My router

[kong]

I've been building this thing for about 3 months now, most of the parts have come from e-bay, some from second-hand engineering suppliers, and the ali plate from the scrapyard. I think the only things I bought new were the electronics, including the gecko 320's.
Of course, I got all the ideas from here, I think HomeCNC may notice a few similarities with his deisgn, which really first got the idea into my head when he built his aluminium beast, thanks man! Also a big thanks to Balsaman, who has helped out a lot wit hthe electronics, through his own thread.
Anyhow, piccies!




Yep, you can tell I get a bit over-enthusiastic about using engineers blue!
Steadily coming along:





Sorry guys, I got a whole catalogue of building pics, so you're gonna have to get your boots on a do some wading!




The next couple of pics are how it stands today.



As you can see, I still have to fix up a table-top, and attatch the router. But apart from that, it's pretty much done. Let me know what you think.

[pack rat]

The machine looks very sturdy. To do that with only few tools it takes a lot of skill. I think I saw a z-axis from your previous CNC machine in one of the pictures. By the way thank you for bringing me to CNCzone. Keep up it does look good. Chris

[HomeCNC]

I think HomeCNC may notice a few similarities

WOW! I sure do! Very good work Kong
Even your Linear bars are the same as what I got from Ebay!

[kong]

The design you came up with is just amazing, it had to be copied! My linear rails are 40mm dia, and the supports are 40mm tall. Due to their shear mass, I skipped the aluminium cross rails, and have just used the rails as the framework, it works well.

[balsaman]

Finally, I get to see your machine! Looks great. Have you spun the motors yet?

Eric

[kong]

Yep, and what a scary moment! In reading all the horror stories of people blowing their gecko's, I was sure something was going to go wrong. But it didn't, all is well. I still need to do some tweaking of the Linux EMC controller software, but I can see the shear power of the servo setup. Actually the steel table that the machine sits on will need to be beefed up a bit before I can increase the accelleration on the servos, as it tends to rock a bit! Thanks for the circuits Balsaman, the err/res is great

[balsaman]

If you follow the gecko instructions to a tee, it works out great when powering up for the most part.

Eric

[HomeCNC]

Kong,

Oh, your linear rods are much larger than mine are. That was a good find. I need to clean my wiring up. Were did you get that nice wiring track?

[jimbo]

Looks very,very nice.

How did you make the bore for the bearing blocks for the z axis? I had to use wood blocks for mine because I dont have any metalworking equipment ( at least until the machine is built and new alum. ones can be cut)

What metalworking tools did you have available to build this if any?

[kong]

HomeCNC, the energy chains were bought from RS electronics in the UK, I bought 2 meters, but could have used more. It ain't cheap though at around $25+ per meter.
jimbo, I bought a Taig lathe for the purpose of making the linear bearing blocks, the leadscrew bearing blocks, and the AB nuts. So it pretty much paid for itself. I also turned down the leadscrew ends on it, not recommended though! If I lived in the US, I may have considered a Sherline lathe, but we don't have those over here

I wouldn't want to do that too often though!

[kong]

I got the home/limit switches wired in today, and mounted my monitor arm.






I wired the home switches in series, assuming that EMC would home one axis at a time, then jog off the switch until it opens again. Strangly enough though, it homes the axis until it hits the switch, then stays on it? Perhaps it's something in the config file I've overlooked, any ideas?

edit - Yep, something I overlooked. There is a setting in the emc.ini called "home offset" that moves the axis a specified distance away from home after it hits the switch. I will test it tomorrow.

[twombo]

Wow!!!! Whatta brute! Hell for stout. Very clever rig for turning screws.... longer screws require a bigger door? Try that on your wife for the shop upgrade!!! (LOL). Very impressive Kong!