starting a 6' x3' router table with mdf/angle

[sawmiller]

hi all, starting on a new table, sort of a mishmash of several styles i've seen here, using jgro skates bearings with a top and bottom angle iron to run on.
i'll get some pictures up soon, but for now, heres a sketchup file of what i think i'm making..... y rails are already cut, working on torsion box for the bed when i get time off from work. cant seem to find any 1/2 mdf so it will all be 3/4" i guess and using angle iron instead of aluminum, because thats what i can find. anyways enjoy
dan

ps take the .zip off the end of file

[sawmiller]

got distracted by making a vacuum clamp assembly for my current cnc router. heres some pics
dan

[sawmiller]

heres the start of the build, remember, this is off the hip, i expect to do some redesigns
first i made a bed using the torsion box method on diy network
its all made out of 3/4 mdf and is very heavy ( 6foot x 3 foot )

then i cut some more 3/4 mdf on the 45 and glued it together to make my beams for the y axis and x axis, once those were dry i recut them slightly smaller then put the table saw blade at 90 and took a small bit off the point so the angle iron would sit on it right.

made some bearings using the jgro method and clamped it together to see how it looks.
dan

[Fifty_ohm]

I'll be watching this build progress. It looks really stout. And I really like the way you mounted and supported the angle iron. Ingenious.

[sawmiller]

most of these ideas aren't mine, i saw them here, somewheres...
i just might be combining them slightly different
dan

[sawmiller]

heres a update for anyone interested.
so far its 3 full sheets of 3/4" mdf and 24 feet of 1 1/4 angle iron plus skate bearings and 5/16 bolts
the plan is , when i get it all together, i will recut whatever parts are needed to make it run better. my current cnc router is only 16 x 20 inches , so i didnt feel ok about cutting the 26.5 inch sides, but once i have 3 x 6 ' i will take the crucial measurements from the existing parts, add my radiasing and such to make it look better , and cut it out on the new machine.
anyways, heres some pics.
dan

[sawmiller]

heres another update, i'm at the point that i need to order some acme 1/2 10 screws and nuts, lovejoys, from enco, before i can go farther.
i made the z axis out of some 1/2 drill rod, bronze bushings , 3/8 allthread and 1/2 aluminum.. i shouldnt have to remake that one.
dan

[Treischl]

Coming along very nicely! Keep us all posted.

[sawmiller]

hi all,
heres some more pic's
have the acme scews 1/2 10's and the lovejoys.
Pminmo's phil was nice enuf to have some premade drivers, so i wont have to
do assembly there for the fourth axis, for right now.
going to steal my motors off the old cnc rig to get the new one up and running.
heres a picture of a usefull tool, a short length of 1/4" all thread with a lovejoy clamped to it. just chuck it in the drill and you can move your table around once you have the screws assembled. also there is a picture of the "nutblock" i am using to drive the carrige along the acme screw. basicly i drilled a 7/8 hole halfway in a piece of oak , then finished the hole with a 9/16 . then i took a 1/2 10 acme nut , laid it on the 7/8 hole and whanged it in with a hammer.
drill two screw holes and screw it to the carrige. it doesnt have antibacklash, but there isnt much right now, and once i get the machine up and running, i can cut or order a antibacklash nut assembly.
anyways, heres the pictures.
enjoy
dan

[.xXACEXx.]

nice looking machine sawmiller,ive been trying to come up with a bearing running on supported angle for linear ways,drew up several ways, just want it to be easy to make .i like your approach pretty simply a table saw could cut that 45 deg. to lay the angle on or a 45 deg. router bit .i was thinking about an all aluminum machine...still want aluminum...but its MEGA expensive..for a hobby machine..unless you can put it to work..or just have lotsa money to spend mdf is prolly the best ...espescialy for a first or second machine..to get the kinks werked out (oh sorry bout the rambling on there,still working this stuff out in my head) that looks like a very stiff design ...man i love these home built cnc machines!! wish i had one...

[sawmiller]

all of this machine has been cut with my old table saw.
once it's up and running, i can use it to cut parts for itself... i like that
alot of this machine has been the type of figuring where you hold up a tape measure and say " right about there", you can improve yourmachine afterwards by cutting new parts and tweaking it, the only problem is extra cost of materials. and since it's made of mdf , thats not a huge thing.
dan

[pminmo]

I really like the look of this design for a wood router. KISS principle extraordinaire!