my 1st machine that the process seems endless at times.
Gestation process before birth of new baby
1. you think ,What a great idea I'm sure I can build one myself in a jiffy!
2. You sart reading and reading and reading, at least a few months worth for the cnc illiterate.
3.Baby blues set in for a few weeks. There is sooooo much info
4.Some kind soul on the zone answers your stupid questions with patience and understanding of a kindred spirit.
5. the blues are gone!
6. You are in a frenzy of shopping and ordering. Bidding on e-bay for the perfect part only to be told on the zone that that part is not so perfect and you pray you are out bid!
7. Your parts arrive! Eureka!
8.You have all intensions of starting to build right away.
9.only to discover the connection you have for machining the ends of the screws is on holiday in Knysna for 3 weeks! your full time employer wants you to spend every waking moment at the office for the next month.
10. you shed a few tears on the box you pack your parts into, you abandon your baby for a few heart wrenching weeks.
11. In the mean time you again read research and weep at you lack of knowledge of electonics.
12. JIPPEE overtime has been paid and you blow it all on elecrtonics!
13. You happily etch, solder and plug it all in to test.
14. Only to watch it all GO UP IN SMOKE!
15 This is where I am in the process at the moment I will now return to the zone for further inspiration and give my blistered fingers an ego time to heal.

The system I'm building is like 95% finished. All I need to finish is the X drive gear. and a Z axis on the stationary arch. The thing I just got a little while ago and is killing me because of the things I could do. is I got some converters if you will? a solid worm gear unit from some big machines at the local electronics redemption place. there 100/1 turn worm gear units which are VERY tight. I got 2 of them so I'm thinking of using one as a turning unit. and the other as a Z axis tilt. There not very heavy but I'm trying to figur out how I could do that??? I just cant wait till i finish the 3 axis thing. Its no high power but it should be able to build things that could make me money. I'm thinking like custom costers out of balsa wood or what have you. I bet a lot of businesses would love to have them built. I figur I could make X number at a time from one peice of balsa costing me like ? $2. then could sell them for a buck a peice or so. They'd prob sell them for like $5-10 each :).

I have built 2 and a half machines, but still never wired or run one myself (one was for some friends, the other was for selling to make some quick cash). One thing that I have found, even without using one yet, is that the size that I actually need, is a lot smaller than what I thought. If my wife ever stops making me build things for her, and leaves me alone even for a weekend, I might finally be able to build and run one myself! Building a chicken coup right now, so...gotta go!

I have built one CNC router, small one cuts balsa and engraves plastic etc., One CNC hot wire Foam cutter(designed and built from scratch), Just finishing a semi- automated Band Saw conversion, Started on a second larger Router for cutting and carving stone, wood and mild steel.

Have only done some small jobs on my machine since I stripped it for painting and put it back together.

I just have to set up the rails again and finish the electrics.

I have spent the past three months finishing an aeroplane I m building (full size) which must be completed before the 10th June so after that I will be able to get my machine up and running.

I am still building and designing my first cnc router. Got my controller done and tested finally though. I started out designing and building the Z-axis first then
I did the Y axis and now I am working on the main gantry structure. Will do the X-axis and stand last.

I found as I was buidling I kept expanding the size of the Y and x axises to allow for more usefullness of the machine. HEHE :D

I am at the design phase myself and find
for every idea I want to use I figure 3 more out

the machine changes so often I can't get a start on it until I quit reading about all your guys great ideas
so I can stop and build one

finished one worked well, modified it and it worked even better, modified it again and improved it every time. I'm now starting a whole new second machine. I hope this stuff never ends

yes YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D!

still gathering parts for my first.

I chose 'still working on my first machine' when the poll came out.
Since then I have finished it and already used it to cut parts for my RC plane project. :)

I've got the steppers, stepper controller boards (from http://www.embeddedtronics.com/), PC and bearings (from http://www.modelfixings.com). I'm waiting for delivery of the ACME rods and zero backlash nuts. I have a transformer for the power supply, just need the extra bits to convert to direct current. When I get the ACME rods I'll start cutting the MDF.
My mill will use a movable table and have a 30cm x 30cm x 15cm freedom. It will be used for cutting model helicopters parts mostly.
When everything works perfectly I'll add a fourth axis.

