My first CNC router: 1.5 years building

[hddjohns]

My small CNC router is finally working after 1.5 years in the
making. It is stepper & lead screw driven and cuts are done
using a HF trim router,...need more horses, but it works.

The machine was built using an Atlas/Craftsman 104... 6 inch
bench lathe and a HF 12" drill press. Has 3/4" linear bearing on
all three axes, lead screws are 1/2" 0.100 double start anti-
backlash acme type. All of the steppers and linear bearings
were purchased surplus.

I said it was small, here's the specs:

X=12.5, Y=12.5Y, Z=3.5, that's inches/imperial.
X-stepper, #34 Vexta 2-phase, 4-wire, 220 in-oz
Y-stepper, #23 Slo-Syn 2-phase, 6-wire series connected, 65 oz-in
Z-stepper, #23 EU 2-phase, 6-wire series connected, 90 oz-in
Camtronics XYZ controller with micro-stepping, 60 ipm all axes
TurboCNC is the control program running on an Intel MMX CPU
w/networking

It has been a fun project. I've been a Software/Hardware
Engineer for many years so the electronics build went smoothly.
In a previous "LIFE" I was a Journeyman Machinist for 12 years.
All of these skills were used in fabrication of the various parts
and pieces used in the assemblies.

I just started using BodCAD-CAM V18 for the toolpath generation.
I'll see how this goes as compared to the other CAD-CAM
software I have evaluated over the last 1.5 years.

My first project is a large wooden clock from the Brian Law’s
Woodenclocks web site. Some great plans sets, but you need to
rescale the DXF drawings to a size you can easily build. Alot of
gears that can be made using a CNC router.

I posted some pictures of the router in the gallery.

BTW, I have some good left over parts that can be used in
building a small router. i.e., linear bearings & rails, lead screws
and a number of different #23 stepper moters. I'll post these
items for sale on this web site in the next day or so.

Harley

[kcoaks]

Harley, are there any suppliers in the NW that you'd recommend (for anything)?

[hddjohns]

kcoaks,

I used McMaster-Carr for my lead screws: Precision-Modified
Acme, 303 stainless, 1/2" dia, 10 pitch, 2-start, 5 TPI, 48" L
MC Part#: 6350 K22, $128.43, unmachined. The Wear-
Compensating Nut: #6350 K62, $32.73

I chose the 1/2" diameter lead to fit through the head stock of
my lathe so I could turn the ends for bearings and couplings.
I guess I could have used a larger diameter lead and made an
end adapter for the ends. This way the lathe was not the bottle-
neck. I think one needs to use a good grade of lead screw & nut
if accuracy is the goal.

The linear bearings and shafts were bought via eBay auction
items that had bearings, shafts & stepper motors. The auction
prices were from $100-$200 and I got all of the bearings, etc.
in two buys.

Good luck on your project, Harley