My 24"x48" Aluminum Build

[jjacstcy]

Hey Guys,
Been lurking around for over 2 years reading everyone's threads and I must say that there is an outstanding bunch of people on this board. Too bad everyone isn't as friendly and helpful as all of you are.

I have ran commercial routers for the past 10 years and have cut everything imaginable. I used to have time on the company machines to cut stuff for myself but it has become harder and harder to doing anything on the side for me. So I am taking the plunge to build my own as all of you have.

I would like to give you guys my thought on what I am planning on doing and have a few questions also. I will attach a few drawings that I did in Flexi so that you can see what I am doing. I have drawn everything up in Flexi as that is the program that I am most fluent with. Still learning Solidworks at the moment, and it would have taken me forever to draw it up in there. On to the machine, it will have an actual cutting area of 24" x 48". It will be mostly constructed of aluminum. I cannot afford to buy the expensive linear rails and bearings at the moment so I am going to use the carriages from cncrouterparts.com. Seems like the next cheapest alternative to do my build and there is a lot of great reviews on them. I am going to use the extended carriages for my x axis, and the shorts for my y and z axis's. I am going to use the Hitachi M12Vc as my spindle on a SuperPID. All of my screws are going to be 1/2"x10 5 start acme rod using couplings and anti-backlash nuts from Dumpster.

I am a little hung up on the electronics parts. I would like to go with the nema 23 kits to save a little coin but If I have to go with the 34's then I will. I will most likely order the stuff from cncrouterparts.com just because they have the better cables. I am still unsure as to which route that I need to go. Would it be better to go with a kit that has the Gecko G540 in it, or would it be better to go with something that has separate drivers in the kit?
What do you pro's think I need to use? Any comments on what I am planning are appreciated!

[jjacstcy]

Could someone please help me with stepper choice? Do I need to go with the nema 23's or 34's on my machine. Do I really need to use a 34 on my z axis? Or could I get buy with with a 23. Like I said everything except the rails will be aluminum. There are just so many choices I am at a loss deciding what would be best for me.
Thanks
Jimmy

[restless1]

Do you plan on using a rack and pinion system...
if so go with the nema 23 kits on the cncrouter page...
the g540 is an excellent choice but on the cncrouter parts kit you will need to cut the db9 ends off his motors and wire the resister into the end that is connected right to the g540..
otherwise heat builds up in the motors since the g540 might not go into idle mode with the resisters at the motors..
you will need a 3.5 k resister on each cable end at the g540...
or get something like this..

EZ-G540 - Set of 4
which will be set at 3.5 k (1 k per amp and the nema's are rated at 3.5 amp!

Also you will need the rack and pinion drive(mechanical drive)
and some racks..

CNCRouterParts


just something to mill over hmmm

[jjacstcy]

Hey thanks for the reply!
I wasn't planning on a rack and pinion setup. I am going with lead screws. Length will be around 55" and I am okay with having some whip. If I had to guess my gantry will probably be around 40lbs and just don't know if the 23's will move it. I have looked at all the formulas for figuring everything out but it is in a language that my simple mind just refuses to comprehend! I did read about the resistors being on the wrong end from cncrouterparts and I am prepared to correct them if needed. Think I will just go with a nema 34 kit and be done with it. I am going to try to get some work on my gantry and frame today if time allows.
Thanks

[restless1]

good luck then you will get less speed from the screws then the R&P but you will get better accuracy...
but even if you change things later on since your maxing out on the electronics you can always move up and keep those parts...
always a wise decision!
I found the hardest part was the software
and the most important part was Hard Stops(also limit switches) and good accurate home switches(inductive proximity) ...
that was from my learning by way of hard knocks
all the best!

[jjacstcy]

Thanks restless,
I have all of the software, just need something to hook up to it!
I wire stuff up everyday so hopefully that shouldn't be a problem. I will pm you if I run into something if you don't mind.
Thanks again!

[CNC Lurker]

Do you plan on using a rack and pinion system...
if so go with the nema 23 kits on the cncrouter page...
the g540 is an excellent choice but on the cncrouter parts kit you will need to cut the db9 ends off his motors and wire the resister into the end that is connected right to the g540..
otherwise heat builds up in the motors since the g540 might not go into idle mode with the resisters at the motors..
you will need a 3.5 k resister on each cable end at the g540...
or get something like this..

EZ-G540 - Set of 4
which will be set at 3.5 k (1 k per amp and the nema's are rated at 3.5 amp!

Also you will need the rack and pinion drive(mechanical drive)
and some racks..

CNCRouterParts


just something to mill over hmmm

Thanks, I wasn't sure what to set the EZ G540 to.

[restless1]

I keep forgetting that this is a forum sometimes... glad i could help indirectly Lurker...

Also yes I don't mind PM's I just might not be able to respond very fast some times due to the real world (its gets in the way often lol) have fun making your beast

[jjacstcy]

Would the 3 axis package from Keling work with my 1/2-10 5 start screws? I can't find a torque chart on the KL34H260-35-4B steppers to try to figure it out. Would these steppers be in there optimal range using the screws that I have? Is there someone out there better with math than me?
Thanks

[dlpaul]

sorry, wrong thread.

Paul