My first Router / Plasma Table Buildup...

[InventIt]

Hey Guys.
Been checking out your router tables for a few weeks now and decided to finally start building mine. I will mostly be using it for Plasma Cutting steel plate. I'll be making various tool plates for the Z axis if I want to mount a router or other tools to it.


The basic frame layout. 1.5" x 3" x .125 steel tubing.
Working area about 30" x 54" x 5"

Here's a few pics.

[InventIt]

On the side of the tube are the linear rails. THK RSR12 linear bearings bolted to a 3/4 x 1/2" cold rolled flat which will be welded to the side of the tube.

[InventIt]

A lot of holes to drill and tap...19 on each rail x 4 rails.

[InventIt]

Here is one side nearly completed. I am going to use two motors for this axis. One on each side of the gantry.

Some specs:
Vextra 440 in oz steppers
Gecko drives G201
Radio Shack 30V 1000ma power supply
Nook 1/2" x 10 5 start (2 pitch) leadscrew
Delrin "home made" nuts



So far I got 374 IPM running a 800mhz PIII with MachII
I think I'll need to upgrade my computer to go faster...

[InventIt]

Home-made Acme Tap

[InventIt]

Close up of left side of gantry plate showing linear bearings and lead screw nut.

Keep in mind that I usually build without plans So, if it looks alittle crude...

[pack rat]

Nice bearings and great speed. I was wondering how did you mount the support for the motors? It looks aluminum but I saw the tackweld on the side. What size is it? I enjoyed your pictures and looking forward to more. Nice work, keep it up. chris

[balsaman]

Cool router so far! You radio shack PS might be a little light. That's only 1 amp. What are your motors rated at?

Eric

[InventIt]

pach rat:
The mounts for the motors are alum. and are bolted to 1/2" steel drilled and tapped plates that are welded to the corners of the frame.

balsaman:
--BTW, I enjoyed reading your buildups, nice job on your router(s)---
Yeh, so far the 1 amp has been doing the trick. But your right, I probably will have to upgrade. I may wire two 30v tranformers together in series to get 60volts and 1 amp. I need speed more than torque since I am only dragging a torch and not a pushing a router for now.

[avsfan733]

looking at your pictures reminds me of a question i have been meaning to post.

Has anyone had any success/problems with mounting the lead screw on one side of the machine? I have been planning on putting mine underneath in the middle (x axis). I would like to mount it on one side like your picture but am worried about that possibly cocking the gantry as it moves. Doing it this way would save me the trouble of having to raise the table but it seems like pulling on one side would through off the movement. Am I nuts?

[balsaman]

I believe he is using two lead screws for the axis.

InventIt,

If you want to use transformers, you will need to rectify it and filter it. The DC that comes out is around 1.4 times the ac voltage. Two 24 volt transformers gives you 48 volts, rectified you will get ~70 volts DC. Perhaps you mean two 30 v RS powersupplies..

What's the motor voltage and amps? I would think you need one RS powersupply for each motor...at least.

Eric

[InventIt]

avsfan733:
I am using 2 leadscrews for the reason you mentioned. I did run the gantry with just one motor/leadscrew hooked up. It tracks straight without any load but the unsupported end of the gantry is very weak. It could not support a router without flexing.

balsaman:
Sorry to confuse you. I did mean two RS power adapters 30V each tied in series to give 60v.

Motors Specs:
PK296-4.5
440 Oz In
2.8 Volt
3.18Amp/Phase

Motor Performance Chart

More Specs


Rob