To boldly go, where many have gone before!!

[chas]

And so I start with my 1st machine, read a little, bought some
parts built my 1st axis (z) read some more, realized that end
resuld would not be what I want.

Used a couple of rails and printer head supports some ali and
came up with this:

[chas]

Sorry guys, pictures are too big, i re-shoot them in less quality tomorrow.

[ynneb]

Chas, no need to reshoot them just resize them in a free program called Irfanview.
You can download it from here www.irfanview.com

[chas]

Thanks ynneb,
Here are a couple of picture of my 1st prototype axis:

[chas]

After reading a lot more, realized that If I wanted to do
inlay work, some woodcarving, some light ali work,this
design was just not going to cut it.

So I bought some more stuff and off I go again.
Got a couple of thk rail sets srs15's 21 1/2" (x)
and rsr12's 14 1/2" (y)
some delrin motion slides (z)
3/8 16 acme lead screws with delrin for nuts (x, y)
and a ball screw for z
some more ali and i'm off and running again.

I'll be using the 4axis hobbycnc 31v setup, complete
with 80 oz steppers. Done and finished waiting for
machine.

Like most of us, all I need is time.

[chas]

I know that it has been said over and over build machine
1st then the electronics. I hardly ever follow the pack.
Usually with mixed results. And true to form here I go again,
This is the finished 4th axis, don't have a machine but a
kicking 4th axis.
hahaha

[chas]

Here is some ali for x and y.
Have one of the thk's mounted on the x rail.
( Not enough screw holes. hahaha)
Also here is the controler, and small computer
to run the 1st machine.

Not sure if I am posting too much.

Chas

[DSL PWR]

It's not like you're spamming the board, so post away!

[ynneb]

Not sure if I am posting too much.

Are you for real ? There is never enough good photos and information.

Go for it !

[jimbo]

Can you elaborate a little on how you adapted the stepper motor on the 4th axis. Was it difficult.

Jim.

[chas]

i bought a rotary table on ebay that came with a servo unit attached.
it's a 12v dc motor that is geared down and attached to the table.
the table is round and has no way to attach. i removed the servo/gear
box from the table and attached a 1/2" ali plate (which i used as a
tool stand to support 1/2 the rotary table). some spacers and the stepper.
attaching the gear head to the stepper was an adventure. i had to take the
gear box from the servo apart and utilize the output shaft to attach to
the stepper. a quick support to the front of the table and one 4th axis.

hope this helps
chas

[chas]

Well once again following tradition I stopped the 1st machine
and built the second one first. I bought an x/y table off
ebay, I belive it was off some kind of medical testing machine.
Very solidly built cast iron beds with thk style linear bearing,
complete with ballscrews, flex couplers, motor mounts and
optical sensors. I also purchased a z axis from ebay which
has same style of linear bearings, complete with leadscrew
and non-backlash nut.
I built a steel frame mounted the x/z table and z axis.
Made a anti-backlash nut and motor mount and attached
to the frame. All three axis work great. Still need to wire
up the controler.
Using pre-gecko drives, and bob campbell breakout board.
Still wiring all together and mounting in a rack mount chassis.
Here are a couple of bad pictures. Will post more when I
get back to working on this machine.

You see.........