Build Thread- low buck 7'x16' router

[slowdown]

we'll see if I figured this picture post stuff out. hmmm

well here is might be the table, it runs, and it was built very low buck, with so special tools just a hand drill, hand router, table saw and a chop saw.
its all aluminum, with a wood deck.
this beast runs probotix drivers and step motors, with a 3.25 ratio belt driven reduction on x and y and acme on z. and to top stuff off it runs on skate bearings.

the thing is built for cutting aluminum sheet/mill in a single pass, and dose about 28-40 ipm in 1/8th if all goes right. and cuts 1/4 mill at about 20 ipm.

[nokillzone]

how is the build going ?

[slowdown]

its mostly done..... just got ta clean some wireing up. and build some covers for looks.

only problems so far, shabby wireing in the control box. basic ground stuff...

and broken bearings from running over tools left on the track, oops.

heres more pics

[Jason Marsha]

I love this machine, excellent work slowdown.

I am concerned about the bearings running on the aluminium angle iron. Have you seen any wear so far.

Jason

[slowdown]

ya I thought there was going to be a big problem with the alm. on the gantry, but once my out of square bearings seated the wareing stopped/slowed, the amazing part is the 1" steel rod for the x has more of a grove worn in it at this point. but yes later I do plan on changing over to steel on the y and z to.

[analogman]

Nice big machine. How is it for flex? Have you tested repeatability?

[slowdown]

well flex was a problem in the gantry, I scrapped two diffrent gantrys, this one is good its 2X6 1/4 wall aluminum box. so it will take quite a bit to move or flex it. as for repeatability is as good as most high buck machines. it beats the torch mate plasma we got 10 ta 1. for repeatability, and reliability.

I was shocked this table worked at all, even more shocking is how well it has bin doing. its running 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week, cutting parts out for were I work. its only bin down 2 hrs because of a bad ground/ and the smashed bearing so far.

with the new vac/dust machine running I can cut 1/2 aluminum in a single pass at 26 ipm. 1/8 mill aluminum at about 48 ta 58 ipm. no problem. but if I shut down the dust system the bit clogs and melts its way though what ever work pc is one the table. I run a 13/64 up cut bit mostly.

also I just got a high presure mister, so I'll see if it helps any. I hope with it running I will be able to cut the gummy checker aluminums at around 30 ipm.

[Jason Marsha]

Lets see some videos of this baby in action.

Jason

[analogman]

Originally Posted by slowdown also I just got a high presure mister...

Very interesting - can you give more details? Make, model, price. What type of coolant? I cut a fair bit of .080 aluminum and dont yet have a nice toolpiece cooling solution. I would like something that does not *totally* messs up my MDF spoil board. A col air tube would be nice, but I just dont have the air.

[StevecGarry]

Slowdown,

Looks like you've got a good system there. I'm just getting started on the plans for a similar but smaller machine which will be just over 8 x 4

Can you give some details please. What size/power stepper motors are you using, and what power is the milling spindle?

I'm guessing that you've used rack & Pinion on the X & Y, what pitch did you use, and it is driven by one motor, or 2 motors, and if it's 2, are they indenpendent drives or slaved somehow?

Thanks

Steve

[slowdown]

1st well, I'm trying to post some......haveing problems... any way soon

2nd the mister I got runs of my air comp. some air over set up, it costs like $150 canadian, looks like something that could be made for 15 bucks. I thought it was something more complicated...... I got a mdf deck to the sales guy said that if I set it right I shouldn't have problems with the wood deck, it should be more problems for my dust vacume well see, I take some pics of it, and get ya more info.

3rd the table runs probotix everything its the 400 oz 4 axis kit. the only problem with this kit it runs real hot so more cooling is needed for the drivers.
the x runs 2 400 oz. steppers all I did was use my a and z and set up mach 3 to do so. its real eazy to do so as long as you set the motors in the same direction with mach. the rack I use came from mc master carr I used the 16 pitch pre drilled rack. if a need pt#s I think I still got the boxes hidden in a corner at work.

the router head/spindle I use right now is just a 3 1/2 hp milwaukee. its not a bad router head. but parts for it are hard to get, if any thing goes wrong I can't get parts like a portercable. and likely my next router will be a porter for this reason. that is if or when this one packs it in.