Bobs Aussie ITEM Router Table Build

[crocky]

Hi Folks,

I had a fairly serious stroke about five years ago and everything to do with the right hand side has stopped working so I am going to be building a CNC Router table with just the Left Hand. I'll probably use my wife or my son-in-law if it gets to be heavy going, it seems to be very easy so I am going to give it a go. I was pretty heavily into the computer industry and good with most software, so the PC should present no real problems for me. I have been lurking around here for a while and getting all sorts of good information from lots of people in numerous threads. This will be fun, and if I can do it......hey..... anyone can

This is the second log I have started, the first one was going to be a Joe's 2006 MDF type machine and all I needed to get was someone who could make a kit for me. I had even got the bearings for it. The kit was way too expensive to get from the States and then there was the minor differences in the MDF sheet sizes over here compared with over there etc and in the end I decided to go another way.

While I was looking through the Linear Bearings website in Melbourne I noticed that they sold extrusions made by ITEM and they had a manager who was just in charge of that line. After an email to confirm that they could make me a kit and the drillings for the universal jointing kits and a couple of phone calls to Enzo I had a purpose designed kit of parts for my CNC table arranged. This one will be approximately 900mm x 700mm x 200mm, I'll tell you what cutting area I have when it all comes together and I can use it.

These are the parts I have got together for the CNC:

Ozito Router AU$43.00 - Bunnings - the cheapest thing!
Xylotex kit for 3 axis, set for 220V with box including full wiring to the steppers and including freight. US$556.00
Bearing rails 6 x BR15R-N and bearing blocks 12 x BRS15B-N-Z0. AU$1292.39 - Linear Bearings
3 x ballscrews with pre-loaded nuts and end machining including freight. US$506.92 - Homeshopcnc.com
ITEM for the CNC frame including 32 universal fastening kits. AU$856.88 - Linear Bearings
T-Handled Allen Key Set with ball end. AU$10.50 - Bunnings
8mm x 125 1 taper tap and 1 bottoming tap to do the ITEM gantry ends. AU$24.60 - Brentools
Threadcutting lubricant. $Free
52 x T-Slot Nuts 8 ST M4 to hold the linear rails on. AU$123.20 - Linear Bearings
3 x Packs of 4mm round head screws and nuts 25ea. AU$10.50 - Mitre 10
* 1 Copy of Mach 3 US$156.00 - Artofcnc.com
* Ebay - Dell GX270 P4, 2.8Mhz, 512Mb, 40Gb, CD/DVD, 15" LCD. Dedicated to CNC. AU$410.00

Total Cost so far $????

Some of the ITEM frame to look at so far:

[Dingo745]

G'day Bob,
I'm a fellow aussie located in rural Tassie. I too are about to embark on an cnc router build. I'm a total newbie to cnc so it will be big learning curve I'm sure. My design will be be 900x900, that is dictated by the linear rails and bearings I scored off Ebay today. Unfortunately my budget is more shoestring so my table will be a combination steel/ally concoction, and all home built. Having a small lathe, mill drill, and tig welder will help though. My biggest dilema now is what electronics and motors to use ?? I noticed you have got a Xylotex package for your system, my question is what made you choose that particular package ? Was it price only, or was there other factors involved. Also, what motors are you using ?
Because of my electrical ignorance I'm looking for a real "Plug n Play" system and had been looking at a package from http://www.lowcostcncretrofits.com/Australia.html it is a LOT more $ than the Xylotex system but has local (Qld.) support.
Naturally if I can save a buck I will, but on the same hand I believe in doing it right once. So your feedback will be appreciated.
Regards,
Deane

[acondit]

Bob,

I am glad to see that you were able to find a solution that is going to work for you. It is looking good so far. Can you give some more details on how the joint tighteners work?

Thanks,
Alan

[crocky]

G'day Bob,
My biggest dilema now is what electronics and motors to use ?? I noticed you have got a Xylotex package for your system, my question is what made you choose that particular package ? Was it price only, or was there other factors involved. Also, what motors are you using ?

Naturally if I can save a buck I will, but on the same hand I believe in doing it right once. So your feedback will be appreciated.
Regards,
Deane

Hi Deane,

The reason to go for the Xylotex was dictated by a couple of things, can't solder now that I have had a stroke and it had to be really plug and play for that reason. The transformer/power supply was configured as well and it came in a nice box. The motors I got were 269oz but I think that there is a special on now where you get 420oz for the same price It would be an even better deal now. The time from order to delivery was about a week and a half and that is pretty good. Hope that helps

I will take some more pics later and include the Xylotex as well.

