So New, I'm as green as a Martian

[Micro Rotors]

Hello Folk's

I would like to say hello to all, I stumbled in her while searching Google for DIY CNC information. I must say there is a lot of information it can be a little intimidating. I have been wanting to make my own CNC machine for years, but the cost or confusion and plain just didn't have the time or space to do it. Well that has all changed, well except the cost part, that will never change. Hopefully I have come to the right place for my quest and dream come to reality with all your help.

Ok here is what I would like to do:

I would like to make a CNC Router to cut Balsa, Lite-Ply, Aircraft Ply up to 1/4” thick, and Plastics. Also I would like to cut 3 Dimensional shapes out of RenShape. I would like the cutting area to be 18 x 36 or around there and the Z axis to be around 4”-6” if at all possible. Now as far as budget, as cheap as possible. I have use of a machine shop to make the parts. I also have an extra Desktop 2.8gig and Laptop 2 gig that could be used for this.

What is the cost of such a machine?
Should I use a RotoZip by Bosch?
If I was to salvage stuff, what equipment would I need to look for to get the parts from?
Would it cost a lot more to make the cutting area 24”x36 instead of 18”x 36”?

Thanks for all your help in advance!

[Micro Rotors]

Hmmm, 53 reads and not one reply? I am sure someone out there can help me. I have been following the JGRO and the Sosylva threads closely and am wondering if the Sosylva plans are the way to go. It looks like that will do what I want. Can the JGRO be enlarged?

Joe's kits look really nice, but the size is to small I think,

Well folks, what do you think?

[krt9751]

your best bet is to go to the "cnc wood router project log" and check out"joe's cnc model 2006" he's got a lot of pictures and info and if i'm reading it right you can get the plans from him it looks like a nice machine.

[kosymailman]

I wish I could help you but I'm new at this also. I ordered the Sosylva plans and am probably about 25% complete. So far the directions are terrific. Everything is fitting together like it is supposed to and I have not run across any surprises. I follow the thread "Has Anyone Built From David Steels Sosylva Plans?" and have not seen much work that has been completed with the router. The cnc router itself looks nice. If something doesn't happen, I am guessing that I will have @$600 in mine when completed. This is counting a using a Porter Cable 7301 router. If a person was knowledgeable about these cnc things, you could build it cheaper. I am going to buy ready made kits for the electronic & motor parts. Could probably get by a good bit cheaper if I knew exactly what I needed from ebay and how to put it together but I don't. I think I will have a pretty nice machine when it is completed.

The "Joe's CNC Model 2006" plans look real nice also. I'm not sure about this, but I think you have to have a CNC router to cut out the parts for this plan. You can buy the pieces already cut out as a kit from Joe. I think when you get through you have an extra nice machine though.

[bigz1]

First how much exactly do you do you want to spend?

I am still fairly green myself and in the process of building a machine of my own design. I agree with Krt9751 read all of Joe's threads even if you dont want to build his excellent machine its an education. I think Joe sells his as a kit for approx $700.

Personally I would use a variable speed Laminate trimmer or 1/2" router(for longevity and versabilty plus the odd bit of Ali you may want to cut) rather than a Rotozip.

Trying to skimp on stepper motors and drivers may prove to be a false econonmy. I can recommend the 4axis Hobby CNC 200oz steppper kit it will meet all your requirements and more. I had never soldered before but found it easy to put together with no prior experience of electronics. Their are also some reasonably priced plug and play available but I have not heard any reports about them.

http://www.hobbycnc.com/

Some guys are raiding photocopiers for parts such as steeper motors etc to keep costs down(but this maybe more suitable for the more knowlegeable)

For softwre most people seem to be using MACH3. I am not this far advanced yet so cant comment. But you can download a demo from their site.

http://www.artofcnc.ca/DownLoads.htm

[andy_ck87028]

Scanners are good for sourcing hardened steel precision rods and bearings for Z axis.