I have almost finished a retrofit on a baby mill, just have to attach the limit switches, I have in the meantime completeted several machining projects without the limited switches

Is one EVER done?
I have just finished putting ball screws on the X and Y axis, but Now I find there are other things that I want to do to imporve it.

WHEN IS DONE?

Right now, it works, so some may say it is done.

Now to improve it.

Bubba

I'm working on making my Bridgeport Series II work again. Control was stripped out by the person who sold it to me. I suspect that it didn't work before that, but I wanted a stripped mill because I wanted to put a control in myself. It is getting a little tiresome though.

There is a project log for people who are retrofitting mills here: http://cnczone.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=221

The project log seems to be a popular feature for routers, but for mill retrofits there is only my log and two others.

Just started constructing the bearing assemblies(skate bearing set up) for my first. Haven't finished planning though, too many great possiblities gleaned from this site. I have to get started on the construction or I won't ever get to it....

You guys have been great answering questions. My thanks to everyone who contributes here!! I keep finding answers, and no question has proven to stupid, thats a big encouragement tto those of us completely new to this obsession.

Been at mine seriously for about 3 months now and progress is posted in the DIY project log forum at http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6840

There are still loads of questions to be answered and if it was not for finding this site, I doubt I would have had the nerve to start. I had been thinking about it for years but this site gave me the necessary confidence to get stuck in.

Mike

first uni-polar small (200 x 300mm)gantry router up and running still some software bugs but it works!
mini mill retro-fit half done (bi-polar/software problems)
600 x 500mm gantry router to be assembled gathered all parts just need time!

I've got my first picstep driver up and running.
My XY-table is 80% complete, my spindle and Z-axis 60%.
Things start to come together.

I have 1 CNC machine running. Don't know that I'd say it's finished though. I don't think it'll ever be really finished to how I'd like it. I made the mistake of cutting with it before I got the home/limit switches on, plus a few other odds and ends. Starting to plan for the second one now. The first was made from parts I had lying around. I spent around £100 on the actual machine. Probably the same again on building PICStep drivers. The second machine will be built more to a design I'm still working on.

Some pictures are on my website if you fancy a look.

Regards Terry.....
http://www.terry-is.f2s.com

I have 3 Picstep boards complete and running well on the kitchen table !

My up's and down's are on this thread :-

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7286

I'm battling with free time at the moment so bashing away building it in CAD first.

Quite surprising from the poll how many are in a similar position

Working on my first.

Testing it now and exterminating the bugs.

Is one EVER done?
I have just finished putting ball screws on the X and Y axis, but Now I find there are other things that I want to do to imporve it.

WHEN IS DONE?

Right now, it works, so some may say it is done.

Now to improve it.

Bubba

Bubba has nailed it. Any complex project, inevitably, is a work in progress. Even if it is in hard use, the builder KNOWS what could be done to improve it. And the lure of improvement is very strong. I "finished" a mill quite a while ago, and I'm still messing with it. I'm currently adding much needed swarf-guarding for the ballscrews and rails. If you are scratch-building a mill, router, or lathe, I HIGHLY recommend you plan on the swarf guarding from the beginning, rather than try to add it later. Once it's all together and aligned, it is a pain to tear down portions of it to add bellows, etc.

While I was building CNC mill Mk1, mill MK2 parts were also being produced simultaneously. Once set up for an operation, it is not too much trouble to produce 2 or 3 parts, rather than just one.

I'm finding out the planning and building of CNC tools is every bit as rewarding as creating stuff on the finished machine. I used to think this was kind of a waste, but really, the reason we do this at home is to have fun, and if you are having fun creating CNC machinery, then that in itself is a fine thing.

Mini mill conversion up and producing , the blondes still not shure i should be in the house if things are running in the garage but it runs and makes money. wooohoo.
next fine tuning - better finish -ball screws- bigger machine e.t.c.
and that 600x500 gantry router.

Finally finished my first machine. I built jgro's machine with a few mods and it works perfectly.I used the Hobby CNC kit along with Master5 (Celeron 366MHZ). In total the machine took about 4 months with access to a woodworking shop occasionally. My second machine will be a small mill probably from JCKleinbauer.

