My first post

[rmajor55]

Well hello everyone...

I have been lurking here for a while acting like a sponge and sucking up any and all info I can find. Great place with great people from what I can see. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute and give a little back eventually.

On to the juicy bits....

I am planning on building a JGRO with some slight modifications:

1/2-10 ACME instead of threaded rod - 2 - 6' lengths on order.
UMHW for the adjustment blocks - I ordered a piece 3" round x 2' long that I can cut 3/4" slices from.
DumpsterCNC Anti-backlast nuts, acme couplings and thread clamps

I was also planing on getting the Keling 425oz stepper kit along with mach3 from Keling as I can save $20.00. (I can be very cheap, I think I get it from my father). I eventually want to build an aluminum machine and I think the 425's would be used on that.

Some ideas I have had are to fill the base and table with expanding foam to make kind of a poor man's torsion box to add to the rigidity. Also placing the long axis(I think it's the X axis?) bearings on the outside, use threaded rod to tighten everything up and maybe place supports on the inside of the pipes to decrease flex. This would also allow me to have a wider table with more Y? axis movement(Axis that the Z moves back and forth on?) I have also thought about using solid rods in place of gas pipe for less flex. I have a few more ideas but probably wont use them on this build, this one is to "get my feet wet" so to speak. I'll post my ideas seperatly in the DIY forum and not the GJRO specific forum.

Wow, this is getting rather long winded. I think I have everything ready to get started, eithr in my hands or on order. The only things I dont have yet is the stepper kit, dowel pins, flanged bearings, the 1-1/4x1-1/4x1/8" aluminum angle(saw it at one the local hardware stores), just have to find it again and the small spacers but I can make/acquire those as I go.

I hope to start cutting the lumber and getting everything ready in a few weeks. I have a ton of work to do in my garage that should be done before I start this project(plaster, paint, shelving, CLEANING). I think I have all the tools I will need to do this, heck I even bought a 14" floor model drill press that I've had my eye on for a while, this project just helped me make up my mind that I REALLY did need it. LOL

The ultimate goal of this machine is it engrave acrylic with pictures and designs and if it can handle it, etch steel and aluminum and just make some cool stuff, also just to see if I can do it.

Well I think that's enough of me rambling on, anyone have an questions, comments, concerns or critisims, all will be appreciated and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Robin Major

[automizer]

pictures pictures pictures, show us your progress an the finnished machine

[rmajor55]

I will get some pictures as soon as I start, might even post some of the assorted bits and pieces before I start, you guys love those pic's.

[tajord]

Yes oh how we love those pics, just tease us with at least a few, i like the idea of you want to place the bearings on the outside, IMO, for the overall size (width) of the jgro machine you get a small portion as actual cutting area 14" - 15", which is less than half the total width 34", nevertheless, it's a perfect project for those starting out on a diy cnc venture, just make sure you ABSOLUTELY have a drill press (lucky dog you), i don't have one so i had to be back and forth at a friend, unless otherwise you have access to a cnc router.

[pntbllrsprky]

can't wait to see your build. I have been researching this as well and I am probably going to do some of the same mods as you. I really want to know how well that expanding foam in the base does.

[rmajor55]

FYI, I placed an order with McMaster-Carr for some stuff and recieved the reply,

"Robin,

Thank you for your order. Unfortunately, due to the ever increasing complexity of United States export regulations, McMaster-Carr can only process orders from a few long-established customers in Canada. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this causes you.

Please be assured that your credit card has not been charged.

Bruce

McMaster-Carr"

Guess they need to change their website to only accept US orders!