My kit form router build.

[beezkneez]

So...My kit arrived this morning for my build. Overwhelmed I think is the word I am looking for

I'm building an all ali 900 x 600 cnc router.

First off, has anyone else built the kit I have bought, that would be handy to speak to someone, maybe a few pics, tips etc.

This is it:

CNC Machine Kit 600mm x 900mm

I believe it is 90% of the parts I need.

My second question(s)

a: ) Are these O.K to use with this size machine?

CNCRouterParts

i: ) I have no clue about electrics, so need something that I will be able to setup myself. I have downloaded mach3 already but havnt purchased the license until i know I have a motor kit that will work with it.

b: ) Has anybody got these motors and electronics; are they any good??

Thanks for any input/advise.

BK.

[aarongough]

The 3 axis kit from CNCRouterParts is great! I highly recommend it!

I bought one about 2 months ago and have nothing but good things to say about it.

[DonFrambach]

Originally Posted by aarongough The 3 axis kit from CNCRouterParts is great! I highly recommend it!

+1

I bought their larger power supply and that has proved to be unnecessary.

[adprinter]

Originally Posted by beezkneez So...My kit arrived this morning for my build. Overwhelmed I think is the word I am looking for I'm building an all ali 900 x 600 cnc router. First off, has anyone else built the kit I have bought, that would be handy to speak to someone, maybe a few pics, tips etc. This is it: CNC Machine Kit 600mm x 900mm I believe it is 90% of the parts I need. My second question(s) a: ) Are these O.K to use with this size machine? CNCRouterParts i: ) I have no clue about electrics, so need something that I will be able to setup myself. I have downloaded mach3 already but havnt purchased the license until i know I have a motor kit that will work with it. b: ) Has anybody got these motors and electronics; are they any good?? Thanks for any input/advise. BK.

Looks like it could be a good combination, except for the gantry frame material's thickness of only 10mm. Since it is aluminum, it will probably flex a bit. For the electronics, that kit is priced reasonably and is very similar to what I ended up with when I built my machine. However, I opted for NEMA 34 motors with 906oz in rating on the XYZ axis, and 1200oz in rating on the 4th axis. It all depends on what you want to use the machine for.
I built mine, with the hope of using it for machining metals (mostly Steel frame construction) with only the table surface made of aluminum.
But this decision was born out of the experience of building my first machine out of aluminum materials. Only to learn that for precision operations like engraving, it just wasn't happening with an aluminum construction. The aluminum frame allowed too much flex, and vibration when cutting even soft woods like pine or fir. Which prompted a complete re-design, and re-build of the machine using steel materials, stronger motors, upgraded driver electronics, etc.
However, my total investment for all of this, as well as the various software that I use, has now exceeded US $3000. So, for the money, it looks like these two kits could yield a pretty decent machine. Just be aware, that an aluminum frame is simply not as rigid as a steel frame design. Hope this helps in your decision.

[beezkneez]

Thankyou for your replies!!

I will be cutting wood mainly M.D.F with this machine, maybe aluminium milling.
I have no worry over the gantry sides being 10mm, as they are 150mm wide they have more than enough strength in them

I've seen alot of machines on ebay that use aluminium extrusion, but i have full confidence that the solid aluminium will be just as strong, if not stronger than the extrusion. If need be at a later stage I can always jsut buy some 15mm solid aluminium at around 40 quid. But thats if i start doing heavy milling.

I'll be placing an order for the motors shortly.

Looks like I'll have the machine built at under £1200.

I'll make a build log if anyone is interested. I have done alot of research on machines and this looks like a good buy for under £1200 complete with electronics etc. its very hard to find a source of a kit machine like this in the u.k. And pricing up the parts seperatly from Marchantdice come to over 1300 quid + aluminium :O

Are these motors hard to wire up, they look like they already are. What do I need to do to them, other than configure them with the software? (mach3?)

[Action-KAT]

Hi beezkneez

I can also add the electronics from cncrouterparts are great nice & easy to get you started, I got the 4 axis kit with the larger power supply

I'm not to sure you will be happy with the cnc kit you are looking at.
I would say would be better having the rails supported may flex to much.
I have just stripped a little of mine apart to get some extra strength do to flex in the ali holding my supported rails.

A kit does make the build quicker but I found I could build a stronger machine for the same price of a cheap kit.

