First Router Build - 4x4, steel, R&P

[cxixer]

She's alive!! She's a bit, off... But I love her anyway! While cleaning, the Z axis took a spill, and it got a little bent. If I can't fix it I'll have to make a new one, but it doesn't track right like it use to. Other than that, a few quirks here and there to work out, it's ready to go! I just need to make a router clamp and a dust hood, and she'll be ready to cut her first pieces!!

Anyone else excited?!

By the way, I know how it looks. I have the paint ready, I just wanted to test everything out and work out the kinks before I paint it.

[cxixer]

OK! First use of the router, I thought it was appropriate for a former programmer.

I grabbed what I had out there (USPS Priority mail box), clamped a perm. marker to the z axis, and went to it. I should have cut the box in half so it would have layed down properly, which is why the text is a little cut off, and the market bends slightly making it not 100% straight, but it's still cool!

Thanks to everyone who has helped, answered questions, or inspired me through this process! I'll post more pics once I get cutting. Still need to make the router holder, and I need to slightly adjust the Z axis to make it run a bit smoother, but it's just around the corner!!

[cxixer]

OK, completely not happy with the Z axis, so I re-made it, and it dropped about 5 pounds in the process, and now runs much smoother.

First cuts below!

It's sure something else watching something you build from scratch make something for itself! Had to use the old "print hello world" to make this a real nerd's first cnc router.

[cxixer]

Router's Finished!

Engraving to test it:



Video:



More Video:

[eloid]

who do you get your rack from, what size is it tell use about your gear box of your rack...

[cxixer]

Hey,

Got the racks from http://www.stdsteel.com/, part number 200012, they're pretty reasonable if you buy three racks from them, they have a minimum order and don't take credit cards - but good experience other than that.

I ordered pulleys for a 3-1 ratio and built the gearboxes but I did it by hand and there was some slop ... instead of re-doing them, I set up the direct drive and it worked out well. Now that the router is running, I could cut the gear boxes, but it runs real well, and cuts precise for what I need it for.

I got 24 tooth pinions that ride against the rack. The only issue I had with this was when I had the pinion shafts bored to fit onto the motor shafts, the place that did it bored it slightly over .25", so there was some play in the shafts, which led to serious backlash slop. I fixed this with bearings on the end of the shafts hooked to springs to pull the gear toward the rack. This helped out tremendously.

[eloid]

did you end upp tack welding the rack?, there doesnt seam enough room to
make mounting hole in the side of the rail to bolt in place, do u have a pic
to confirm my suppions?

[cxixer]

I welded the rack to a piece of angle iron, then welded the angle iron to the sides of the table, and one to the back of the gantry. I don't have any pictures of that close up, and I'm having a memory card issue right now, let me know if you have any more questions!