New Machine Build- My steel frame router

[harryn]

Hi - very well thought out and executed project. I wish I could weld like that, but then again, that probably would mean I need to do it everyday.

What are you using for sound deadening?

[Spiv]

Originally Posted by harryn Hi - very well thought out and executed project. I wish I could weld like that, but then again, that probably would mean I need to do it everyday. What are you using for sound deadening?

I wish I could say I got to weld every day, but I really don't. Usually only maybe once a month or so. Everyone should learn though- I started out with a flux core (gassless) 110v MIG (well, not technically MIG when flux cored) welders and converted it to argon later on. Definitely a very useful tool and skill to have.

The sound deadener is ebay "fat-mat" for car applications. It's the same stuff as dynamat, but a little thinner and a lot cheaper.

Here's my rig as it stands:


and the t-slot table, with a vice clamped in (you can see the sound mat inside):


and most importaintly, results! Utah-Teapot milled into a scrap piece of 1/4" aluminum plate:

[harryn]

That looks nice - looks like some LED lighting in there as well?

[Spiv]

Thank you!

uh...yeah...about the lights...I kinda didn't plan that one out very well, so those are some cheap stick on LED lights from autozone. It needs much improvement, but it's getting me by until then. I think I'll still use LEDs so that I can keep the voltage low (just in case they short or something, don't need to be feeding 700v back through my controller from a cold cathode). That, and a few other improvements to the machine in general.

[FandZ]

Hats off to you man. Good job! Am I right in assuming that is a harbor freight laminate router? Makes me wonder would it could do with a porter cable router.

[Spiv]

Originally Posted by FandZ Hats off to you man. Good job! Am I right in assuming that is a harbor freight laminate router? Makes me wonder would it could do with a porter cable router.

And I may be forced to that very soon. The (you guessed right) harbor freight router is a bit strained, and doesn't seem like I'll get even a couple months work out of it. I think it would be wise of me to invest in a spindle with a real collet.

Any suggestions? Is the chinese 1.5k spindle something that can get coolant all over it without becoming dangerous, while we're at it?

[FandZ]

Originally Posted by Spiv And I may be forced to that very soon. The (you guessed right) harbor freight router is a bit strained, and doesn't seem like I'll get even a couple months work out of it. I think it would be wise of me to invest in a spindle with a real collet. Any suggestions? Is the chinese 1.5k spindle something that can get coolant all over it without becoming dangerous, while we're at it?

I'm the wrong guy to ask. I've just built my first strictly hardware store machine. I'm useing a 2.25hp Hitachi router that I think was steel for 89 from amazon. I have have been very impressed with it so far.


Reading around things are looking positive for the Chinese spindle. Some have gotten units with run out but the seller has done exchanges and handled problems accordingly. I don't see coolant being a problem. It's not that hard to water proof a component, especially since the cooling is taken care of away from the spindle.