Andy

[Micro Rotors]

Wow guys, Thanks for jumping in and helping me out.

krt9751: I have looked and asked Joe about the price of his kit. VERY nice kit I may add, but I think it is to small for what I need. As far as the $700.00 I think that is what I want to spend on a completed and working CNC Router.

kosymailman: I have been watching that thread Very closely, and I have been watching your post in it as well as, Revtech's, Diarmaid's, tazboy's and last but not least Wilabee's post. Very informative I must say.

bigz1: I would like to spend in the $700.00 range.

I am 90% sure that the large Sosylva is the one I want. I have no problem assembling the parts and I have no problem with the electronics. I think I will get electronics separately and get the parts I want, so they will go down the road with me to the next one I either design or get plans or a kit. I have the capabilities. http://www.designingmodels.com I am just tied of doing everything manually or buy hand!

Were are you guy's getting all the parts from?

P.S. Well I might as well through this out and get it out of the way... Does anyone have a set of plans they bought and decided on not building their machine, or are finished with them? Some of you said they cost $25.00 I want ton the site and they are now $35.00 a $10.00 jump in 2 months, I guess tree's must be getting harder to find these days.

[Micro Rotors]

BTW - I am seriously considering on making the frame work out of aluminum.

[bigz1]

I was hoping to build mine for approx $700. Am now upto $1200 and I still haven't bought everything.

The Sosylva looks like a nice machine. But I prefer the idea of twin rails on the X axis.

I bought my Z and Y axis linear bearings of E-bay. I intend to copy Joe's skate design for the X axis as I couldn't find 4 linear bearings 1500mm long(joe also lists all the cheapest suppliers fo bearing, drill rod etc).

For anti backlash nuts plus collars it maybe worth buying from DumpsterCNC. These have had excelent reviews and are nicely made.

http://www.dumpstercnc.com/

PS Had a look at your site. Surely a man of your talents wouldn't find it to hard to maybe copy a few ideas and design his own machine thus saving a couple of $$$$$?

[Micro Rotors]

Originally Posted by bigz1 I was hoping to build mine for approx $700. Am now up to $1200 and I still haven't bought everything.

What the heck raised the price up so high? Are you building Joe's, or Sosylvas?

Originally Posted by bigz1 PS Had a look at your site. Surely a man of your talents wouldn't find it to hard to maybe copy a few ideas and design his own machine thus saving a couple of $$$$$?

Well after I build the first one........ That's what I had planed! I put my web site up almost a month ago and have had such a response to it. I made it so I could use it for an on line resume and portfolio. I just got flat out tired of posting resumes to different company's after the first week that I left my job. (their going to Hong Kong and I wasn't)

In the last month the response has led me to so much work I think I am going to start my own business and hire someone to help me.

[kosymailman]

I bought all of my screws, bolts, nuts, aluminum angle, emt, wood, etc from Lowes. By following the suggestions on the tread I made sure everything was straight. I ordered the skate bearings from ebay user "coilovers". The plans call for Abec 3, I went ahead and got the Abec 5. Got 48 for $25 - plans call for 41. I have not ordered my motors and control yet but think I am going with Xylotex 3 Axis "Ready Kit". This kit in itself in $400 but I don't think I know enough to go with kits that I would have to put together. I would probably spend more on burnt-out parts than just going with this kit to start with.

I just made my first mistake on the Sosylva kit but it was definitely my fault, I guess I was just getting to good Will probably cost me about an hour's work and $3 in parts. Not bad at all for me.

[gun_maker]

Is that Airwolf on you home page? I use to love that show when I was younger. Sosylva plans are great. You can build it in almost know time if you have a work shop which by the looks of it you must have access to one. I bought mine when they were 25 dollars and I am almost ready to start building. I have maybe spent 200 total so far. I still need the motors and software. Hoping to be cutting wood for under 800. I guess we will see. Good luck with everything.