Another Newbie begins!

[HomeMadeCnc]

Hello All, this is my first cnc project. It’s a work in progress, when completed it will be a 4 axis machine with a plasma/router head. I’m running a stepmasternc board in a 1.8 Ghz Win Xp with mach 3, Bobcad and eCabinets. 500 in/oz steppers with a porter cable 3.25 hp. The table has 3 inserts, vacuum, coolant collector tank and a plasma cutting deck. I’m a month into it hoping to complete before Christmas but its this lack of time and cash thing. . . .I’m sure I’m the only one All of the parts are off ebay, I have to buy the drive line next and so far I’m just under $2k.
Thanks for all of your posts, I look forward to a different point of view on my machine. Be kind I don’t have a clue what I’m doing!
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Tim

[Mr.Chips]

Welcome to the CNCZone, from the looks of your design you have been learking for a while, or you are just talented.
Looks like a real good start. Fully supported X and Y axis is the way to go. And a good distance between the bearings to give it a wide and solid stance.
I envy you metal workers, able to build so solid and ridgid frameworks.

Good Luck and Keep the pictures coming.

[Greolt]

Tim.

You will find that it will need driving from both side of the X axis. Maybe for plasma you'll get away with it but as a router you won't.

A lot of builders try it but it needs either a very rigid or very slow machine.

Say for instance when you get to do someting like a 3D carving and a small cutter is rapidly going back and forth just a few mm's you'll see that it just won't work.

So save yourself some trouble and drive it from both sides from the start.

You have made a good start, keep it up and post lots of pics.

Greg

[HomeMadeCnc]

Sounds like a plan, I'll order double screws. This machine will be abused.

Thanks for your input.

[HomeMadeCnc]

Almost got it done when the neighbours had a bbq..........

[High Seas]

Love the colors - Keyed to the axis --- Great looking machine. Welcome aboard and best of luck.
Jim

BTW - I'd add (for me more than any one else) It's all B.S. -- Until you mill something

[HomeMadeCnc]

Here's what I have now. Still test fitting z axis but getting closer. Motor mount is next. Still trying different numbers to get "Tas" to cut from 100ipm to 350 ipm in whatever project is up.

More to come. . .

Tim

[wcarrothers1]

Just wondering how much flex you will see in that plate the router clamps are attached to. I've see a lot of designs where the router hangs down from a plate like that.

I did it the oposit way where the router hangs off the other side and the plate where your router plate is would be on the gantry. Course this means the servos and stuff ride up and down with the router how ever in my mind made it so you didn't have to have a long plate to hang the router down off of to get table clearence when retracted.

Very nice looking machine. . You using regular paint or some sort of powder coating?

b/

[HomeMadeCnc]

I agree, it will flex. It will be beefed up in a bit. For now it will be good enough to get it going. As for paint, its Krylon that was on sale, $1 a can.

[Degrom]

Here's what I have now. Still test fitting z axis but getting closer. Motor mount is next. Still trying different numbers to get "Tas" to cut from 100ipm to 350 ipm in whatever project is up.

More to come. . .

Tim

I like it , I like it , I like it!!!
You are going to start a new trend with your paint scheme!!!

[HomeMadeCnc]

A little more time spent on Tas. This is going to be my 4th axis, I'll replace the belt with a timing belt/ stepper combo. Should work.

Tim

[eloid]

A little more time spent on Tas. This is going to be my 4th axis, I'll replace the belt with a timing belt/ stepper combo. Should work.

Tim

who the manufacture of your linear slides and bearing on x and y
you say off ebay who makes them? what the od on the rod?
are you going to rack and pinion on your long x axis