It works!

[Sleedo]

My first attempt at a CNC foamcutter, built on a major budget with no special tools. All I had to work with was a Jig saw and a couple of Drills. I used shelves and hardware from Home Depot, Acme 1/2x10 Lead screws, Delrin ballnuts and Vexta motors from eBay. Controller is an original Foamlinx board that I bought used for $60.00, it even came with 2 1/2 AHATB heat controllers from HobbyCNC(have gotten those to work yet). A friend leant me a MONSTER Lab grade PS for the bow (variable DC 2-30V at 0-15A, thing must be 75lbs!).

Looking forward to producing some nice plane for myself and friends, perhaps even kit some for sale.

Sleedo

[paulC]

Well done. Looks a fairly clean build. Interesting to see you using double draw slides. Saw someone else doing something similar on a router.
Paul

[Sleedo]

Thank You, did my best without a proper workshop. Next one will be even nicer.

Sleedo

[RCXPLANES]

Well done Sleedo,
Looks like a very simple and effective machine. Good Cutting.

Bud

[miljnor]

hey sleedo have you done any full wing cores yet?

I noticed you had some airfoil shapes blanked out.

If so could you post a couple of pictures? I was kinda curious what a home made CNC wire cutter was capable of.

thanks

[Sleedo]

Sure, here are some of the planes that have been made from my cores. I didn't make the wing for the boat but I am currently working with the designer of the vessel on an 1/8 scale model of it to do some testing and development on.

[Sleedo]

here's a couple o' more, with a shot of a nice set of cores ready to be prepped for bagging and the root of the wingeron wings for my Sig Samurai.

[miljnor]

those are sweet man!

how long of a learning curve was it to get your machine cutting like you wanted?

And where do you get your foam? ep I pressume?

[Sleedo]

Learning curve was fairly steep and I ramped up within a week of cutting everyday for a few hours at least. Important to get a good software package and stick with it, very confusing to switch around. I settled on GMFC PE, works well and very good support. Wasted a lot of foam too, mostly Dow 250 from home depot. I also use EPP which I have gotten from many sources, it's far more expensive so I practise with the pink stuff.

[miljnor]

how much did the "GMFC PE" software cost? and where did you get it?

[Sleedo]

here's a link to their page, you can get demo and learn to use it before you buy. It was 45euros, about $60.
http://gm.cnc.free.fr/en/index.html

[trubleshtr]

thanks for sharing. great pic's.

After you cut the foam, what is normally used to finish the foam product? is it just paint? latex? fiber glass? just curious to know.
Thanks