(HELP) Building a cnc router (HELP)

[Coatsie]

Hi, People

I am looking into build a cnc router/ plasma cutter, I really don't know where to start, I would like it to be made out of steel for rigidity, i currently work in a machine manufacturing workshop so i have a lot of machines available at my disposal, plus plenty of kit, welders, shot blasting, grinders, mills, lathes, etc etc.

I am looking at having the bed of the router a meter square, any ideas on how to approach this idea? designs, drawings, electronics, material sizes etc etc.

Is there any drawings or designs people have used that I can follow? This would be very advantageous.

Many thanks.

CoatSie.

[lsalme]

I looked around quite a bit and found that at present v-bearings on mild steel are being used with great success on the latest DIY routers. User dertsap has many threads here on the zone and youtube videos of a robust and i believe welded steel gantry using v-bearings on steel angle and steel tubing. I am currently building a Joes 4x4 router which also uses v bearings on steel angle iron. Joes design uses MDF and structural aluminum extrusions. If i had access to a full metal shop i would probably build something more like dertsap's. Another build i liked when i was researching builds was from a builder Spalm with links here on the zone and off on another woodworkers forum. Spalm's build is wood and evolved to use angle iron, it is a nicely photographed reference of the basic mechanics.

YouTube - homemade cnc router test run

YouTube - homemade cnc router test run

http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/SPalm/blog/2248