Bulding a larger machine

[nkjh97]

Hello.

I've been following this forum for a while and i'm going to try to build a machine. I'm going to follow JGRO's plans but making it a little larger.

I'm making the cutting field 42" x 38" x 5"

Materials:

3/4" birch plywood
1/2 - 10 acme screw
skate bearings
1-1/4" angle iron
1/2" gas pipe (z)
3/4" gas pipe (y)
1" gas pipe (x)
delrin adjustment blocks
Hobby CNC controller & motors
assotrted nuts, screws, washers

i'll try to post pictures. once i figure out how to reduce the file size so i can upload them.

all the machines i've seen on this forum are great. thanks to all for the info. this should be fun!!!

[nkjh97]

picture upload first try.
skate bearing assemblies.

[nkjh97]

z axis support. I'm putting an extra set of bearings on the top rail so the upper rail takes up some of the weight if the router is too heavy.

[CNCRob]

Hey nkjh97,
I like the size of your cutting area. The machine is looking great so far.

[nkjh97]

more pics. the plywood adjustment block was a failed attempt.

instead of mounting the stepper to the top and using the stepper motor bearing for support, I think i'll support both ends of the screw with bearings and connect the motor and the screw with a coupler. i need to build a motor mount that will hold the motor away from the screw.

I'm also trying the make the motors easily removable(ie couplers). after building the router, I'm going to try to build a hot wire foam cutter. too many hobbies!!!

[nkjh97]

more pics.

gantry. i put the trolleys on the to pan the bottom. with the adjustment block on the trollies on the bottom.

[erikkate]

Wow, that thing is huge. you're making progress quickly.
However, i think your z-axis will flex very much, looking at your setup.

[randyf1965]

Seems like you could extend a brace down the center of the z-axis perpendicular to the face of the axis on the back notching the lower portion of the mount for clearance. Possibly 2 smaller steel angle's (or even c channel that would slip over the plywood edge) on the outer edge would add some rigidity to it.

[joecnc2006]

Here is the larger one I just finished if you like to get some ideas from it, also you can read the whole post and you will see, motor spacers, Leadscrew bearing suports, etc. i did to improve mechine.

Joes 2nd Machine

Joes 2nd Machine

joe

[zoltan]

Joe,

Do you have a drawing of your machine with the dimensions of sub-assemblies? I would like to build a machine similar to yours. I almost finished one machine - MDF with derlin bushes, rod shafts D=15 mm, leadscrew M12, machine dimensions L=700 mm, l = 600, H= 600 mm. I hope to finish it this week, and I will post the pics. I had a lot of issues with alignments. I hope I will succed to have everything OK. I would like to ask you for some guidelines regarding the dimensions and relations among them of your machine. If it is possible in mm, because i have difficulties with inches (25.4 mm - I am from Eastern Europe...). Eventually can you send me the drawing by e-mail?

[nkjh97]

erikkate, randyf1965

thanks for the input. i think i see what you mean. i'm going to shorten the router support board. that should stiffen it. if not, i can always add support later.

thanks for looking.

[nkjh97]

joe,

i learned a lot from your thread. i do have a question. what kind of adjustment or alignment mechanism do you have for your lead screw mounts/drive nuts?

thank for looking.

Jim