My router project

[twombo]

Here's my machine!

Got the frame almost finished. Gonna use 20 mm Hiwin linear slides.

Now, Gotta make the final decisions on the motion control. Thinking about 3/4" x 5 Acme leadscrews and 0 lash Supernuts.

For motors and drivers I am thinking about 600 in. oz. servos (500 cpr) and Gecko 340s. This should give me plenty of resolution at the single pulse per step rate and faster cutting speeds in the multistep mode (.00025" vs .0025"). Obviously a lot of other factors come into play regarding accuracy. But the drivers and motors area key factor, all other things being kept under a reasonable amont of control.

My goal is to be able to cut at high speeds at a modest resolution and high resolution at low speeds.

NC application will be Mach 2 and
CAM app will be Visualmill to take laser scanned inputs and create 3D surface cutting routines.

Does this make sense?.... Comments... Suggestions????

[balsaman]

Nice!

Where does the z axis get fastened to? How large is the work envelope?

Eric

[HomeCNC]

Is your router based on plans from Campbell Designs? The frame looks familiar. You will not need very strong servo motors when they are running on ball bearing slides. Unless you plan to connect the motors at a direct drive. My 430 oz/in servo motors run my router with lots of power.

[twombo]

Yes, it is a Campbelldesigns machine. The envelope is 36x24x6. The Z axis carriage is not built yet, but will be mounted on the 3x3 bridge on top.

I am planning to run it direct drive as originally designed, but I am open to suggestions as noted in my initial post. The original uses 520 in. oz. steppers and maybe I should follow suit. My consideration of servo motion control is to be able to do full 3d surfacing as efficiently as possible.

Again, comments are certainly welcome.

[HomeCNC]

Direct drive is fine. Steppers are also fine, but you will get much finer moves with servos and lots of power and top speed. Your description of the servos sounds like Camtronics servos. Dan has good products.

[twombo]

Thanks Jeff

Glad to see your comments on Dan's stuff. Dan is a heckuva nice fella to work with. Definitely knows his stuff.They do look like real fine, well thought out, and cleanly executed products. Your website gave me valuable insight as well. Really provided some good pics of Dans servo controller, that really clinched the sale for me.

Even in direct drive it looks like a Dan's big servo system will have a minimum resolution of .0002 with a 5 pitch leadscrew.

Looks like it is time to put the old Paypal to work!!!

Got my lead screw bearings and bearing blocks machined and assembled last night. Will machine the motor mounts for one axis tonight. Kinda ticklish since I don't have a mill. I got a faceplate clamps and a spring loaded pump center for the lathe though!

Thanks again

Mike Twombley

[JIMMY]

I am tring to make a list of things togather to get ready to build a cnc router. If I am wrong on anything please let me know. I am so impressed with all these cnc routers that I have to build one. I love wood working.

This is my list of items.

3 axis driver board
3 stepper motors
bazllest resistors
cooling fan
parallel port cable(DB25)
stepper motor cable
filter capacitor
switches
transformer


If anyone can help with this list I would appreciate it.

[balsaman]

Some of that stuff can be bought as a package deal. Saves having to figure it all out.

See www.stepperworld.com, for example.

[twombo]

Check out Dan at Camtronics

http://www.seanet.com/~dmauch/

He seems to have a well designed product line in a range of capacities, reasonably priced two. My 600 oz in. oz. servo controller and drives should come in at about 1300 dollars.

Customers are giving him good reviews on the quality of his product. My experience is, he gives good feedback and tehnical advice as well. Stepper world has good selection of hardware as well.

Jeff Davis at:
www. Homecnc.info

has a very informative website and has posted to this thread a couple of times. I have gained a lot of insight there as well. I have a mill like his I want to convert once this first machine is complete.

Did some Business with OnlineMetals the other day. Pretty good source. Some prices werea little more than expected but some specialty stuff was killer priced, Great deal , fast service. Thumbs up!

Absolutely amazing how much is out there. Once ya start browsing around.

Twombo

[JIMMY]

Thank You very much for the info. I will check it out later. I am just trying to come up with a list so I can get everything right.

[JIMMY]

What is good software to use to control a cnc router. I want to be able to use mastercam to make the program, send the nc code to the router, is this posible? I am learning so I am trying to learn more about cnc routers. I am thinking of making a router with a cutting area of 24" x 24" x 12".

[paulried]

If in XP land I like Deskcnc (http://www.deskcnc.com )

For Dos you can use turbocnc (www.dakeng.com/turbo.html ) or Maxnc (www.maxnc.com)

Cheers!