Finished Taig Mill and it is used regularly, also have router table but I don't think it will ever really be finished. I keep coming up with changes although it is in use.

Finished my second machine..

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10067

Joe

As most people say its never finished but finding time to implement the
changes/developments a'int easy and imho most people move onto mk2
cos you don't want to dis-assemble mk1
by the way can we do a digi-photo forum as most of my digi pics look s**t?
mike.

by the way can we do a digi-photo forum as most of my digi pics look s**t?
mike.


If their is enough interest in it I can, start a new thread and lets see if their is.

I"m all most done with my machine all i need the eletronics and a few tweking i'll be done also thinking about making it a 5 axis.

Don't know if you are ever really finished, I am cutting out parts now rather than fiddling with the machine, so I caould say I am finished.

Going to change one of my all threads to a larger size so maybe I am not finished after all !!!!

Finished my third machine..

Hey Dag-50,

I have been over to see your machines on the Italian site. I think you have some of the nicest looking machines I have ever seen. They look very "professional". They all look over-built which is how I would make mine (if I had the courage).

Do you have an engineering background?

If you don't mind me asking, where in Italy do you live?

Forza Italia!

Carlo

One more thing everyone,

since Dag seems somewhat modest, I'll tute his horn. Check this out!

http://www.cncitalia.net/plugins/diaporama/diaporama.php?lng=it&diapo_id=11

Damn nice work, and that ATC... off the hook (chair)

Carlo

Hello Carl,
I do not have no study of engineering, the CNC I only realize to them for hobby and I try of help the friends of the forum who find themselves in difficulty in the constructions.
At the moment as job I make the electrician but in past I have made the mechanical fitter (stampista) for 20 years. Tank you of compliments and the mail.
If I can help in some way to know
I live of Milan.
beest regard Dario

P.S. sorry for mi bad inglisc

Tipe of drawing in te site
www.CncItalia.net
Dario (Dag-50)

Ciao Dario,

Io spesso visito L'Italia durante l'estate. Magari uno di quest'anni ti posso visitare? Mi piacerebbe molto vedere le tue creazzioni in prima persona. Che ne pensi?

A presto,

Carlo

Certamente Carlo, basta un semplice avviso e ti attenderò.
Vedo che conosci l'italiano e ne approfitto, io con l'inglese vado poco d' accordo, per mè è un po ostico da apprendere alla mia età.
ciao arrivederci allora Dario

Certamente Carlo, basta un semplice avviso e ti attenderò.
Vedo che conosci l'italiano e ne approfitto, io con l'inglese vado poco d' accordo, per mè è un po ostico da apprendere alla mia età.
ciao arrivederci allora Dario


Grazzie per l'offerta. Ti scrivero` l'anno prossimo.

Non ti scuare per l'Inglese. Te la cavi bene!

A presto,

Carlo

hmmmm.......?

My bad.I didn't mean to exclude anyone...

We were chatting in italian and it seems that I may meet Dario in Milan next year to see some of his machines.

Ciao Carlo,
sono contento di rivederti in linea, ti mostro una ultima interfaccia che sto provando, è la solita interfaccia parallela ma con la possibilità di usare la cnc anche senza alcun pc collegato, è solo un prototipo ma sto pensando di poterla espandere verso un lettore di posizione a dysplay.
Ciao Dario

Hello Carl,
is content see again to you online, you monster a last interface that I am trying, is the usual interface parallel but with the possibility to use the cnc also without some connected PC, it is only a prototype but I am thinking about being able to expand it towards a reader of position to dysplay. Hello Dario

ciao Dario,

Non so se capisco bene come funziona. Cioe', il cnc leggera' un tuo design da una fonte fisica (per esempio un designo a matita o un circuito pre-esistente) e te lo riproducera senza che tu debba comandarlo tramite un programma del tipo CAM? In effetti, questo diventa una fotocopiatrice, no?

Translation:

Hi Dario,

I'm not sure I understand how this works. In other words, your cnc machine will read your design from a physical source (example a drawing or a pre-existing circuit board) and it will cut it without you having to specify toolpaths in a CAM software? Essentially, this becomes a photocopier, correct?