Used steel for base, bolted on the supports. used 16mm ali sides,

If you are ok with hand tools it's not to hard a job all depends how much you want to spend.
You could use Ali extrusion for you build like in the picture to speed the build.
KAT

[DonFrambach]

Originally Posted by DonFrambach +1 I bought their larger power supply and that has proved to be unnecessary.

Yikes! I didn't make it clear that I bought the larger power supply for a 3 motor system. I think the larger power supply is necessary for a 4 motor system.

[beezkneez]

Originally Posted by Action-KAT Hi beezkneez I can also add the electronics from cncrouterparts are great nice & easy to get you started, I got the 4 axis kit with the larger power supply I'm not to sure you will be happy with the cnc kit you are looking at. I would say would be better having the rails supported may flex to much. I have just stripped a little of mine apart to get some extra strength do to flex in the ali holding my supported rails. A kit does make the build quicker but I found I could build a stronger machine for the same price of a cheap kit. Used steel for base, bolted on the supports. used 16mm ali sides, If you are ok with hand tools it's not to hard a job all depends how much you want to spend. You could use Ali extrusion for you build like in the picture to speed the build. KAT

The longer rails (x axis i think) are 1" thick, and are only 900mm long. I thought these were overkill. The "gantry" by my calculations will weigh around 10 kilos, i dont thenk they will flax with 100 kilos!

I have a friend that will probably do most of the work, him being a metal fabricater

Are all nema 23 motors have the fixing holes in the same place. As i have some motor mounts but i have no clue what motors they are for as they didnt tell me. They are made from aluminium extrusion with 4 holes (about) 57mm cross section. Is this right for that Gecko kit, or do i need special mounts?

[mactec54]

beezkneez

Just looking at the design of the router/kit you want to buy, I would not give it a second look, It is very poorly constructed/designed, If your friend is a metal fabricater I'm sure he could put something together better than what you are looking at, Thinking 1" rails are over kill is wrong thinking, Even with the 1" rails,the gantry will flop around like a wet noodle

[beezkneez]

This is still sat in my buddies workshop, i did make a start on it but was tapping a hole (with a power drill to save time) the bit snapped and went through my finger

But having a play around with these rails i still dont see how they will bend. we put one inbetween 2 steel cages then lifted it with a forklift with a spike on the end. by putting another rail on top the deflection in the rail was less than 1mm over the 900mm span!! perhaps 60kilos of effective weight per end. I doubt we will have that much forsce on the bars! the rail deflected back to it's normal position (which was lucky, because i completely forgot that i had to actully keep and use it)
You guys must be cutting some damn tough stuff to get these bars to bend!!!

I would upload pictures of the build but I have only drilled 4 holes for the motor mount and tapped out 3 of them lol

until next time.

[louieatienza]

Originally Posted by beezkneez This is still sat in my buddies workshop, i did make a start on it but was tapping a hole (with a power drill to save time) the bit snapped and went through my finger But having a play around with these rails i still dont see how they will bend. we put one inbetween 2 steel cages then lifted it with a forklift with a spike on the end. by putting another rail on top the deflection in the rail was less than 1mm over the 900mm span!! perhaps 60kilos of effective weight per end. I doubt we will have that much forsce on the bars! the rail deflected back to it's normal position (which was lucky, because i completely forgot that i had to actully keep and use it) You guys must be cutting some damn tough stuff to get these bars to bend!!! I would upload pictures of the build but I have only drilled 4 holes for the motor mount and tapped out 3 of them lol until next time.

Even if the rail was thicker, all you'd have to do is get it oscillating at it's natural resonant frequency, and you probably won't believe how little it takes to get that steel flopping around. Of course there's a chance that you'd never "find" that frequency and it may never happen...

Nicola Tesla believed it could be done on any object. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is a good example.

[beezkneez]

Originally Posted by louieatienza Even if the rail was thicker, all you'd have to do is get it oscillating at it's natural resonant frequency, and you probably won't believe how little it takes to get that steel flopping around. Of course there's a chance that you'd never "find" that frequency and it may never happen... Nicola Tesla believed it could be done on any object. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is a good example.

I don't think the length of the rails are long enough to see that frequency. We'll see anyway.

I've already started planning an 8x4 machine - havnt even got this one properly started yet