My New 24x24 V-Groove Router Design Log

[widgitmaster]

Ok, so far I have sourced the V-Groove bearings and rails, and the Ball Screws!

This design is going to be built around a 24" x24" T-Slot plate. (The biggest I can make in my little shop)

Here are some snapshots of the basic CAD design I have chosen for the base slide assembly.
The T-slot plate will be 1/2" thick MIC-6 with 1/4" T-Slots spaced every 3".
The V-Rails will be supported by the "L" shaped tracks which will be machined from solid 6061 aluminum.
The L-track will also be used as the machines mounting feet.
The base slide will also be 6061, and have 4 V-Groove bearings on each end.
This Router will have mounting holes for NEMA-34 motors too!

The metal materials will be purchased from Speedy Metals in Wisconsin, the V-Tracks and bearings will come from McMaster Carr, and the Ball Screw will come from HOMESHOPCNC

Cost per one MIC-6 plate: $171.80
Cost per one Ball Nut: $95.00
Cost per one Ball Screw: $49.14
Cost per two V-Roller assemblies: $102.98 ea
Cost per two Double-V rails: $45.04 ea

The pre assembled V-Track units will be dismantled from the little rectangular plate, and custom fitted to the ends of the slide block. These units use a Double-V rail & .593" OD bearings, which allows me to make things a little more compact, thus reducing material costs.

I plan on building only one of these as a prototype, and will most likely make many changes along the way! One of the features I likes about the Ball Screw Nut was that it has an OIL hole! So this router will have small tubing and oil passages throughout! The other features is the 4-ball tracks and has rubber seals on the screws to keep oil in and dirt out, plus its preloaded!

This is looking like a fun (and expensive) project! Better mortgage your house ClaudioG
To be continued!
Widgit

[widgitmaster]

Because this router will be using NEMA-34 motors and Ball Screws, I have decided to pre-load the end bearing furthest from the motor.
So now I need to shop around for some double row ball bearings, and design a nice end cap. Also, I may have to make the front & rear plates out of Low-Carbon steel for extra strength!

Widgit

[.xXACEXx.]

should be a great new design widgitmaster,take lotsa pics like all your other builds you have done,lookin foward to it

[Jason Marsha]

Looking forward to this build. With nema 34's and ball screws, this baby should be a screamer.

Jason

[widgitmaster]

Man am I shaking, we had a Tornado touchdown less than 35 miles from my home!

Here is the current expense report, I hope my home and shop stay put long enough to finish this project

This is a lot of scratch to lay out for only one axis !

Widgit

[luv2bsailin]

Yikes! I went through a small one in Minnesota. It plucked a 2 foot diameter oak tree out by the roots, about 20 feet from the house. Pretty scarey! Good thing you have all those heavy machine tools to hide under...
Jim

[widgitmaster]

No matter where ya go, there is always something! I'd like to move to Australia, but with my luck I'd get bit on the ass by a poison frog!


I have spent a little more time in CAD, fine tuning the assembly details. One nice thing I have noticed is that if I make room for a NEMA-34 motor, then there is also room for the NEMA-23 motor mounting holes! So this router will take either motor size

Because of the size of this thing, I have decided to use dowel pins on all mating parts, to ensure it retains a little of it's squareness & flatness. So I guess that calls for some adjustable leveling feet to keep it level too!

I can't wait for the materials and parts to arrive, so I can get started!

Widgit

[anoel]

One of these days you're gonna have to build a few machines to assit you in building more machines...

[ClaudioG]

I was wondering what you were doing to keep yourself busy these days Widgit.

After getting your Wide router, I promissed myself I wouldn't buy another CNC machine for a while. Well it's been at least 2 weeks, so I guess that's a while

I wish you hadn't started this thread!

Looks like it will be a lot of fun for you. A little different to building about 30 minis, 50 midis and 3 wides (correct my numbers please).

Hope you enjoy it as much as we will.

Cheers,

Claudio

[widgitmaster]

Maximum capacity:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Frame material: Aluminum
T-Slot Top Plate Material: MIC-6 Polished Cast Aluminum
y-Axis Travel: 20.0625"
x-Axis Travel: 19.000"
Z-Axis Travel: 9.000"
Distance under gantry: 12.000"
Distance between Gantry Supports: 24.062"
Motor Type: NEMA34 & NEMA23
Screw Type: Ball Screw
Nut Type: Preloaded Nuts
Sliding Mechanism: V-Groove Tracks & Bearings
Spindle Mounts: Kress, Proxxon, Dremel
-------------------------------------------------------------


Another day of CAD, and I have solved a few problems with the Y-Axis! In order to support the V-tracks without having to use a massively heavy back plate, one that would make the machine too top heavy! The solution was found in a simple thick wall hollow aluminum tube! The tube will have a track milled into the exterior so the tracks can be mounted to them, and the ends of the tubes will be inserted into shallow counter-bored pockets on either end! This will eliminate any movement, and increase rigidity!

The tubing comes standard with a 2" OD and a 1/4" thick wall. and they will also be fastened to the side plates with dowel pins and #10 SHCS.

This router has a full 12" under the gantry, and a Z-axis travel of 9"
To support this, I have increased the side plate thickness from 1/2" to 5/8".

If I'm not mistaken, this machine will be strong enough for a 1/2" Dewalt router, not to mention the Kress motors!

Oh yea, I placed the Z-Axis T-slot plate in line with the back edge of the top-plate, allowing the spindle full access to the top plate's area!

Widgit

[andy_ck87028]

Originally Posted by widgitmaster No matter where ya go, there is always something! I'd like to move to Australia, but with my luck I'd get bit on the ass by a poison frog! Widgit

That's exactly what happened to me when I arrived in Australia and I am convinced that is why I am now obsessed with CNC

Andy

[BobWarfield]

Another awesome Widgit design taking shape. This will be fun!

Best,

BW