My First Router

[rmtucker]

kong

It's a renishaw touch probe,It can be used for measuring or scanning.In my case mainly scanning (copying i hope).Not quite sure what i will do with the machine till i try cutting but mainly signs and clocks,sundials in fact anything i can fit in.I will be looking at 4th and 5th axis soon,while i'm waiting of x axis gecko and motor.

Mark

ps all comments are appreciated as this is what keeps the project going.

[Boros]

I must say that the router is most impressive.

My question is to do with the renishaw probe.
What model is it?
Are you using the renishaw interface?

I have several probes awaiting my router to be completed.
I plan on having my probe retractable so I can use it for both digitising and measuring offsets.
I also plan to have another probe for Z hight measurment.

Thanx

Boros

[jimini]

What is the total cost of the probe and interface if you don't mind?
And what software would you use with it?

[rmtucker]

Hi Guys

The probe is a Renishaw LP2,Which i believe is one of the old machine probes.I'm afraid it did not cost anything as i procured it from a box of disused tools at work.I only plan on using Mach2 for the router which has all the capability i need as far as the probe is concerned.Anything that is not in Mach2 can be written into the Macro facility.Oh also the probe is wired directly to the parallel port as no interface is required with the LP2.
Hope this helps !!!!

Mark

[georgebarr]

How will your Z-axis motor mount? Normally, I have seen the motors mount on the top side of the z-axis. But since you have the z-axis installed differently, the motors direction would have to be reversed (I think!). I too plan to install a Z-axis just like you have in the picture. I would like to know how the motors will mount so that I can help solve my cnc setup.
Thanks,

[rmtucker]

George

If you look at recent photo's the motor is already mounted but hidden by the switchbox.

See:- http://www.cnczone.com/attachment.php?postid=16112&s=

Mark

[rmtucker]

Hi guys

Just a quick message to let you know i am setting a web page up
for Photo's and Video's and some history of the machine.Reasons for this is that the limits on cnczone only allow small pictures and no video.I will continue to post on this site as well as my webpage just that there will be more detail on the web page.The site is still under construction so bear with me.

http://website.lineone.net/~rmtucker/

Have fun!!!!!!

Mark

[JIMMY]

very nice router mark

[cncadmin]

Originally posted by rmtucker
Hi guys

Just a quick message to let you know i am setting a web page up
for Photo's and Video's and some history of the machine.Reasons for this is that the limits on cnczone only allow small pictures and no video.I will continue to post on this site as well as my webpage just that there will be more detail on the web page.The site is still under construction so bear with me.

http://website.lineone.net/~rmtucker/

Have fun!!!!!!

Mark

You can post vids just zip it, did you try posting your pics in the photo gallery??
http://cnczone.com/photopost/index.php

[rmtucker]

Does anybody know where i can get a suitable table top for this baby,here in the uk?.I was going to use some 1/2" aluminium plate, but this is proving difficult to get hold of.And i can not find anybody that is selling any kind of t-slot table at all.
The table top is around 1250mm * 770mm,so wood would not really an alternitive (not accurate enough).Any pointers would be appreciated as at the moment any jobs would fall down the middle.

Mark

http://website.lineone.net/~rmtucker/

[buckie555]

Mark

I'm in the process of building a similar sized router to yourself. We used 15mm thick 5083 1440mm*720mm Aluminium plate for the machining surface. The bending plate calcs yielded a max deformation of about 10microns under a 50kg load - that was good enough for us. I bought it for about £120 from Metalfast ( I believe the website is www.metalfast.com but do a search on google if not), they've got a few branches around the UK and are very helpful. I've ordered quite a lot of plate and angle from them for the machine I'm making and everything they've supplied has been top notch.

Neil

[kong]

If you are prepared to drive to Southampton there is a scrap yard on Portsmouth road that can yield some good quality ali for £2 a kilo. It is what I used in my router.
Alternatively, you could go half wood half ali, which is what I intend to do with mine. 18mm marine ply base, with 6mm ali plate bolted on top. Depends how well it's supported though I guess.

[xairflyer]

I have got alloy plate before from Amari/Aalco stockist without any problems.

Also you could try 25mm or 32mm MDF for the base, I am using 25mm on mine. 900 x 850

[rmtucker]

Hi ppl

I was wondering if anybody could shine some light on this subject?.
Due to the fact that Alzanti UK is no longer stocking Gecko 210's,I am going to have to buy the 3rd Gecko direct from Marris at Geckodrive.
I have never imported anything in the past so what is the procedure and cost in the UK?.
I know the item itself is $148.00 and Vat will apply but what is the import tax on an item like this?.
I have heard it can be 0-80% of the items cost,And how is this payable (At the door on delivery?).Also how long does it take in customs.I know this is off topic but i know a lot of ppl out there that are reluctant to buy from usa because of these questions.
any help would be appreciated on this matter because i am hoping to order before next week.

Thanks
Mark

http://website.lineone.net/~rmtucker/

[kong]

All bought my gecko 320's from the geckodrive website, and the service was remarkable. I had several emails letting me know they were despatched, etc. Delivery was about 3-4 days, and cost about, erm, $40 (bit of a guess, sorry). As for VAT, I got caught. The delivery guy wanted £60 on the door. As I never had it, he returned the items to the depot, and I had to phone them and pay by credit card. As you are only buying one, you may get away without the VAT. I have imported loads of stuff, sometimes you pay, sometimes you get away with it if the value is low enough.

[rmtucker]

Well i did it?

I recieved the last Gecko and motor over the weekend.
I decided to lower the machine on to its wheels to turn it round while fitting the remaining limit switches etc,BIG MISTAKE !!!!!!!.
The gantry was not fastened and guess what , it rolled off the end of the table and went crashing to the floor.Approx 250 lbs of hard work missed my head by about an inch.It put a gouge in the concrete floor about an inch deep,ripped all the wires out of the motor connection boxes,obliterated the digitizer socket.And worst of all me and my son who stands over 6ft tall could not pick it up off the floor.The whole gantry had to be stripped on the spot and checked for damage etc,then placed back on the machine and rebuilt.
Anyway the machine is back on track and should be finished in the next 7 -14 days.I think the moral of this story is never never never lose site of the safety aspect of these machines,even though they are home made they are just as dangerous as their big brothers.If it had hit me when it came off i would have needed an undertaker not a paramedic.!!!!
I will post some photographs of the final build in the next few days,And then on to the best bit putting a cut on after nearly 2 years work.Hoping to arrange some video of this.

Mark

http://website.lineone.net/~rmtucker/

[bb99]

Sorry to hear about the crash. How bad is the damage to the gantry?

--bb99

[anoel]

Ouch.... Better Bolt a couple of stop plates at the ends of the rails to prevent this from happening again...

[rmtucker]

My First cut

Mark

[rmtucker]

My Second cut

mark