Ciao Carlo,
no, è una semplice interfaccia che permette di aver collegato ugualmente la CNC al PC tramite la porta parallela e permette di usare un tastierino per spostare gli assi anche con la funzione di rapido, a computer fermo potendo effettuare delle lavorazioni veloci che necessitano di più tempo per la programmazione del G-ode, che per la realizzazione del particolare.
ciao Dario

Hello Carl, not, is a simple interface that allows to have connected equally the CNC to the PC through the door parallel and allows to use a tastierino in order to move the aces also with the express function, to firm computer being able to carry out of the fast workings that need more time for the programming of G-ode, than for the realization of particular hello the Dario

Still trying to get the rest of the plans if I can get my postings to work first.

Had my busy bee, baby mill completed for over a year now, useing Mach1Mach2cnc program, with Camtronics inc stepper system, works great, but have a hard time mastering the g-code programming,

heres my two machines

Finished HF conversion, working on small scratch built router. should be finished in 2-3 weeks.
Matt

I've finished a small mobile engraver. It was really for evaluation of Mach2 software. I'm in the middle of making two benchtop mills, one with a fourth axis. I also am still researching the least expensive way to update the controls on my CNC bridgeport.

Does designing custom CNC machines for producing and inspecting the glass in flat panel monitors and LCD tv's count for anything? :)

Keith

I've finished a small mobile engraver. It was really for evaluation of Mach2 software. I'm in the middle of making two benchtop mills, one with a fourth axis. I also am still researching the least expensive way to update the controls on my CNC bridgeport.

Does designing custom CNC machines for producing and inspecting the glass in flat panel monitors and LCD tv's count for anything? :)

Keith

Can you post any new pictures in you thread?

joe

Joe-
I'll need to take some updated pictures of the engraver. I'll try to get them posted tonight.

If it's pictures of the machines I design for work, I have a 3 minute trade show video that I can post, it's about 5 meg. I'm not sure if that's too big of a file. Again, it really is for a trade show, but some of the video is rather impressive. One of the machines is moving at just over 3 meters per second. I'll have to ask the site owner where I could post the video, or see if I can find the video on our website.

Keith

I'm designing a heavy duty 2'x4' and would like to know if any one is willing to help me? I'm a beginer in this Forum and would like to know if I should start a thread, if so how do I start a thread? :idea:

Joe-

I have updated my micromill thread, and really need to start documenting the other projects that I'm working on. Take a look...

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?p=91414#post91414

Here is a link with a few movies at the bottom of the page.

http://www.neat.com/products/gantry/default.asp

These are standard gantry systems that we manufacture. These are linear bearing, linear motor, linear encoder based systems and they really move! I still have not found the presentation video from the tradeshow. I'll have to ask about that one.

Keith

just finished 1st machine minus limit & home switches and interchangable tooling head, planning to make second machine using first machine, ( it will probably work to a better tolerance and faster than me! ).

First machine was a Lego prototype, but it did work and was
accurate to within a mm, so i guess it counts. :-)
http://jwstolk.xs4all.nl/millp.htm

First machine was a Lego prototype, but it did work and was
accurate to within a mm, so i guess it counts. :-)
http://jwstolk.xs4all.nl/millp.htm

OMG I love it! I know of a few people who grew up with lego who will also love it. Thanks for sharing.

Carlo

Did the electronics first, all went well, stumbling over the actual building,but , still working on it. Cann't wait!

First machine was a Lego prototype, but it did work and was
accurate to within a mm, so i guess it counts. :-)
http://jwstolk.xs4all.nl/millp.htm

I have to say that lego machine is brilliant, a working CNC machine made out of lego never would have even thought of it, moderator that has to deserve a prize !

I hope to finish mounting the Z axis controls this weekend. Then put the home & limit switches on. Flood coolant after that. Then maybe, maybe, I can call it done. I wonder if that ever really happens?

i am trying to purchase ball screws for my IH mill now , trying to figure all the variables
is more time consuming than 1rst thought.

hey jwstolk , your lego machine is cool, nice idea .

hey jwstolk , your lego machine is cool, nice idea .
Thanks !

:) Converting a lathemaster mill. Didn' know there so may parts to the conversion. Each one takes time but hopefully, someday it will be finished.
So many things............

foamcutting machines count??