Bob

[crocky]

Bob,

I am glad to see that you were able to find a solution that is going to work for you. It is looking good so far. Can you give some more details on how the joint tighteners work?

Thanks,
Alan

Hi Alan,

Took me a little while

The joint tighteners are pretty good things, don't take too much working out either. They use an 8mm bolt with a hex head for an allen key and the inside end screws into a special nut. Some of my closeups are a bit blurry but you will get the idea

I have included the adjustable feet too

Bob

[crocky]

Well we had better get busy constructing it now.

The frame consists of 40x80 on the outside, 40x80 spreader bars and 40x40 legs. There will be some more 40x40 placed on to it before it is finished.

The frame was built upside down on a piece of mdf to keep it mostly square and flat. The ends and the sides were placed up to a leg and a universal mounting kit was fastened at each intersection with a ball nosed allen wrench. After the sides, ends and spreader bars were done it was time to turn the frame upright and to put the upper fastening kits into place and to tighten them up.

That was the frame done Next job was to tap the legs with an 8mm tap to take a set of adjustable feet, a little bit hard but not impossible with just one arm.

Time to order some t-slot nuts and put the x-axis bearing rails on to the frame. That caused a slight problem, there was no room to put the nuts in the frame because of the way I had fitted the legs. Nice and neat, but... Take the front two legs off and then you can insert the nuts and rails then put the legs back on to the frame. Hmmmmmm!

Well that all worked fine so it was time to place the x-axis bearing blocks on to the frame, got to be a bit careful because the bearings could run out if they are not held in place. They have a retainer in place when you unpack them, each one was put on the rails and the retainer was simply pushed out as the bearing was fitted.

The side(s) of the gantry is going to be made by a friend who has some 10mm alloy and a milling machine and should be about 200mm long by 435mm high, I'm waiting for that now..

Bob

[thkoutsidthebox]

Looks like your going to have a nice solid machine there when you finish. Keep up the good work.

[crocky]

Looks like your going to have a nice solid machine there when you finish. Keep up the good work.

Thanks, thats what I am hoping for

Bob

[crocky]

Parts of the Xylotex kit for Deane,

The outside of the box fairly plain but I had to take the lid off and see what was rattling inside! It was the three heatsinks that had been somehow spat off the chips that are on the driver board. I suspect that the double sided tape had not been fixed properly, it looks like it only goes on in one position because of a couple of resistors sit fairly high near the chips. I had not put power on the board yet so that was good. A bit of repositioning and some application of a fair amount of force put them back in the correct place. Thanks Deane for making me take some pics I would suggest that anyone that has this setup checks the heatsink positions just to be sure they are still fitted where they should be.

The power supply was good and you can see the two fans, one of which is located directly above the heatsinks when the lid is closed.

The rest of the kit just consists of the stepper motors and the printer cable.

Bob

[Dingo745]

G'day Bob,
Thanks for the pics, makes it easier to see what you actually get for your money. What was the landed cost here in Aus $.
It's the little things that make ask questions, like your unit arriving with heatsinks flying around inside hmmmm. My other observation is the "plain Jane" appearance of the case. I was just looking at the CandCNC package that was suggested to me, and they appear to have a nicer case that has some XYZ LED's and mapped buttons for Start, Hold, Stop, plus the port for a pendant remote. These actually have Xylotex boards inside, just packaged in a different way.
Anyway at least your a long way ahead of me in your build, looks really flash so far, and I love that ITEM gear, only wish my budget stretched that far but unfortunately Johnny Howard doesn't pay us pensioners S.F.A.

Regards,
Deane.

[crocky]

Hi Deane,

I think it was about Aus$700.00 give or take a few. Plain jane it is and there is certainly no thrills with it but that is what I paid for. The candcnc box will have more than just Xylotex boards. I have no limit switches either or an e-stop switch, I will work that out a little further down the track and much more reading

Registered mach 3 yesterday too, another learning curve

Bob

[Dingo745]

Well I just sent an email to CandCNC asking for a quote on what I need. I find their website too confusing, must be getting old.
Thanks, you reminded me I didn't ask about limit switches and E-Stop, bugger ! another email.
I am starting to sway towards an Xylotex or CandCNC package now.
The system from Logitrol was about Aus $1600 + freight. So there is a BIG saving to be had, money that could go towards better leadscrews, etc etc.
I'm Excited !! as big kev used to say.