My Fist CNC build - Gotta table... now what?

[Slave2theGrind]

Hello All,

Last night I officially became the proud owner of my very first DIY cnc router table. It only took me 8 months to finally build the thing... Back in March, I joined the zone and was planning to jump head first into building a 80/20 based system but after talking with a few people about machines it became clear that I really needed to start with a more basic (read cheaper to repair) machine to learn on. So I researched MDF based routers and decided to go with the MDF machine that Patrick Daniel Hood first built over at buildyourcnc. I watched the videos and bought some MDF and starting laying out the cuts. In the first night I had all the parts cut for the Y and Z axis and by the end of the second day the gantry was together. The next day a nice storm cell hovered over our neighborhood and decided it wanted my house's roof for lunch so the project got placed on the back burner and stayed there till 2 weeks ago. I am now officially at a stand still until I buy the electronics to complete the build and need some advice on what electronics package to go with.

The machine has a usable cutting area of about 20" x 36"

I have an Hitachi M12VC 2-1/4 hp router I am going to use as my spindle

All screws are hardware store 1/2-13 rod that I have ran a die down and sanded the tops to remove burrs, I lubed them with silicon spray and they seem to turn very smoothly. I can easily turn all axis by hand with my finger and thumb.

my intended use for this machine is really as a learing tool so only basic profile shapes and drilling will be done. I may try to cut some MDF that is 3/4thick to learn v carving but most cuts will probably be on 1/8 to 1/4 inch ply and some balsa to experiment with RC plane parts. on the extreme end, I may try and test the machine on thin alluminium to see if I can cut a faceplate to mount my electronics in a project box but I don't plan to cut metals often at all.

SO now the fun begins....

What stepper setup do you recommend I go with?

I don't want to solder a kit so prefer something more "plug and play"

Setups I am cosidering are:

Buildyourcnc:

CNC4PC C-10 BOB, 3 drivers (unknown brand) 3 steppers 380 oz-in and a 36v 8.8a power supply

Cncrouterparts:

48V 7.3A switching power supply
- Gecko G540 4 axis stepper motor driver
- 3 High-torque Nema 23 380 oz-in stepper motors. These motors already have the current set resistors installed in a pro-grade metal shell. No soldering or crimping required. These are optimized for the G540 - 3 High-performance flexible motor cables: (1) 6'and (2) 12' cables
$519.00

Kelinginc:

G540 3 axis package (One G540 + Three
KL23H284-35-4B (1/4” Dual shaft with a flat) 387 oz-in + one KL-350-
48 48V/7.3A 115V /230V power supply: $455.95


oh, and where should I plan to buy end mills from, I'm betting I'll need a few spares too...lol

Here are a few shots of the router table... I'm so HaPpY!!!!

[cyclestart]

Originally Posted by Slave2theGrind I joined the zone and was planning to jump head first into building a 80/20 based system but after talking with a few people about machines it became clear that I really needed to start with a more basic (read cheaper to repair) machine to learn on.

Good ! Now the learning begins
Drawing elaborate machines in CAD is a great way to learn .....uh, CAD, and I'm only partly joking.

3 drivers (unknown brand)

Step on the brakes right there.
Just an opinion.

Both those Gecko vendors are well known and reliable. Keling's pricing is very aggressive. For the extra money cncrouterparts saves you the trouble of sourcing the cable, connectors and resistors as well as bit of soldering. Cable of that quality can be difficult to find in less than bulk lengths, or at least I had difficulty finding it. (Bought some on a cncrouterparts clear out btw, unfortunately that sale is over)

[Slave2theGrind]

I did slip my foot off the gas on the unknowns... really leaning towards the package from cncrouterparts. I may fire off an email to ask them if they could upgrade the 3 axis kit to use the bigger powersupply they offer in the 4 axis kit. I don't need the 4th axis now but would be nice to have the reserve power ready if and when needed. Guess I could just bite the bullet and buy the 4 axis kit and have a spare stepper and cable laying around.

