Datacop's First Router - Learn with me!

[datacop]

So.. I've been wanting to build a CNC router for about a year now.. reading, reading, reading... and learning all I could..

The time for reading is over, not going to learn anymore until I just do it.

However, I'm not so silly as to drop a few grand on a project that is going to just turn out crappy and make me displeased with it.

Inspired by the engadget "Build your own CNC machine" article, I decided to give it a whirl.

That, and moving into our new house with a garage helps a ton

Without further adue...

I made it snow in my garage by cutting the sams club cutting boards.. and I made a box

Step one is complete, I have a nice square foundation from which to build on further.

the "box" is 17" long, 14" wide.. I used machine screws to bolt it together, pilot holes made with my drill press.

[bp092]

Nice, so what are you plans for specs for the machine? Reminds me to go out and get some more cutting boards, need to make some misc stuff for my joe's router.

[datacop]

I don't have any set plans.. at least, nothing on paper.

The basic design is going to be a Y axis table, with a fixed gantry doing X and Z..

Since the materials are all ... well, cheap, I'm not building it very big. I'm taking a swag at the cut area to be 8" x 5" total.

[ccsparky]

Looking forward to watching your progress, can't wait to see how it turns out!

What are your plans for motors and controller?

[datacop]

The main reason for building a cheap "quick and dirty" machine is to test and develop differant controllers and drives.

Luckily I work for a school corp, and I have a stack of old printers that I've torn apart to salvage parts from.

This is going to be my experimental test bed for me to try new things out on without having to break the bank.. I mean, if the machine self destructs for some reason, I can rebuild it in a weekend for the price of a few cutting boards and a box of machine screws

Once I get some real world knowledge under my belt and I'm comfortable with "stuff" in general, this spring I plan on building the JGRO machine for "real" work.

[ccsparky]

Originally Posted by datacop The main reason for building a cheap "quick and dirty" machine is to test and develop differant controllers and drives. Luckily I work for a school corp, and I have a stack of old printers that I've torn apart to salvage parts from. This is going to be my experimental test bed for me to try new things out on without having to break the bank.. I mean, if the machine self destructs for some reason, I can rebuild it in a weekend for the price of a few cutting boards and a box of machine screws Once I get some real world knowledge under my belt and I'm comfortable with "stuff" in general, this spring I plan on building the JGRO machine for "real" work.

It's always nice to have access to hardware!
I've got a kit from Joe going and am having a great time building it. Have it up and running, but still have a lot to do. Tinkering will probably never end.
Will be watching your progress, looks like you'll have a lot of fun also!

[datacop]

The wife had to work this morning.. so I was able to get some good shop time in..

I made square plastic things.. and played with the drill press some

[datacop]

Shop time is good!

Mounted the holding blocks for the y axis.. then as I was looking at it, I couldn't resist seeing what it looked like with the drill rod in place.

Starting to feel really good

[datacop]

So, I go out to the garage this morning thinking that it's time I build the linear slide blocks and assemble the Y axis table..

I discover that my "box" is now WAY out of square. That just won't do. I'm thinking about picking up a few eye bolts, a length of cable and some tension adjusters to bring it back into alignment.

I would string the cable in an X fashion at the bottom of the box with the tension adjusters near the middle (offset of course so they don't hit each other)..

sound like a good plan?

[datacop]

I was able to get the box back into square using the cable and turnbuckle system...

Cut my drill rod down to size and mounted them as well.

After measuring, I'm going to have a table size of 10"x8" for cutting surface. I've ordered some skate bearings for linear slides, but I want to experiment first.. I've glued 3 2" blocks together to give me a 2"x1 1/2"X2" block of whatever this cutting board material is...

Once the gorilla glue sets, I'll sand down the edges to give a flat surface, bore a glide whole through the center (the 1 1/2" face) and glue the block to the base of the table.

Thoughts? Has anyone made a linear slide like this?

[ger21]

Most glues won't stick to that plastic.

[datacop]

That's not very encouraging...

I'm doing a test right now.. I've made two blocks, one using 2 part epoxy and the other using Gorilla Glue.

I've had really good luck with Gorilla in the past, it's nice because it expands as it cures. So it should fill in all the little crevices in the cutting surface. The only downside is the curing time it requires.

Hopefully when I start working the part tomorrow it won't seperate. Details forth coming