I would say it does. :)

I have the Z-axis ( a real prototype of wood/metal) done enough to implement into the X-Y axis - which is currently trying to be implemented motor driver wise - the mechanics will be fun (though i dont' have a degree in it) - the electronics have been challenging( though i _do_ have a degree in it !) ... maybe all the pain of getting through the coursework is a mental impediment on completing it ? too many lab time hours makes you not want to 'dig into' more lab time ? some kind of negative memory associated with the study/lab seems to make progress lackluster !!

third generation... http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15139

joe

Just finished my machine id like to say thank you to every one on the site for sharing all there info with the rest of us.

I have built 2 gantrey type routers including all the electronics. Both were made possible with the help of many knowledgable folks on this site. Many thanks.

I have built 2 gantrey type routers including all the electronics. Both were made possible with the help of many knowledgable folks on this site. Many thanks.


hi

this will be my first attempt to make a CNC Plasma Table.

Just reading all the information in here makes me drool.

As i want to start my first CNC plasma table.

Yes dgolka you are right a vast amount of knowledgeable people in here that lend a helping hand.

Im new to electronics and CNC programming know how to use a lathe and mill manually and have a nice workshop at home.

Just priced a 60 and 90amp plasma cutter that can clean cut up to 20mm and 30mm respectively and a tig welder ac/dc 360amp inverter style unit.

I need to make a few turbo parts ( Yes go fast car stuff big horse power ) for cars so lets see how things develop my end

will give this a go and make my first ever CNC project. So guys , if i ask stupid questions in the forum be gentle with me as im going through a learning curve when it comes to electronics and CNC programming.

i regret back in my school days i didn't ask more questions , i suppose i was reluctant as i thought other students would laugh at me for asking a stupid question but now as im older i ask questions more to things i don't understand, so be patient with me in this forum.

cheers

can we have an option that says "built 1st machine, dismantled to make 2nd, now have none working and a heap of parts"? :D

can we have an option that says "built 1st machine, dismantled to make 2nd, now have none working and a heap of parts"? :D

i think that counts as "Finished 1 cnc machine" :-)

I'm finally getting close! :D

<whole site> "About Damn Time!" </whole site>

I think I can say I am finally finished my first machine. There always may be minor changes or upgrades that I may want to do but as it sits now I am quite content to say it is done and look forward to making lots of saw dust.

http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/500/medium/RouterTable-01.JPG

For my next project I would like to do a full size mill or lathe conversion but right now I just don't have the money to invest in such a venture. I am keeping my eyes out for a Bridgeport series 1 manual mill, but finding one locally in Ontario for a reasonable price is hard to come by.

Carl

I finally got my 3 axis Bridgeport up and running last night. Let the fun begin!!
On to finishing the Hardinge lathe CNC conversion...

Of course, it's covered in junk, (no picture yet!) needs a good cleaning, and the first project that it needs to do is modify an electrical box to house it's own electronics.

After that, I have a 12" and 8" rotary tables that are begging to be CNC'd to make my bridgeport 5 axis...

NEATman

built and finished 24 x 48 router , ran it a couple of weeks , tore it down , doing a better improved rebuild

Finished a jgro in February 06 after starting the build in April 2005. Will use the jrgo to build a second improved version. Jgro is great learning device!

Small lathe finished last yr; it runs every day for at least 3 hours
Midi lathe finished build; just needs computer hooked up; but will be moving to servos; so no hurry on that one
Drill press converted to 4 axis; then changed extensively; still 4 axis but with 2 spindles now 1 up to 16,000 the other 35,000+ Will change to pixies and Copley drives plus MCG servos in the next 2 weeks; runs most weeks for about 20 hours
33" x 14.5" x 12" Gantry amost done; just need a few more parts

I also built a small super highspeed lathe which I learned from; then ripped apart to build the drill press mill from the slides etc
1 other machine planned with P5 servos; this one will take up all the room left in my garage

Stevie, Sounds like you've put together some neat stuff, maybe you'd be good enough to post pictures. What materials will the gantry cut?

