Second Machine Started

**Rodm1954** · 03-10-2006, 05:48 AM

I have just finished the first machine and have already started on the second. I have been collecting bits for the second and third machines for quite a few months now so at least I won't be waiting on parts. I started cutting the steel base last weekend and hope to make more progress this weekend.

I will build the strengths of the last machine into this one and look at ways of improving some of the weaker areas as well. It will be a steel base with aluminum gantry and all the rails will be commercial products rather than do it yourself. The time and cost of fabricating your own linear rails is not worth it for me. I also feel that no matter how much effort you put into making your own they are likely to be of less quality than commercial rails.

Well that out of the way I thought I would kick this thread off with a photo of my first router and then one of the rails and ballscrew I have purchased for the second machine.

As happened on the first machine I do not have drawings and apart from a concept in my head this thing will evolve as I go so it should be interesting to see the end result. I don't seem to have the patience for drawing but can tinker out in the shed for hours so I figure I may as well do something I enjoy.

**Rodm1954** · 04-30-2006, 08:14 AM

After my first post things stopped for various reasons but this weekend Nobott commenced in earnest. Totally changed my ideas over the last six weeks and have settled on a 400mm by 400mm by 100mm cutting envelope. The reason for the smaller machine is that it will take up less room and be easier to enclose in a soundproof vacuum cabinet.
This photo shows the steel base with the X axis ballscrew assembly fitted. The Y axis assembly is sitting on the temporary table and the linear rail will be fixed on the sides of this unit.
The sides have been extended above the table to protect the linear rails from sawdust and swarf.
The frame measure 600mm by 500mm at the moment but it will grow as the gantry is built.

**Rodm1954** · 04-30-2006, 08:21 AM

This photo shows the frame with the temporary table removed. Perhaps it would have been easier to get a cast iron block and shape it.

I like a heavy base on machinery so I think I have achieved this as I can only just lift it now. Next step is to break it down, cut the bolts to size, shape the steel a bit and then prime and paint it.

**Rodm1954** · 04-30-2006, 08:23 AM

Last photo for tonight shows the underside and ballscrew assembly. I might drop out the linear rails on this assembly as they will be doing nothing except add a bit more friction.

**vacpress** · 04-30-2006, 06:20 PM

this looks very nice..

are those slides ebay finds?

**paulC** · 04-30-2006, 07:01 PM

Looking good.
That is really solid.
Are you only running one rail along one side?
Paul

**Rodm1954** · 04-30-2006, 08:26 PM

Vacpress
Yes the slides are Ebay items.

Paul
There will be two linear rails - one each side. I just popped the ballscrew assembly and one rail on the table for the photo.

**paulC** · 04-30-2006, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Rodm1954

Paul
There will be two linear rails - one each side. I just popped the ballscrew assembly and one rail on the table for the photo.

Makes more sense to me now. I was missinterpriting one of your posts.
Your going to need to wear your steel caps when moving this puppy.
Paul

**Rodm1954** · 05-07-2006, 06:13 AM

Perth was 22 degrees which is 72 degrees in our old currency

so I wheeled the workbench outside and enjoyed the day. I had one of those days when you break taps and drill bits and put things down and can't find them but it was great being outdoors.
Oh yeah, it wasn't dream time all day and I did mange to get a bit of work done. During the week I stripped it down and shaped the steel a bit then sanded and painted. Assembly took a while as I had to make sure it was square. To make assembly easier I made up a few jigs out of MDF and used them as gauges.
I attached the X axis linear rails by tapping into the steel sides. So X axis is finished and next weekend I will make the aluminum gantry.
It was getting dark when I took the photo but you can see a bit of the garden setting I enjoyed all day.

**Rodm1954** · 05-08-2006, 11:49 AM

A night in the shed and Y and Z axis are finished. I can't take any credit for the axis as they were purchased as complete assemblies but I did make the joining plate.

Got to say this has been the easiest machine to build.
All I have to do is make a couple of sides for the gantry bolt this assembly to it and this machine is very close to being finished. I might even see some movement this weekend.

For those interested the X and Y axis travel is 400mm and the Z is 100mm. It is only a small machine but it will be ideal for engraving and decorative panels.
The rails on Y axis are 20mm and the rails on Z are 16mm. Ballscrews are 20mm pitch on X and Y and 10mm pitch on Z so it should be fast. I will try a direct couple with the motors but if the Nema 23 260oz motors aren't strong enough I have set it up to be able to retrofit pulleys. I will be running a Xylotex board and I have Mach3 and Vcarve software.

If you have a look at the first machine in this thread you will notice I have an engraved plate of the name of it on there. It is OBOTT which was a nickname given to me by a CNC group in Perth and it stands for "Our Brother of the Turnbuckle". If you look inside the base of that machine you will see I used turnbuckles to allign the sides. I have named this machine NOBOTT for the obvious reason that there is no turnbuckles on it.

Now before anybody says anything I promise to take my medication before I make my next post.

**jb2060** · 05-08-2006, 07:51 PM

Hi Rod,

Very, very nice! This will be one fantastic machine.

well done so far.

cheers, Jason

**Rodm1954** · 05-14-2006, 09:15 AM

Thanks Jason
Always nice to get some encouragement.

It is Mother’s day weekend so I was sure to cook the boss lunch and make the usual fuss.

I did manage to sneak out in the shed for a while and I have made good progress on the gantry. First I made a plate to connect the linear bearings. I cut the gantry sides and put a bit of shape into them and then assembled the gantry and Y and Z axis assemblies to it.

I just have the gantry sitting on the bench but I will lift it a bit and bolt a plate underneath that will pick up the X axis.

For something interesting yesterday I cut some dovetail templates out of 12mm MDF as a favor. I did them on my first router (Obott) and was pleased with the end product.