JGRo Build by Thinwater

[Thinwater]

I found this forum last week after linking to a web site offering plans for CNC routers on Ebay. It is AWESOME. I downloaded the JGRO Plans and started on one yesterday. I am a hobby level machine operator. I have a couple of full size lathes, a full size mill, a 18" Metal Shaper and a 10" metal shaper as well as a range of wood cutting tools I have piled up so I think I can make it with out much problem. I made the support blocks out of 6061 Al on the lathe yesterday. That took about six hours for the twelve needed. All of those holes took forever to drill and tap. I used to lathe to bore the holes, drill the side holes and tap the side holes. The face holes were drilled in a drill press. I made the table assembly this morning and the gantry this afternoon. It barely fit on my surface plate (see picture) I will be using the surface plate to keep it all straight on glue up then match drill all holes for the bolts after it is dry and solid. I use tightbond III waterproof wood glue on my wooden boats so I think it should hold the MDF.

AWESOME site and the other posts make it look easy.

JIM

[tajord]

Hey jim, welcome to the community, i tell you, you made the right choice of alu for those blocks, i did mine out of purple heart and still had a couple probs, i wish that was what i used from the get go, but they are in place and for right now and the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude has settled in, i see you're getting advised on the 12" 8 2 start acme, i'm considering it but don't know if my 200 oz/in steppers will push them well, i'll ask around though.

Anyways, good luck on your build and post lots of pix, we here love those pix.

[Thinwater]

These plans are great! The machine goes together quickly at first. I only got to spend a couple of hours on it today but the big parts are done.

This thing is going to ba a monster. I did not realize how heavy it would be. This is a good thing until I have to move it.

Here is a picture of the assemblies dry fit to check and see what it is going to look like and if there were any major errors. So far so good.

I have decided to use the 5/8 ACME rod and just turn the ends down to fit the steppers.

Does the Z have to have the same thread as the X and Y? Can you set the thread pitch in the software that controls it?

See picture. Any words of advise at this stage of the build very welcome.

JIM

[Jason Marsha]

The Z axis does not have to be the same pitch as all can be set seperately in the software.

Jason

[bisclavret]

Originally Posted by tajord Hey jim, welcome to the community, i tell you, you made the right choice of alu for those blocks, i did mine out of purple heart and still had a couple probs,

I used oak and coated the inside of the holes liberally with clear sealant, but I agree. If I had had the aluminum....

Originally Posted by Thinwater This thing is going to ba a monster. I did not realize how heavy it would be. This is a good thing until I have to move it. ~snip~ I have decided to use the 5/8 ACME rod and just turn the ends down to fit the steppers. Does the Z have to have the same thread as the X and Y? Can you set the thread pitch in the software that controls it?

Mine's on wheels, so's my big saw. I have a small shop and need to move them frequently. I used the 5/8" rod too, but fabricated a 2 piece coupler.

I'm using TurboCNC, and it allows you to set up each axis individually. I think most software does, so different pitches shouldn't be a prob.

Nice build BTW, keep the pics coming.
[/QUOTE]