I installed a9cad to start playing with CAD a few months ago and think I have a good feal for it. I used one of buildyourcnc's other earlier table designs and basically made my own CAD version of it. it was the 2x4 machine he now offers in a .nc file for free. I compared my version to his .nc files and it looks like i was dead on with his. so now I have the DXF and .nc files for another machine if i want to build another MDF router...lol....not

[cyclestart]

The g540 is a X10 micro-stepping drive. You may want to do some calculations regarding potential speed.

[beermkr]

I would think seriously about using a different router for your spindle. I am running that machine and think that the big router may be too much for its structure.

I am running a HF trim router now and it works great but am looking at a Bosch Colt trim router to replace it.

I am using my machine to build a bigger version of the same machine with a couple changes to the design in the form of additional travel and bracing.

R/

[Slave2theGrind]

will check into the bosch, did't realize my hitachi would be a problem...uggghh

So what setup do you use for your motion control? I still am lost on what package to run. I figured the g540 would be a wise choice but sounds like it may be bad too.

[beermkr]

I am using the HobbyCNC Pro Chopper driver. It is a build it yourself option that is pretty cost effective. It also allows me to upgrade it to 4 axis when I figure out what I want to do. I picked up some Vexta motors on Ebay for a grand total of like $70 shipped to my door and a 36VDC power supply from BuildYourOwnCNC.com. The motors are underpowered and limit the speed I can run at full travel. I have to throttle it back when I get to the far end of the x-axis or I lose steps. At the close end I can cut .25 deep with a .25 upcut bit at 30ipm and it rapids at 60ipm.

I run it all with EMC2 since it is free. The learning curve for EMC is a little steep but so far I have not had any major issues with it.

My intention was to make it as inexpensively as possible and then use it to build a bigger machine. That is why I used the HF trim router. They sell the thing for like $20 on sale so i figured you really cant go wrong. I actually bought a second one for use in the shop after I mounted the first one on the machine


R/

[harryn]

The electronics and motors are one of the most expensive parts of the machine build. If your plan is to use this machine for "learning", and then build a second, better one (common around here), then it might be a good idea to think in terms of what you will need for the "second" machine.

That way, you can use machine 1 to help build machine 2, then strip off all of those expensive electronic parts and reuse them them on machine 2.

In that case, I would go for more of a gecko / power driver and nema 34 size motors with lots of torque. If you ever plan do something more plywood sheet size, then torque levels more like 500-800 oz -in plus are desired.

[msimpson99]

That was my very first build. Its a good learning build. For mine I purchased the 4 axis kit from cncrouterparts. I got the 4 axis caus I new I would build a 4axis machine down the line.

That table is like a double edged sword. On one side it is very forgiving as it is very flexible. If you crash the router its not going to do much dammage. On the other side its very flexible so you wont get a lot of accuracy.

The first upgrade you might consider is going to Acme lead screws and antibacklash nuts.

A lot of people who build that table go with a Bosch Colt. Thats what I did. The bosch has one issue I dont like. Its not electricly conductive. which makes using depth probes difficult. I upgraded my table to a Festool MFK 700 which I am still using on my 4th and 5th builds.


One thing I would recomend is building a pen attachment like one of these


or this one



They will help you tune your machine. I was able to really fine tune my mach 3 settings.

Another addon that I add to all my builds is a dust shield. Very easy to make. The design will depend on your router and how its mounted.

[p38nut]

Originally Posted by Slave2theGrind will check into the bosch, did't realize my hitachi would be a problem...uggghh So what setup do you use for your motion control? I still am lost on what package to run. I figured the g540 would be a wise choice but sounds like it may be bad too.

I'm running that router as a spindle. I find its sound very refreshing over that high pitched whine of a laminate trimmer. I also bought ER20 collets in various sizes for different end mills.

[diecutter]

Originally Posted by p38nut I'm running that router as a spindle. I find its sound very refreshing over that high pitched whine of a laminate trimmer. I also bought ER20 collets in various sizes for different end mills.

I run a Hitachi M12VC also and find it an excellent choice. It is quieter than a laminate trimmer and does not lose rpms under load. It has very good speed control built in to it and a soft start feature.

[msimpson99]

You can not use a router heaver then a trimmer on this build. It will ruin the table. It will have too much flex. Its just not ridgid enough.

Dont do it or you will be rebuilding your table in a very short time.