Panel Saw type CNC?

[Edh]

Hi,

I would like to build a 4'x8' (+) area CNC machine to cut plywood & foam. Due to some space restrictions, I was thinking of building it simalar to a panel saw to minimize floor space.

[Note -a panel saw is a (almost) vertical saw like they use at Home Depot for custom cut wood - See Photos Here ]

Has anyone done this? Other than making sure motors are strong enough and there are no gravity held bearings, can you think of anything else I would need to consider?

My plan would be to build it as a normal horizontal table, then build a vertical mount/table for it once I had it working.

Thanks,
-Ed

[ViperTX]

Can you imagine what would happen when you powered it down? It would definitely be a way to preload the bearings.

If space is a consideration.....figure out a way to change from horizontal to vertical for storage.

[Al_The_Man]

I would think that you would need to put a counter-balance system on it, without power to the axis it would remain wherever you manually positioned it.
Al.

[chuckknigh]

Home depot uses a series of ACME bricks (the kind with the 3 holes through them) to act as a counterbalance to the skil saw. They run a steel cable straight up, along with the power cords, and over a pulley at the top. Optionally, a torsion spring could probably act as a counterbalance, too...but nowhere near as cheaply.

I had a similar idea, a while back, before I decided I needed small routers, instead of 1 really big one.

-- Chuck Knight

[OCNC]

Originally Posted by Edh Hi, I would like to build a 4'x8' (+) area CNC machine to cut plywood & foam. Due to some space restrictions, I was thinking of building it simalar to a panel saw to minimize floor space. [Note -a panel saw is a (almost) vertical saw like they use at Home Depot for custom cut wood - See Photos Here ] Has anyone done this? Other than making sure motors are strong enough and there are no gravity held bearings, can you think of anything else I would need to consider? My plan would be to build it as a normal horizontal table, then build a vertical mount/table for it once I had it working. Thanks, -Ed

Check out www.otocoup.com . This unit is stored against a wall but might also be usable that way with the addition of a counter-balance and some creative material hold-downs.

Chris

[LeeWay]

Personally, I think it would need to be operated horozontally as well. You would have to have one really complex holding system on the vertical if you were wanting to make multiple cuts in a sheet. I also feel that it would have to be one heck of a machine to outdo an experieced panel saw operator. Don't judge by the guys you see at HD using these saws. I have cut at least two truck loads of MDF on a panel saw and you get quite good and fast. Since it is all straight cutting to be done on a panel saw, is there really a benefit to CNCing it?

[skippy]

Leeway, I think he means building a router but (in his words) "building it similar to a panel saw to minimize floor space".

[ger21]

I've seen a commercial machine like this, but can't find the link right now. If I find it, I'll post it.

[bkukowski]

if it is operated vertically, and pieces are cut all the way through, i'd be concerned of them falling and hitting the router. Also, it would take much more force to secure your pieces vertically. it would be interesting to see it done though.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by bkukowski Also, it would take much more force to secure your pieces vertically.

No, it would be the same. There is a lot more force on a part being cut than gravity. Unless your cutting 100 lb parts.

[jderou]

I would just make sure the gantry runs from left to right, instead of up and down. That being said I dont think their is an issue with counterbalancing the router moving up and down, we do this with our z axis on standard routers dont we? It must be screw driven, though. If you would use a gear drive you could do some damage when you turn the power off.
Actually I think its a pretty good idea. You could put rollers on the bottom (liek a conveyor) to make it easy to load large panels, plus dust falls to the bottom.

[LeeWay]

Originally Posted by skippy Leeway, I think he means building a router but (in his words) "building it similar to a panel saw to minimize floor space".

Thanks Skippy. I realized that after I looked at Chris's link above. A router makes a lot more sense then a simple straight line panel saw.