My first gantry style CNC router!

[sbarracudax]

I had a few months off this winter between jobs and I decided to design and build my own CNC router. I have wanted to build one of these machines for the last 6 years but regular work and life in general just kept getting in the way.

I started the design work just before Christmas and had everything fabricated, machined, ordered, delivered and built by the end of February. I have attached various pics showing some of the CAD design as well as pictures of the completed completed machine.
I designed the gantry to give me 49" x 49" x 7" of travel. I figured this would give me the ability to cut around 4' x 4' sheets and to also work with MDF which normally comes in a 49" width anyways.
I sourced my steppers and drives from China. The ballscrews and linear bearings came from China as well. I wasn't happy with the quality of the stepper drives so I ended up sourcing 4 new ones for Geckodrives in California.
I bought one of those 2.2kw water cooled Chinese spindle motors and inverters and I must say that I am very pleased with it. It is so quiet and cool when running.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the pics and feel free to ask any questions. Thanks!

[bobsch]

Nice looking machine.

BTW, who is your assistant designer in the first pic?

[sbarracudax]

The little guy in the pic is my young (really young) apprentice! He is my son and is 6 years old. He helped me bolt together most of the base and table and that took all of a couple hours.
I have attached some more pics here of some of the CAD design work that I did on this job.

[thereclinerman]

how is everything up in canada? just saw yr posts and machine. great job. like you, i have been looking and reading about cnc machines for a long time. now that i am retired and have time to research and build, yours is the best i have seen. i liked the mechmate router from mechmate.com, but not the v rail system. looks like the ball screws and rollers is the way to go. what software do u use as the control system? do you sell or list the parts u used in the build? any info would be helpful. thanks jim