Build Thread- Nooby Flying Gantry Rig

[Conan257]

Well i'd thought i'd start a log about it... Going to take a few months since the cash doesn't flow in as quick as i'd like... But that does give me plenty of time to get my head around CAD etc... The machine will be used initially for making computer cases from 5mm perspex.

My plan is to build most of the router from 18mm MDF. This will allow the less important parts to be nice and cheap. I will however be buying decent parts for the linear movement etc as I plan to migrate these to a better machine once i'm settled.

Minimum cut area will be 400x400, Z axis hasn't been decided yet, but will likely be around 50-100mm. I've purchased 500mm supported rails for the X axis and will be using 16mm dia rails for the Y axis ( as per design below). Z axis will probably be 12mm or so rails, but again i'm not sure on this as I havn't got my head around the z axis design.

I am planning ( at the moment ) on making the bed 700mmx700mm. This gives me a nice large working area and extra room to fit everything in. This shouldn't affect the minimum cutting area as i'll be using limit switches to ensure the the equipment is optimised. For drive i'm planning on basic M8 leadscrews, I was planning on delrin drive nuts but I dont have a pillar drill and my first attempt to drill/tap by hand came up a little off straight.

Thats it for now I think... Construction has started and i'll slowly keep this updated with progress. Diagram is to scale, however i'm not sure if the gantry's will remain that small (around 120mm high).

[BobF]

Find a way to support the Y rails, you will be glad you did.

[gasmasher]

After just building a similar design I would agree with BobF. It seems that supporting rails is a lesson that a lot of the DIY builders have to learn. I decided to learn it the hard way

If you add another board across the back of the Y (in green) you can attach the rails support to it. Then you can use the same open bearings you will be using on the X axis but the opening will just be pointed toward the back of the machine. Add another board across the top (blue box) of the rails and the entire machine will be sturdier. I plan to make this upgrade to my machine next month.

[Conan257]

In fact I posted this yesterday on another forum....

Well I updated the rig a little, reinforced the gantry a bit and added the idea of a belt drive to the second gantry.

[nikbrewer]

if you can afford it, do with dual motors on the x axis. it allows you to set it up for self squaring, you get more power, and it make loading material in with out the belt in the way

[Conan257]

Considering the idea, but need to do a bit of research....

Really not keen on the idea of belt drive tbh.

[Conan257]

Very slow progress due in no small part to my new boy...

Which isn't a bad thing as I have to wait for funds to appear to get the expensive parts of the build!

Started the base today at least, rails are parrallel and 500mm long. Extra space is being allowed so the steppers sit inside the base.



Hopefully I'll get around to starting the gantry in the next couple of days. I've the stepper motors and leadscrews ready to mount, but i've no idea how i'm going to attach the leadscrews to the gantry (leadnuts????).

I've ditched the belt drive idea, going for dual steppers on the x-axis. Just need to get a 4 axis controller, power supplies and rails for y+z axis.

[Conan257]

After discussion on another thread i've decided to replace the pine with an mdf structure to guard against warping.

[Conan257]

Had some free time away from baby this morning so I cracked on!

Decided to get a shift on with the gantry, no real work in progress shots, but you can see where I am up to...





Next i'd like to sort out some nuts that I can fix to the gantry then I can mount the X axis screws and steppers.