New Router Design

[bryanrabb]

I originally tried to build hack's first plan to no avail. Not that his plan wasn't good. I could not get the 8020 bearings to track without having too much play in them. Unsatisfied, I bought some (4) 30" thk rails, and 2 12" rails. I also bought some t-61 plate. 3/8". My question to the gurus here is simple. Is 3/8" thick enough for a 30 x 30 router. I have my doubts, but want experts to weigh in. Thanks in advance.

[bryanrabb]

I bought some of dumpsters acme thread nut couplers. Those things look sweet. That solves on huge problem. I also bought some motor mounts from K2, anybody have any experience with either of these?

I tried to fab them myself. But I was only 80% satisfied with the results.

[bryanrabb]

since no experts want to help, i put a picture up. Maybe this will help get me some advice. Please.

[ZipSnipe]

Depends how rigid ya want it. I don,t have a cnc mill yet but I did build a manual mill and I used 1/4 steel plates to mount the mill head to the z axis. After some use I have decided to replace the 1/4 with 1/2 steel. I could leave the 1/4 inch on there but I want the mill to handle taking an 1/8 deep cut in steel without chatter. So in your application I can see your gantry having a little side to side movement. Probably could add heavy duty angle iron(like bedframe metal) just attach it to the gantry side plates to stiffen it up. As for your base on the inside I would add triangler plates mounting to your 3/8 over to your 8020. Other than that looks like your off to agood start. Oh yeah by the way I,m not an expert but just given ya my worthless opinion.
Keep up the good work.

[txcowdog]

What are you using to cut your aluminum plate with? Table saw?

[bryanrabb]

Table saw, miter saw, festool saw.

[JerryFlyGuy]

Bryan, I think the reason no-one has jumped in here is simply because your question is to vague. Are you planning on milling Ti? Or foam? Do you plan to cut your Ti @ 300Ipm and 1"DOC w/ a 3" end mill or are you cutting foam at 25ipm w/ a 1/4" end mill and 1/4" DOC. You can imagine the different machine requirments for these two milling senario's. What you've asked so far is great, but not precise enough for anyone to answer, most will just skip over it.

Put up some more spec's and you'll most likely get some more input..

Jerry [hope that helps in some way..]

[bryanrabb]

Jerry, point duly noted. I had originally intended to cut only wood and plastic with it. However, as I began to build it, I now would like to do some Alum. I am planning on a 1-1/4 HP PC spindle. I am using the xylotex out of the box package of steppers. This way I can't screw up the electronics out of the gate. Once I am ready to upgrade, i'll ebay them. AS for feed rate and DOC, hell if i know I guess I am just going to see what she does. I will gladly welcome all suggestions.

[JerryFlyGuy]

I would say [ a total SWAG] that for wood, you'd probably be ok w/ what you've got. Assuming that the gantry is mounted inside those uprights and not on top. I would say your not there for aluminum. The nice thing is w/ the way you've gone, is that you can easily beef it up if nesc. All it would take would be to make the uprights into some type of beam shape w/ two more pc's of alum on each side and your there. It also might be a bit marginal along the x axis as well, but like you said.. try it.. its not going to cost any more to change it later or now.. you may find that due to its lightness making it stronger isn't the issue. I'd just keep going the way you are and see what happens..

Jerry [note.. this recommendation is worth about as much as the paper its written on .. no garrentees of any kind..]

[bryanrabb]

Here is a quick update. I got my router mount from K2 machine, my dumpster nuts, and my z axis screw and motor mounts from p remachine. I am getting a little fired up now. I how I don't screw this model up in the home stretch. I think i have about 15 hours left of assembly, maybe 150. Time will tell.
I have included a couple of pics. Not much to see yet. I will post more this weekend. I am hoping to get some good suggestions by posting this.

[blfinche]

Bryan,
Keep posting. The machine is looking good.

Bobby

[bryanrabb]

what exactly is a break out board? I saw something on the CNCdudez site www.bigbearcnc.com there is a free plan for a USB parallel interface that they claim will work with xylotex. It looks easy to build, but I can build crap like that. I'm in over my head with the CNC router. Is there anyone out there that would build that for me for a reasonable fee?