Newbie- Can I design and build a CNC Router!?

[Senna]

Morgan,

Things CAN get expensive with this hobby... OR with enough patience and bidding luck you can snag some excellent precision components off eBay. That's the route I took and with time and some of that luck I spoke of... I had winning bids on the X, Y, & Z liner rails and trucks. THEN I sat down to design & size my machine around the lengths of the rail systems won. A good many machines end up the size they are due to the availability of the rail system lengths. It's pretty much LENGTH = COST with the precision stuff. The longer stuff gets pricey real quick.

It's something you don't want to skimp on though if you desire accuracy & precision. I hope your budget is up to it...!

Senna

[Senna]

Morgan,

For the length of travel you desire on the X-axis... a leadscrew config could present issues... mainly whipping. Longer axis builder's are typically employing R&P (rack & pinion). As we speak a fellow CNCZone'r that goes by the handle Ahren is developing a low cost R&P setup that you might want to look at... read about it here...( http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...ighlight=Ahren ). He also has an internet store that may provide you with ideas if not actual components... www.cncrouterparts.com

I'm not connected to his enterprise... just a satisfied customer for the 8020 style of machine construction. Although his bearing design is NOT a V-groove system... he does have a unique design that is finding a following for low cost and performance. It's worth a look if sticker shock accompanies that Pacific Bearing catalog...!

Senna

[ahren]

Senna -- thanks for the bump!

Morgan -- you can get away with a 48" travel with a screw driven machine if you use multi-start screws. These allow for reduced rotational speed for the same linear speed, and have a lot of advantages besides reduced whip (lower friction, better torque range for steppers). My new R&P system will be ready in a couple of weeks as well, but if you go that route, you might as well go to 6' of travel since it won't cost you much more. I'd recommend checking out some of the build logs linked from my site if you're interested in my components (or even if you're not -- there are a lot of good ideas there).

Best regards,

Ahren
www.cncrouterparts.com

[miwms1955@gmail]

You can purchase plans for $39 at this site.
http://www.solsylva.com/cnc/cnc_plans_home.shtml

[s3648]

These guys are right, it is a disease, but oh so much fun! I have a 36" x 36" machine with 10 TPI acme screws and she will whip if i try and go too fast. I think the guys are right I would go with R&P. Geckos are probably the best, however I like Probotix myself. Check oiut cnctoybox.com and hubbard cnc store at ebay. also got my motor couplings from amazon.com for some crazy cheap price (i forgot exactly how much)

Anyway good luck and tell your girlfriend we are sorry for her loss!~ lol

[esdios]

Morgan,

Let me know what you think of the Pacific Bearing stuff. It would be interesting to hear some feedback on that company.

Tom