4 x 12 router build

[monty62]

i want to build a router to process mainly 4 x 8 panels but capacity for some larger things. i think i can handle all of the mechanical sides of the project in terms of design and fabrication, but what im strugling with is the location of the products for the build. i dont want poor quality components, i want to build a machine i can grow into and probably add a 4th axis(within a short period of time) i would prefer a turn key type package for the motors and spindle side of the project. any help would be appreciated
regards les

[ger21]

Here's a good local source for you. He's also a member here.
http://zealcnc.com/

[monty62]

hi all,
started the build at last.
i have used 150 x 100 for the beams and legs
150 x 50 for the cross members
80 x 80 for the othe bits
i have fitted the linear rails on a temp basis to enable machining of the beams so the rails will be fitted on a flat surface. im sure the bed is level within
0.1mm
the next stage is the gantry.

[Ernie34]

Wow, That looks awesome!!!!


Ernie

[monty62]

thanks for those kind words ernie.
i thought i best shape up and get some more work done after looking at your build, i have welded up the gantry and set up the feet (angle iron) that sit on the bearing blocks (and if that wasnt hard enough the angle wasnt square i had to run a weld down the inside to bring it back in line) the next stage was to machine the faces of the gantry that the linear rail sit on, what a mission but we got there in the end. and i am now truley well over drilling and tapping. ""200 holes"" and shame on me i broke one tap.
could any out there tell me the correct grease to use for self lube bearings (i had to pull them appart and clean after my metal machining episode)
how accurate are these machines? i had my gantry parts cut on a cnc plasma cutter and one of the gussets was 2mm out of square over 200mm. here are some photos
regards les

[Ernie34]

Les,
Your machine looks nicer than mine will ever look. I really like how you built the table. Unfortunatly I have to build mine outside and then bring it into the basement. Maybe down the road I will build a second machine that looks similar to yours. Keep up the great work and I will be watching!!!


Nice Job!!!






Ernie

[CarveOne]

Very rugged looking frame design. There won't be any flexing going on with that one for sure.

CarveOne

[stef_d]

Nice looking machine.
How do you compensate for the uneven floor ?
do you have some kind of adjusting screws in the feet ?

[monty62]

what makes you think the floor wasnt perfect?
you are right though it wasnt. what i did was, i did a rough plot of where the legs would be, then i took some levels at these points with a dumpy. cut the legs to suit (this took out most of the error) when i had welded the frame together i bolted it down to the floor(16mm theader bar chemically anchored). then got back on the dumpy took some more levels to see what final adjustments would be required. then the really technical part, i went shopping to the warehouse (a really crappy shop here in nz) probably like tj hughes over there. i bought some cooking trays which the base metal thickness was about 0.4mm and chopped them up to make some shims then mixed and matched with aluminium foil which had a thickness of 0.02mm so was able to pack to the exact size i required.(real shims where that expensive it wasnt funny) i did make sure the aluminium was sandwhiched between steel shims with it being so soft.
regards les

[voltsandbolts]

Mmmmm... Beefy!

[Ernie34]

Any updates??

I NEED to see how this beast runs!

Ernie

[Khalid]

interesting ..How you handle the heavy parts?