New Machine Build

[skipper_52]

A few pics of the Solsylva machine I'm almost done with. Help here has been great. Opinions welcome.

Skipper_52

[Den-Den]

Good work, you will be cutting soon!

[CarveOne]

It's looking good. Are you sure your table top is going to be rigid enough? (Just kidding of course) That took some effort to build and make the surface flat. Good job.

CarveOne

[Mr.Chips]

That’s one very clean machine, you did a good job Skipper.

I haven’t red much about the Solsylva machine, do you need to anchor the four supporting legs down when cutting?

On a heavy cut seems like it might move the whole unit if it weren’t secured.

What electronics are you using?

OK now it time to make a video and see some action.

[CarveOne]

Mr.Chips,

That's a real possibility. I made a sacrificial MDF base for mine and added a countersunk deck screw at the center of each of the legs from the underside of the base.

CarveOne

[Mr.Chips]

Originally Posted by CarveOne Mr.Chips, That's a real possibility. I made a sacrificial MDF base for mine and added a countersunk deck screw at the center of each of the legs from the underside of the base. CarveOne

That sounds like a good fix.

[skipper_52]

.

[skipper_52]

Test run went well on Saturday. Finished the base too with t mounts. Will send a pic soon. Initial run at 26ipm jammed the steppers. Had to drop it down to 10ipm to get it to run. Adjusted the stepper mounts, loosed the belt tension and dropped the ramp down to .5. Got 50ipm on the Y and 35ipm on the Y. The problem seems to be the stepper mounts. If I loosen the nuts I can get 42 on the Y. Seems to be the alignment of the stepper shaft to the drive screw. Has anyone tried a small universal joint.
Cut a test piece at 1/8" pass' with an old bit and it was perfect for dimension but did a lot of burning. Got some bits today and figured I'd machine the housing/carriage for the dampers. Will send a pic of them too and plans if anyone wants them.
That work bench table in the pics is not the machine base. An old bakery top I salvaged and converted to a work bench. Drive and motors are from Xylotex.

[CarveOne]

One of the viewers in my build log noticed that there is a small error in the dimensions in the plans drawing for the Solsylva 25x37 motor mount. I didn't recheck the drawing since my aluminum motor plates had already been made. I'm using the DumpsterCNC 1/2" acme to 1/4" stepper couplers and it hasn't been a problem for me. The neoprene hose coupler shown in the plans should work ok also, as long as the hose is straight. Some of the 1/4" ID hose I've seen is not round and has a natural curve from being shipped on a roll. For this reason I wouldn't use the hose if it is from the last few feet left on a roll.

Also check that the stepper mount plate is square with the lead screw. If the outer nuts are loosened and the plate "bends" as you loosen them it means that the plate has been forced to seat against the nuts on on the inside of the mounting plate and it has forced the motor shaft to misalign with the lead screw. Loosen the outer nuts, let the stepper shaft self align with the leadscrew, then adjust the inside nuts to lightly fit against the inside of the motor plate. Then tighten the outer nuts.

If you loosen the motor plate nuts, run the motor, and see the motor plate moving side to side then the coupler (or the lead screw) is not straight.

If the drive coupler at your Z axis is not in alignment with the center of the bearings at each end of the Y axis lead screw it will cause misalignment as the the router is moved near each end of the Y axis travel even if there is no misalignment when the router is near the center of the Y axis travel.

Looking forward to some photos.

CarveOne