Ahren's 8020 Router

[ahren]

Howdy All. I've been a long time lurker and tinkerer on the zone. I even built a ghetto CNC router 2 years ago (without posting any pictures -- sorry) from old robot parts at my last job.

Now it's time to really get going -- there's no excuse not to finish this puppy. Without further adieu, here begins my 8020 CNC router project log. I'll be counting on you guys to keep bugging me so it gets done .

Solidworks is giving me trouble right now, so I'll post a picture of the model tonight. But who cares about models, really? Here are some pics of the actual router. The first 3 are of the gantry as it stands right now. Lots of plans for reinforcement.

The last two show my control cabinet and motors. The motors and drives are matched Vexta surplus from ebay. 300 oz-in NEMA 34's. They cost me $100 for each set about 4 years ago -- I should have bought all 50 the guy had for sale . These all were used on my previous router with great success.

Spindle will be M12VC -- I already have it and a mount for it from K2CNC. I'm happy to answer any questions.

[crocky]

Hi,

Looks good so far. Mine is at the pencil stage at the moment although I have got the Zyxlotec(sp) ready to go kit and the bearing blocks and rails and the ballscrews ordered. When I get this drawing finished I can start building too..

Keep up the good work

Cheers,
Bob

[ahren]

I got Solidworks to cooperate again this evening. Below is the CAD model for the router. I'm particularly pleased with the repeated bearing, drive screw, and motor elements being used with the extrusion.

I'm still interested in stiffening the base structure to reduce any chance of flexing/racking -- I'm open to suggestions, and am currently considering a) fastening a sheet of MDF to the bottom or b) running steel bars, .5" x 2" across the bottom. What do you guys think?

[Madclicker]

I would design in some triangulation into the gantry uprights.

[dan dimock]

I wanted to build one out of the 80-20, I got the metel and slides, but I did not have it set up like yous. I think you have the right idea, I was going to sell mine, but now you have given me new hope. I can not wait untill you get it runing- I just want a 12X16 in machine.
Keep us poster.

[ahren]

Dan,
Glad I can serve as some inspiration. You should be able to get a pretty stiff machine with those sorts of travels. I'll let you know how mine goes, and will post more pictures as I get things put together -- I know that's what people like to see!

Steve,
Thanks for the advice -- are you recommending triangles between the uprights and the bearing trucks, or somewhere else? I do have some gussets (not shown in the model right now) that are connecting the uprights to the gantry crossbar -- these are crucial. I also have some holding the whole base frame together -- you can sort of see them in the first picture. My beam deflection calcs don't show anything happening to the uprights under load, but I do think I need to stiffen the overall base, as I do see a little racking if I push hard on one side and pull on another.

[Gersol]

Ahren,
I have three Super Vexta drives UDX5128NA and one UDX5114NA and the matching motors that were used on a CNC fabric cutting machine. I'd like to build a machine just like the one you're building out of 8020 and the only reason why I haven't started the project is because I don't know how to control these drives with the PC's parallel port. Can you please share this information if you are using the parallel and which software you planing to use. Any help will be very much appreciated.
Thanks

[ahren]

Hi Gersol!
I'd be happy to help you out with hooking up to the parallel port. That is what I'm doing, and it's really pretty straightforward. I'm using Mach3 software (artofcnc -- search for it on the zone and you'll get about a bajillion hits. It's super popular and a fantastic value). Then all you really need is a parallel breakout board (one with opto-isolators on it is a good idea, but I didn't do this with my first router). Send me a picture or spec sheet on your drives, and I can help you get things hooked up right.

[lgalla]

Hey Ahren how about an MDF base as you thought of and some E/G
Larry

[cncfoam]

ahren,

here is my 8020 build, maybe some ideas for you. there are other 8020 builds too.

EZ

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16818

[Gersol]

Originally Posted by ahren Hi Gersol! I'd be happy to help you out with hooking up to the parallel port. That is what I'm doing, and it's really pretty straightforward. I'm using Mach3 software (artofcnc -- search for it on the zone and you'll get about a bajillion hits. It's super popular and a fantastic value). Then all you really need is a parallel breakout board (one with opto-isolators on it is a good idea, but I didn't do this with my first router). Send me a picture or spec sheet on your drives, and I can help you get things hooked up right.

Howdy Ahren, thanks for the reply. Here are some pictures I took of the drives. Sorry I don't have the spec sheets for them. I hope they help and thanks again.

[ahren]

Hey Gersol, this looks pretty straightforward. And it's pretty sweet that you have 5 phase steppers -- those should run really smooth and give you good sustained torque.

Send me an email with specific questions -- I'm happy to help, but would prefer not to fill up the project log with this discussion. Get yourself a parallel port breakout board and I'll help you connect things up right. My email is ahrenkj AT yahoo DOT com.