Jerry

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16286&page=1
all the pics you could ever need

Still working on the first. See, i got permission to use the big cnc at work to make parts, but i can only use them when they are not in commercial use (which they happen to be most of the time). My work schedule (permanent evening shift) also reduces the time i have access to the machines for personal use.

About 20% done with the machining, 80% done with the plans and drawings, and have bought about 70 % of the parts needed/wanted. Guess the best part of it is what i learn from designing and building it.

Built an Industrial Hobbies with the kit and designed and built a kit for a Taig Micro Mill.
James

Heres my first home built, and I converted a HF mini mill also. Couldnt have done it without this website.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11087

Cant wait to get the third one done, a servo system router, in progress.

I am currently building the Sosylva CNC router. I am about 30% done.

Cheers
PiperTom

Got all the stuff together for a little PCB router , Started milling out the parts manually and started to see/repair the mill/drills slack screws , slack jibs etc, then thought to myself "This sucks , wouldn't it be nice to convert the mill/drill first and then make the PCB router ?"

Is this the start of the slippery CNC slope that people talk about ? :-)

R4

Finished my third machine..
sorry having a hard time navigating the italian site could you post more pictures of this machine it is really nice are those v bearings on the side

thank you

Rob

Hello Rob, I enclose you link of the gallery the photo that rigurdano that one mine, acchina I hope who you is useful hello Dario

http://www.cnc-dag50.it/index.php?set_albumName=big-cnc&option=com_gallery&Itemid=26&include=view_album.php&page=1

the link was great that machine is very nice

Have built 7 CNC Routers small to a 4' x 8' (all sold) 3 plasma cutting tables (all sold)
1 bench top JET milling machine conv to 3 axis CNC (using) 1 9x12 harbor fright metal lathe to CNC 2 axis (using)

First machine was a Lego prototype, but it did work and was
accurate to within a mm, so i guess it counts. :-)
http://jwstolk.xs4all.nl/millp.htm


man, u r a god! ive seen some stuff in my time but that is fantastic! ive seen F1 cars, space shuttles and even the odd pirate ship made out of lego (not to mention the other 6 billion different products); but not a cnc! maybe you should speak to LEGO about your cnc, i could see them popping up everywhere in the supermarkets! what will happen: you buy your cnc kit, build the cnc, once your done with it you tear it down and build a dinosaur and about six other different things. (that would get my boy into cnc before he even turns 6)

also: what happens when you crash it? do you spend 24 hours re-building the thing?

man, u r a god! ....

also: what happens when you crash it? do you spend 24 hours re-building the thing?

Thank you. :-) this project has been going on for a long time, but I just dismantled the Lego prototype a few weeks ago, since I finally have started on building the real thing (tm).
It will about 5 times bigger than the Lego prototype. about 1200x810x610 mm working range (note the very high vertical clearance) total estimated weight: +/- 450..500 kg, mostly build from 50x50x5 angle-bar. It will be a moving table design, so it's almost 2x1200 mm long. the rail is 30 mm steel rod (drawn KV45, H9), supported (and adjustable) every 180 mm, both vertical and horizontal. I drilled and threaded the rod and glued in 52 pieces of M8 thread. The steel base frame is almost completed and i will be starting on the (moving) table soon.

http://jwstolk.xs4all.nl/mill.htm
my site could do with an update, but did you see the 2 AVI files on it ?

My first CNC table was built over 7 months in 1994 and was entirely homebuilt from scavenged parts and first design principles. When it was complete it ran under DOS, used Borland Turbo Basic and DesignCAD 2D. I had a small sign business going for a few years. Largest piece was 34" x 44" and a vertical Z axis travel capability of 3". It had a lot of, er, wiggle room since it was made of wood ( gantry, table, etc ) and an accuracy of about 1/8" and a repeatability of about 1/4". This gave results that always looked hand made rather than machine made which I told myself added "charm" to the product.

In 2005 I bought an Applied Robotics Torchmate Kit and adapted it for wood routing. I built a 4ft x 8ft workpiece table whose frame was of wood and was 5ft x 8ft x 12ft. The whole thing weighed 1100 pounds and sat on four sheets of plywood as a footprint in a small tent. Accuracy and repeatability was about 1/8" which was good for the sheets of plywood this worked on and I tried to make signs for folks, their ranches and such. But we had a horse ranch ourselves then and I spent more time taking care of 14 horses and the ranch work than making signs. A few months ago we sold the ranch and I diced up the table with a chain saw but kept the hardware and we moved down from the hill into town.

