Hello people. I have some questions.

[CVRIV1978]

I am looking to build a CNC router soon. I have a few questions.

1: I will be using my router mostly for cutting parts out of sheets of material. Now I'm thinking that I am going to to set up this router to cut out several parts from sheet of material. But once each part is successfully cut out it has to come clean of the router bit. So im thinking the parts have to fall from the sheet to keep them to being destroyed by the router bit. how is something like this usually done? i mean how do you guys cut out multiple parts out quick?

2: I should first draw up a general design for my router before I purchase CNC components and once I have the components I can then go head and design it in detail? I am a perfectionist and I would really love to have all the componets right in front of me so I can measure everything myself so I can draw up a really precise model of what I want. But I dont know whats components I need right now. Im sure there are places on teh net wher eI can find dimensions for all CNC components?!?!? Where do I start designing a CNC router?

Ahh I have other questions but I will hold out for now. Thanks.

[ger21]

1) either leave small tabs or a thin skin all around the part, and clean up by hand afterwards.

2) you need to spend more time researching before you buy anything. It might be a good idea to go with a proven design for your first machine. There's a good chance you'll get a better machine for a lot less money. Probably 90% of builders start planning a second machine as soon as they finish the first (or sooner), to correct the mistakes they made or discovered on their first build.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by CVRIV1978 I am looking to build a CNC router soon. I have a few questions. 1: I will be using my router mostly for cutting parts out of sheets of material. Now I'm thinking that I am going to to set up this router to cut out several parts from sheet of material. But once each part is successfully cut out it has to come clean of the router bit. So im thinking the parts have to fall from the sheet to keep them to being destroyed by the router bit. how is something like this usually done? i mean how do you guys cut out multiple parts out quick? 2: I should first draw up a general design for my router before I purchase CNC components and once I have the components I can then go head and design it in detail? I am a perfectionist and I would really love to have all the componets right in front of me so I can measure everything myself so I can draw up a really precise model of what I want. But I dont know whats components I need right now. Im sure there are places on teh net wher eI can find dimensions for all CNC components?!?!? Where do I start designing a CNC router? Ahh I have other questions but I will hold out for now. Thanks.

If the parts have any hole is them, I use screws to hold them down to the spoil board. Also depending on the shape you can cut some of the part, put a pause in the program and then use a clamp or other device to hold the part and then finish the cut.
Or possibly a vacuum table which will hold the parts in place until they are completly cut out and the vacuum is turned off. Which can be controlled from the computer.

Originally Posted by ger21 1) either leave small tabs or a thin skin all around the part, and clean up by hand afterwards. 2) you need to spend more time researching before you buy anything. It might be a good idea to go with a proven design for your first machine. There's a good chance you'll get a better machine for a lot less money. Probably 90% of builders start planning a second machine as soon as they finish the first (or sooner), to correct the mistakes they made or discovered on their first build.

I with ger21 on this. If you are trying to make money with this router and can afford a known quality machine, you will be making parts in less than a week from the time the machine hits the shop floor. Otherwise you could spend the first 6-12 months of this endevour just putting the machine together.
I bought what turned out to be a pile of parts, I meen cnc router from ebay.
It took 3-4 weeks working partime to put it together and another few weeks fixing the problems that were in the design of the machine. Plus a few weeks to learn the progaming aspect of the router. All of that and the router was 90% complete. It had just been broken down for shipment.

Mike

[CVRIV1978]

Ok,... about cutting parts out, I understand what you guys mean. In my opinion i think leaving a thin skin or flash behind to clean up afterwards is the better way to go about it. Maybe instead of leaving a flash around the parts I will leave a small flash at certain points such as corner. It less to clean up

About buying someone else's CNC router or someone else's plan,... nope. Can't do that. I like to design everything myself. I am very good with my hands and I'm pretty smart when it comes down to understanding how things work. figuring things out. So I need to do this myself.

I will be using this machine to make money but it's not like I need to make money tomorrow. I dont want this to be a year long project or even a 6 month project,... unless it seriously takes me that long. Basically im not going to take my time but nor am I going to rush. Designing the router and fabricating it is going to be easy. Learning how to run it properly will probably take longer. If it does take me a long time it will probably be because of the learning of software or money. Mosyt likely software though.

I learning autocad now. I was using sketchup before autocad. I got really good at sketchup quick so learning autocad is going pretty well. ITs more dense than SU but a lot of stuff looks familiar.

I only ask that you guys help me out here and there if I do have questions. Most of my questions will be for opinions really. Thanks guys. I'll read more.

[ger21]

I wrote a macro that exports g-code from within AutoCAD, if you're interested.

AutoCAD 2 G-Code macro

Download here.
http://home.comcast.net/~cncwoodwork.../AC2GCv039.zip

[TOTALLYRC]

I just bought via cad 3d pro from Punch! software. I downloaded several different trials and I found this to be the easiest to work with because I can draw like I think. $249. It allows a lot of importing and it exports dxf to my cam software really nice.

Mike

Good luck with the design and do a build log when you get started.

[CVRIV1978]

Thanks guys I am going to start designing this thing soon. Maybe when I get back from vacation

[CVRIV1978]

I was crusing through a few sites looking at all the different components that can be used to build a router. Why is it that with most of the sites you have to be quoted a price? I mean serioulsy,... I dont want to call or email to get a price for every little thing im interested in. I just want an idea of what everything might cost me at glance.

There are so many different components to choose from! The decision as to whether I should buy or make something myself is going to be really hard.
So anyone know of a place or two that lists prices?

[jackfrost]

Cost and quality are always issues.

One other thing that should be noted is suportability.

Many "so called" companies pop up, sell for a year maybe two and disapear.

Longevity in this bussines is a must, at least for me.

[LeeWay]

Check out Ebay. I can be your buddy in sourcing high quality, low cost parts. Then design you machine around the actual parts that you are able to win. At least to some extent. That will save you tons of money.
I did design my first machine and got it built in about a month of working on it in the evenings. The software side was by far the biggest learning curve. Electronics had some issues I had to work through as well, but still pretty straight forward.
I like your attitude. Go for it. I have been told by a few that what I was planning would not work. Sometimes they were right, but not always. Most of the times, my designs have worked better than I had hoped. I am very happy with my machines.

[CVRIV1978]

Originally Posted by jackfrost Cost and quality are always issues. One other thing that should be noted is suportability. Many "so called" companies pop up, sell for a year maybe two and disapear. Longevity in this bussines is a must, at least for me.

That makes sense. I was eyeing some stuff from LM76. They seem ok. You know of any others who stuck around? You see this is another reason I would like to make a lot of stuff myself. I want to build my router using steel, welding most of it together. Bolting only the stuff that will need replacing, the wear and tearing stuff. I want to limit the number of fasteners. They loosen up with the vibration etc. I have a good idea of how I want this thing to come together. 9I just need to keep browsing the different hardware. Figuring all this stuff out.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by CVRIV1978 Why is it that with most of the sites you have to be quoted a price?

Those places are probably way too expensive anyway. Tell us what you're looking for, and someone can tell you a good place to get it. With listed prices.