New Machine Build- My 80/20 3'x4' cnc router finished!

[wadoman]

Hey everyone I just wanted to show off my finished 80/20 CNC router. Well its almost complete...actually I really cant say it will ever be truly "complete" cause now that its done I have a list of mods to do for it already. For starters make a custom 4th axis, a better table top, vacuum head attachment and upgrade to linear guide rails are top on the list. I also have a few other tidying ups to do like find a good method of routing the motor cables. This is my own design, but I couldn't have done it with out all the great info from this forum.
This project was started over a year ago and then put on hold for 90% of the time. Losing a job really frees up your time I started the design process on paper and then moved to CAD (bobcad) which was a crucial part for me.
I think I had about 2 major setbacks during this build and all happen when I was within days of finishing. The first came when I bought connectors for the motors from a local electronics salvage shop (skycraft). These connectors were new and already had wires. The problem came when I didnt notice that the pins/wires when connected on one of the sets of connectors was miss wired this in turn fried my brand new $200 Xylotex 4 axis board and had to buy a new one.......Lesson 1.... The next lesson is one of the first rules of construction "measure twice cut once" yup I cut my longest BALL screw to short! So I had to order another.....IDIOT! Oh and I also had all the bearings fall out of one of the ballnuts LOL! So I just repacked them.... it was surprisingly easy. Luckily I had a new bag of the exact same size bearings.

Anyway my specs are:
-80/20 frame (love this stuff)
-36"x51" table
-8" on the Z
-V-Groove track system(temporary)
-Roton 5/8 5 tpi Ball screws on all axis
-Xylotex 4 axis board
-4 425 oz in motors
-Bosch 1617EVS 2-1/4-Horsepower Variable-Speed Router
-K2 router mount
-love-joy couplers
-plywood electronic enclosure

So I still have some small bugs to fix...mainly just some chatter in the Y axis, but I know how to fix it. I haven't really cut anything major yet other then some text and the accuracy looked great to me. I still need to do an advanced accuracy test other then my eye I don't know what my ipm's are yet I haven't gone over 50 because of the chatter. I dont know that much on how to get the best ipm's out of it or the best setup, but I wonder if I go to the 269 oz in motors and maybe a lower tpi screw would help?

This is my second CNC machine. My first is my X2 converted to CNC. My next project is to either convert my 7x12 lathe to CNC or build one from scratch. I am leaning more toward building one from scratch. I figure I have enough Ball screw left over and a spare 4 axis board(I have to fix first) so why not.

Ok so here are some pics.

[FandZ]

Looks great, that Z axis looks good enough to sell. Wanna sell me one?

I'm also curious. With the amount of skill you have, why didn't you go with a belt driven X and Y for more resolution and better torque range?

[wadoman]

Thanks Fandz, To be honest when it comes to the drive system I dont know that much. I always assumed that ballscrews were the best to use. I dont know that much on belt drives. It just didnt seem to me that they would be very solid. I mean as far as belt stretching and slapping, but again Im not that knowledgeable on it. The good thing about the 80/20 is that I can do whatever changes I want without drastic modding.

[lovebugjunkie]

Very nice build. congrats.

Wondering why your v-wheels are only temp.

[wadoman]

Im finding that its more difficult to dial in the V wheels and rails and get smooth low friction motion with no play. Linear guides are smooth no friction and no adjusting needed. With the V wheels at least on my setup you have to have the rails PERFECTLY parallel or else you have areas in its motion where there is high friction and low friction or even play. I will have to constantly monitor them and adjust them from time to time. Its more hassle then linear guides at least on my setup. Im sure I could redesign them in a better way to be more reliable, but I want a no hassle, dont have to think about solution(linear guides). Right now its very solid motion with no play, but there are areas of higher friction and I dont want the motors to struggle any more then they need to.

[Med-Pac]

Nice build, what are you going to be cutting? We need more pics and maybe a video!

Mike

[wadoman]

I don't really have any specific reason why I built it other then the utter fascination with tinkering and being able to use it to make anything I want, as far as material I will be cutting?.. well that could be anything from wood,plastic,wax and aluminum(hopefully). I cant wait to see how well it will cut aluminum.

Ya know the idea for me is to find my little niche/product and use the machine to make a little gas money on the side. You know a hobby that pays for itself.

If you want to see any specific pictures let me know. Once I fix the Y chatter I will find something to cut and take videos.

[corrie]

Nice machine,and congrats.Might want to find some kind of bellows covers for your lead screws or the ball nuts will get caked with all sorts of cut material.great job.

[wadoman]

Yeah I know I agree. Its another thing on my list of todo's.

[FandZ]

Originally Posted by wadoman Thanks Fandz, To be honest when it comes to the drive system I dont know that much. I always assumed that ballscrews were the best to use. I dont know that much on belt drives. It just didnt seem to me that they would be very solid. I mean as far as belt stretching and slapping, but again Im not that knowledgeable on it. The good thing about the 80/20 is that I can do whatever changes I want without drastic modding.

Oh, I meant using a gear between the stepper and the lead screw and a belt joining them. I'm still trying to decide how I'll be driving my y and X axis and basically looking for pros and cons. But great job man.

[wadoman]

ahhhh....Yeah I think if I need to then that will be an option thanks for the heads up on that.

[wadoman]

Ok so I took care of the chatter on the Y. I have had it up to 100 ipm so far. It seems to run smoother at the higher ipm's. At 12 ipm I get some resonance happening. I am going to look into the "rattler dampeners" I hear about to see what that does for it.
I will see about doing a video tomorrow.