Just 2 months ago I began building my third table ( I now have a garage ) and this one is going to be fitted with a J48-1 laser. I can already do some pyroplotting using hot points and irons ( an art form I'm interested in ) and will use the laser for that and other marking also. I've made tooling fixtures to handle an electric engraver, am adding a pneumatic scriber, have a dremel drill and am also using it to do art works via metallic ink pens. This table has water and air lines, air extraction, a USB camera, safety interlocks and runs a lot quieter than the 2HP router used to. The table is driven with XP Pro running on a WIFI network so that I can create my artworks upstairs on my big CAD systems. I can even run the table as an E Size plotter.

My wife is a fine artist and has talent, as do both daughters, but I do not so my table is my talent amplifier and with it I can do things that as an artist I could not. This table has an active working area of 36" by 48" and a Z travel of 3". The base is now made of faux wood deck components which are more rigid than 4 x 4's - seems I can't quite get away from wood entirely - and the platform is metal clad wood also. I have a lot of fancy software now, such as Engravelab Laser Pro, AutoCAD 2000, BobCAD and Corel, none of it home brew, and now spend more time doing things than designing code to be able to do things which works for me. Just discovered this forum a few days ago - looks like a great community here - and I thought I'd add my own story.

Thanks for reading and I hope you found it interesting.

Welcome Wtawtaw, youv'e found right the place to be! Your participation is appreciated. Keep up the pictures and posts!

finished my cnc router last year and now it is cutting the new pieces to replace my old cnc router :violin:

built a chain drive cnc torch. I have now revamped the machine as spur gear propelled, able to run plasma or oxyfuel.I am using it to build parts for a BIG cnc plasma that will dwarf my last table, both in size and quality. I am building this at my shop I keep on the side.
On top of that, I have a cnc router I am building at my full time job, as I have a small garage shop there, and my run of the place, especially late in the evening. Thank God I have a great understanding boss, who is a bit of a tinkerer himself.
As soon as I can find a fellow Zoner ready to unload a small mill or lathe on me, I will convert it to!

99% done, 50% to go, I'm hoping to have the electron's flowing in the next couple weeks. Almost all the mechanical parts are done, just attaching the rack's for the drives and install the rest of the Z axis parts when they arrive [later this week]

Gantry mill, 20 x 10 x 4 [ft]

Jerry

How do you change your vote. I finished my 3rd CNC conversion and am starting on my 4th. In a few months I have to get rid of my CNC Bridgeport J-head to make room for my latest conversion.

Vince

Just finished it and cut my first piece last night :). Will try to take pictures tonight.

Finished mine a year and a half ago.... cut the first pieces last weekend.:cheers:

I think I can say I am finally finished my first machine. There always may be minor changes or upgrades that I may want to do but as it sits now I am quite content to say it is done and look forward to making lots of saw dust.

http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/data/500/medium/RouterTable-01.JPG

For my next project I would like to do a full size mill or lathe conversion but right now I just don't have the money to invest in such a venture. I am keeping my eyes out for a Bridgeport series 1 manual mill, but finding one locally in Ontario for a reasonable price is hard to come by.

Carl

Nice looking machine!
Do you have a worklog on here that I could look at?

Finished one Hafco AL-50G 9X20 LAthe,
One X3, Nearly one Hafco My-T-Mill,
Doing a 1960 Boring machine.

When do you think is a selfbuilt machine called finsihed ... Ok mine is ready to produce but I have still so many ideas in backup.....

Hansjoerg

finished one and now working to speed the feedrate up.

Hi All
I'm a newbee and just finished my 'Profiler' CNC machine from Colindus. Looks greatand works fine. Next I need to find some more software. The included soft is designed for for the creation of print circuit boards. I am looking for a test version of RAMS3D, but for the moment the download link is unavailable, so if anyone has a hint ... just post it!

Thanks

Did 2 Sieg x2 conversions ealier this year. Built a 24x24x6 milling machine from scratch with THK everything, no going back now.

Big project!