Another MDF CNC router.

[tahustvedt]

She runs: http://www.enrarot.net/videos/cnc/test.wmv

[walter]

Hey that's pretty cool! Great stepper sound, like church organs..

[tahustvedt]

Hehe, yeah. It sounds really "musical" when I do long shallow curves.

I've spent hours today learning Mach 3. I now understand how it works and have done a few drawings on paper with a pen. I can't wait to try milling something. The machine feels extremely sturdy to me.

I have a K2 CNC Kress mount on the way. I can't mill until it arives unless I fabricate some sort of temporary MDF mount. Before I cut anything I want to make the walls for the table though.

[tahustvedt]

I cut out the final parts today and will try to make time to paint them tonight. I'm very glad I'm finished with the MDF parts because it's a pain to work with MDF this thick.

When it's finished I'm going to place it in the empty corner you see in the other end of the room. It's just positioned close to the door now so the cable from my other computer will reach.

[tahustvedt]

I assembled all the new bits now and it looks pretty good. I'll post a pic once the camera has charged. I'm running the first 3D code through it now and it's moving around like crazy in there.

I've had some noise problems that were causing intermittent Estop trigging and poor homing performance unless I used a high debounce value. Today I installed one 0.1 µF capacitor over each of the switch-ports on the controller and it's completely stable now. Perfect!

[tahustvedt]

I pushed it into its corner to take a picture. Man, I have to get the final PC components ASAP.

[tahustvedt]

Another test-video. Drawing a miniature version (small enough to fit on the paper) of my helicopter frame with a pen. http://www.enrarot.net/videos/cnc/test3.wmv

There's play around the tip of the pen so it rounds of some corners. The machine seems brutally accurate.

[tahustvedt]

I turned it up a notch now. I milled a Vectric Cut3D 175 mm long leaf in pine with a feed rate of 3.6 m/minute. It wowed me. I don't have a ball end mill yet so the 6 mm end mill leaves a pretty rough surface. I made one last pass 90° on the finishing pass to smooth it a little.

http://www.enrarot.net/videos/cnc/test5.wmv

[studysession]

Originally Posted by tahustvedt Yesterday I assembled it on the table and to the picture below. Today I wired everything up and prepared it for running. It's very late now so I'll continue tomorrow. Since I don't have all the components I need for the PC I'll have to test with this computer.

I like this idea. Very original.

[tahustvedt]

Here's what happens when I try to mill aluminium with it. I think the MDF spindle mount is causing the irregularities in the knob and pocket floor. The spindle was jerking visibly occasionally as the MDF flexed. I'll know for sure if that's what caused it when the slu mount arrives.

It was milled with a 2 mm three flute carbide bit at 780 mm/minute feed, ~15000 RPM (guessing), 0.35 mm pass depth and 0.4 mm stepover. I used WD40 for lubrication.

[Tony Mac]

Excellent router build and great to see it running so well over the 3D job!

Thanks for posting the video!

Tony

Originally Posted by tahustvedt I turned it up a notch now. I milled a Vectric Cut3D 175 mm long leaf in pine with a feed rate of 3.6 m/minute. It wowed me. I don't have a ball end mill yet so the 6 mm end mill leaves a pretty rough surface. I made one last pass 90° on the finishing pass to smooth it a little. http://www.enrarot.net/videos/cnc/test5.wmv

[tahustvedt]

Thanks. I'm happy with how it works so far. It would have been very difficult to do without this forum as inspiration and help.

The K2 Kress mount should be here on tuesday.

Milling aluminium with a 2 mm three flute carbonite bit: http://www.enrarot.net/videos/cnc/test7.wmv