CadCut Build Log

[dneisler]

"The Plan" - CadCut CNC Router

I have been toying with the idea of building a CNC router for several years now. I bought the HobbyCNC Plans kit, but it was just to small for what I wanted. Since then I have been activly reading the forums at CNCZone for the past couple of years and finally put me a Sherline CNC mill together with a HobbyCNC 3 Axis controller board. I have to say, it works great. Last year, caught a deal and bought a set of the DataCut CNC plans, and it is a very nice machine, it is just not for me. It uses alot of machined metal parts, that I am not capable of machining myself. I also really want a larger machine still.

This year over the holidays I have decided to build a CadCut CNC Router.

Stay tuned for the next in the this building series "The Tools".

For complete update to info, you can visit my website.

[dneisler]

I have now received my set of plans for the CadCut CNC router and have had some time to review what all tools would be required to build such a grand device. This list is in no way exact, and can be modified in various ways from person to person.

Drill Press - The instructions recommend a good drill press and chuck, they actually go as far as stating a MUST have item. The designer recommends a 12 inch Delta or Ryobi or similar. I have a cheap small import drill press, so I guess this gives me a reason to go to Home Depot, Sears, or somewhere and get me a new one.

Measuring Tools - Designer states all measurements should be done with a ground precision straight edge, a steel scribe, or digital calipers . I have a digital caliper, but I plan on buying at least a good straight edge as the ones I have I am sure are not that great.

MIG Welder - I do not own a welder so I plan on purchasing one. I am looking at several at this point.

• Lincoln SP175T
• Hobart Handler 180
• MillerMatic 175
• MillerMatic DVI

I have seen the DVI locally, and store owner offered it to me for $1000 cash. All still new in the box.

14" Chop Saw - I picked up one of these for $40, figure if it makes it through this one project then I got my money out of it. I could use a torch, but a nice clean straight cut should make this build allot easier.

Optical Center Punch - I am gonna purchase one of these, sounds like it would be a great investment.

From my preliminary read through I think these are all the tools, other basic tools that will or could be required.

Stay tuned for the next in the this building series "The Build, Part 1".

For complete update to info, you can visit my website.

[automizer]

Good on yeah, please post pictuers of it when its done, home built machines are always neet to look at

[Jason Marsha]

Congrats on your start. I good to have someone building from those plans and posting the results.

Jason

[WarrenW]

That is a nice router based on what I saw and read. Is this going to be used for more of a hobby? Or what are you going to do with such a large machine? When I decided to build one I knew I did not want a small machine and I did not want to machine all of my parts either. So I picked the plans from HobbyToolPlans.com. I made mine larger than the plans showed and so far works great. I can't wait to see the pics of yours!

Warren

[dneisler]

It is a going for a hobby at first, I have some production ideas I want to try to get going later. I have some cabinet, and furniture stuff I want to work on mainly. As for the size, I may make it at 4x4, but also may stick with the 4x8 as the cost want be to much different.

Oh, and the main reason...I always tend to do it bigger better, than I need

[dneisler]

Not much to update really. I got my 2x2x3/16" tubing yesterday finally. $2.88 / foot. I got 100' and sure I will beed about 40' more, but ran out of cash.

For complete details
www.donald-neisler.com

[dneisler]

Well stil not much to add other than I now have all my metal cut, and found out my chop saw was not cutting prefectly straight. I hope I can take a grinder to it and get it close and that most of it is still usuable as cut. I am sure some will end up to short and be waste or used for other things. It is my fault though, I should have checked that before I cut all of it. I hope to get start on the first side tomorrow if it warms up, but I don't think that will happen. Will post more pics as soon as I have something worth looking at.

[dneisler]

It has been cold here lately, and not to mention I have been busy and not getting home till dark, so I have not gotten much done on the actual build. I have skip ahead, and drawn out the Y Axis Bearing Blocks in Solidworks. I have purchased the 1" x 2" x 48" aluminum stock, so I should have more than enough for a few screw ups. I hope to get the machine code for these going this week and maybe one cut to see how well the bearings fit. They bearings are 1/2" x 1-1/8" x 5/16" and the insert for them is 1.181". That is 56 thousandths smaller than the bearing OD, and I am thinking that may be a little small. I don't have the bearings yet to get any accurate measurement from.

For a complete info: www.donald-neisler.com

[dneisler]

Well I finally got a fair day to do some work, didn't have alot of time and seems like everything was against me today. I went to recut a couple small peices of 2x2 tubing and my chop saw that I had just bought, which decided not work any more. So I took it back and exchanged it. And you guessed it, they didn't have that one anymore so I had to buy a more expensive model. I got it back and it work as it should, maybe even a little better. I laid out my first truss and made sure it was all square. I then look at the instructions again, and went back and check everything for squareness again. It was as close to perfect as I could get. I proceded to tack weld the four 8-1/2" inner peices to the long tubes to make the truss. It all went pretty well, but after all this fun I ran out of time to get the second one done. I went pick the truss up to carry back to my shop for storage, and WOW this thing got heavy really quick. I grabbed a dolly and transported it to the shop and layed it on some 2x4's till I can work on them some more.

In the past week I have created the G-Code to cut out my Y Axis bearing blocks. This is a isometric view of the tool paths. I hope to get this cut this week.

For a complete info: www.donald-neisler.com

[dneisler]

Not alot to talk about today, other than I built and tack welded the second truss today. I am not sure how this is going to turn out as my metal sucks. There is nothing straight about it. I moved, changed, turned over and got it the best I could, but it is not perfect for sure. I hope it is close enough I can get a good peforming machine though. No pictures today, nothing really to see. I plan on stopping by the local metal yard getting them to cut me 4 2"x2"x1/4" steel plate to make my leveling feet with. This is noted in the intructions, but he makes no reference any where in the plans or docs as to how or what to use. Not hard to do at all. More to come.

[dneisler]

Slow going, but I have just about completed one frame side now. I still have to make the leveling feet. I plan on taking some 2" x 2" x 1/4" steel and cutting a 7/8" hole in it with a torch and then welding a 3/4 nut on it and weld it to the bottom of the 2" tubing legs. And of course go back with a grinder and make it look nice. I am uncertain on if I should put the nut on the bottom of the plate, or on the top of the plate. I open to suggestions if any one has any.

Today's Pic