New Machine Build- New machine build. First timer!

[hellman81]

I have had linear rails and ballscrews laying around for some time. Decided yesterday morning to put some left over RHS to good use and build a new CNC router.

Here are a few pics of what I managed to get done over the weekend.

I plan to mount the ballscrews and motors over the next 2 weeks.

So far so good.

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Also,

I am trying to establish a CNC group around Newcastle NSW. If you are keen, please see this link...

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109314
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First real post with content so lets hope this works...


Todd

[ger21]

Why are you mounting the rails to the angle and not right on the tubing?

[Phife]

You may want to rethink some of your frame design, you have a few weak spots and flex points that will make your machine less rigid and slower.

Beef up your gantry to bed connections and definatly move those X rails to the top of the steel tube.

[RomanLini]

Nice looking machine! Good luck with the build.

You are going to need 2 triangle plates from the X bearings up to the gantry verticals, but I guess you know that already looking at your design.

One suggestion would be to make the gantry much shorter, to reduce Z travel which increases rigidity a lot. I always think you are better off with 3" Z travel and being able to cut flat sheet really fast and well - than to have 9" Z travel and have it chattering and problems cutting stuff.

[arizonavideo]

I don't see why on the Z the rails they are un supported for the lower two or so inches of travel. I would re mount them so the bottom is about flush with the Y carriage with perhaps 1/2" sticking out and lower the gantry sides by at least that amount or more.

You can have the top of the Z rails un supported because you mainly will be changing tools with the router up or just have it parked to have the cutting tool out of your way.

You will want to add a triangle shape second piece of steel to the gantry side supports.

Using what looks like 1/16" wall tube is a bit thin for tapping bolts so I can see why you are using angle but it might work better if the angle went to the outside, this would leave the box tube open for the table.

Nice looking welds BTW.

[hellman81]

Hey guys just wanted to say thanks for the feedback.

I decided to mount the rails on 50mm equal angle so I could bolt through. I think the 3 pcs combined should be rigid enough to do the job. I might gusset this if needed later on.

I have only tacked the gantry on at this stage with the intention of possibly lowering it later on. I will either drop it down or add a substantial tie at this point to stiffen it up.

Its all built from guess work so I will make it work and most likely rebuild it later learning from any mistakes.

The long term plan is to turn this machine into a plasma cutter if I can protect the rails and ballscrews.

Thanks for the welding comment I have had a little practice on the stick over the years.

[RomanLini]

If it to be a plasma cutter you don't need as much rigidity.

And you could put the rails on the outside edge of the frame and protect them from plasma splatter with a flat plate above them.

[arizonavideo]

If you use the router table for plasma cutting your X ball screw will be in the blast zone.

[RomanLini]

Yeah but the X gantry screw (or is it Y?) is not so bad, it's higher and you can shroud near the cutter pretty well. The main problems are the 2 lower screws, especially when cutting near the edge of the machine.