Hello other cnc hobbyest in and around Springfield,Mo would like to get together at some place and talk about our hobby and the things we have learned, IE software,computers,DIY cnc router, and what you make let me know and we can meet would love to exchange info and if you just want to build one and dont know where to start....

I'm 79mi S of you. Just starting to get my parts together for my first build.

Assembled HobbyCNC driver board, got skate bearings today. Monday have to go to the steel mill.

Its gonna be a one-off design. with no particular inherited design from other plans here.

Having issues with linear portion of build. BELTS/GEARS which is how I want to go, but have been told R&P is better as well as ACME or allthread for a first build would be better.

I have an idea about using channel iron/skate bearings and square tube for linear slides with built in preload adjustments. It doesn't present axial load issues on the bearings as the angle stock designs do.

Size is also where I can't make up my mind. I initially wanted a 3x5, but now I wonder if I should go with a 4x4 or smaller and let my first one build my second one.

I ran into a guy in Mountain Home yesterday who wants to get into CNC so I told him about this site. Maybe he will be on here soon too.

Anywho, maybe we can get together sometime... Or at the very least, provide local info on where to get parts/supplies. I hate ordering from all over the place.

Nice to here from you would be very happy to meet with you and chat,about cnc. Iv built a cnc router,Been working on it for a few years now Iv scrounged parts from any thing That I thought would make a contrubition to my machine. (little here and a little there) but just got it going a few months ago. Im in a learning stage with the software Im using turbocnc as my machine running software and Cambam as me conversion from DXF to g-code software and have found it to be very good. my computer is a 300mhtz with Windows 98 so that I can use Dos with out the windows envirement because of timing issues with turbocnc and my stepper motors. (They skip steps while running in windows)

My table is !6inches by 30 inches on the x,y axes and the Z axes has about 3 inches of travel.

I get a lot of my things from a place in springfield called Holloway Industrial Sales they deal in used machines of all kinds so they have a lot of parts and bits and pieces of alum. and steel also. You might give them a try.

when ever you want to get together just message me and we can set up a place to meet. or any one else for that matter. I dont know a lot about cnc but this forum is one of the best places to learn. and I have found cambam and turbocnc to be the best starting places for the software. cheers