My Home made CNC Router finished and 60 hours later

[simso]

Hi guys,
Christmas project was to design and build a cnc router, I live in perth Australia so I was able to get some local expertise as well. It works beyond my wildest imagination, Ive since construction, built, intarsia items, clocks, cut aluminium, made a wooden clock gear endless amount of plaques ect, it blows me away how versatile these things are. Heres a photo of the unit and a quick photo of a clock gear I gave a go, the gear is 9cm external dimensions with 64 teeth. The cnc unit is 820mm wide gantry and 1100mm long bed

[GaryCorlew]

Very nice!! I have been wanting to try out some gears on mine but I haven't gotten around to it yet, I have been doing pictures in wood. And some signs.

[massajamesb]

Very nice, impressive work!

[Jason Marsha]

Wow, great looking machine. Congrats on its completion.

Jason

[Weldtutor]

Simso
Looks like a fine piece of construction!

The gantry appears to be aluminum plate. Is the (blue) table frame of the same material?

Thanks, WT

[simso]

yeh the gantry is 160 mm x 10mm plate alloy and the lower section of the gantry is a 100mm plate with the ballscrew between them. The base section is all 10mm steel construction on a 40x40mm box steel trolley which houses the computer and electrics. The z axis is a milled 100mm x 25mm plate of alloy gutted for the ballscrew.
Heres a couple more photos of little jobs done already first is some alloy vent holes next is a clock with routed pocket in back for clock mechanism and bored hole for temp gauge, and the next is a piece done for intarsia

[Weldtutor]

Thanks for the material specs & the up to date photos.

Should hold together quite well for you.

Nice cuts you complete!

[wcarrothers1]

what was the thickness of that gear, bit used (size) and number/depth of passes made and or feed speed when you cut it? Just curious.

Thanks.

b

[simso]

I did that as a test unit to see whether its possible or not, so I used craftwood and used a 3/32 end mill cutter with a feed speed of 90, material thickness was 3mm, passes were 2mm. A hardwood would come up a lot better because there nice clean cuts. Ive always wanted to make a wooden clock, so It was a test piece for maximum teeth minimum size. You couldnt use larger than a 3/32 in this application becuase that is the exact gap between the teeth. Gotta love the accuracy of these machines

[Greolt]

Simso I would like to add my congratulations to the others. Well done.

Great to see another Aussie builder. You don't really use it down that low do you?

[simso]

Originally when I designed it, I actually thought **** yeh this is low. But it actually works fantastic and is quite a comfortable height, I have a standard rolling chair, and the lcd sits at the right height. The jobs are actually quite easy to setup at this height. Its wide enough that I can even sit a standard house door onto the base frame. I had to build the unit this low as storage is a major concern in my shed, at this height it can roll under my main work bench when not in use, Major plus, but ive used it every day since construction, so havent needed to store it away yet. Where abouts in aussie are you

[Greolt]

Simso I am in Geelong Vic.

This thread shows my router build so far. I've done a bit more and must take some more pics and post.

Another Aussie homebuilt router