Building a Joe's 2006

[jspencer]

Well, I decided a month ago to start building a new CNC Router. I had a little hobby machine that I had quickly out grown and was not as durable as I was looking for. The main problem was the old mill was too small to cut most of the parts that I need to make Joe's model.

So I made a simple Pipe mill to cut the parts for Joe's model. (I'll have to post pictures tonight of the mill) It works pretty good and uses most of the same parts for the X & Z from my small hobby mill. I used the same principle that Joe used on his Z for the Y (Y being the longest axis on the pipe mill) on mine. It is pretty slow at 20 ipm and has taken a couple weekends and most every night to get most of the parts cut. The X axis really could have been better designed as it has a little flex to it. I figure that once I get this mill assembled and running good the first thing that I'm going to do it cut another mill as a back up or spare.

I've got the long runs for the X and the left and right gantry sides for the MDF left to cut then all of the HDPE. I've got lots of the HDPE as the hobby mill was all made from HDPE. Hopefully I can get the rest cut in the next couple of days then start assembling. I'll post pictures as I start assembling to show progress. I can't wait to get it up and running.

[jspencer]

Well here are a couple pictures of the current mill that I'm using to mill the parts for Joe's model.

[jspencer]

And here are a couple of pictures of the current state of Joe's model. Should have most of the parts finished cut out on Wednesday.

You'll have to excuse the messy shop, I don't have a lot of room and I've got a lot of stuff crammed into the area.

[Madclicker]

Originally Posted by jspencer Well here are a couple pictures of the current mill that I'm using to mill the parts for Joe's model.

Absolutely no offense intended, but that's very bare-bones. I like that approach to building a larger machine.

[ccsparky]

Parts look good!
I like your approach! You want a Joe's machine so you build a machine and make one! Good for you, that's fantastic!
Keep the pictures coming!

[jspencer]

Originally Posted by Madclicker Absolutely no offense intended, but that's very bare-bones. I like that approach to building a larger machine.

No offense taken. It's sole job is to cut the parts for Joe's mill and that is it. There are even parts that are on it that are for Joe's mill, the gas pipe and two bearing slides. Once I get finished cutting all my parts and the I'm sure of the fit, I'll start dismantling it.

[joecnc2006]

Now that is inovative thinking, (How cab I get the Psrts to make the machine, hmmmmm make a machine to make the machine).

seriously that is a good aproach, already have the electronics, plus some experiance now with CNC.

Is that a foam cutter on the left?

Joe

[jspencer]

Joe,

No foam cutter. There's so much crap in the picture I'm not sure what you're referring to, but if it is the blue structure, that is a work bench that I got from my work for $20 bucks. It even was already wired for over head lighting and outlets. Now I just need to add the 20 amp breaker to the panel and run it to an outlet that I can plug the bench into.

[Jason Marsha]

Originally Posted by jspencer Well here are a couple pictures of the current mill that I'm using to mill the parts for Joe's model.

Great Work on the mill.

By any chance is that JCKleinbauer's Pipe Dream design?


Jason

[jspencer]

That's where I got the basic idea. I just made a gantry that would hold the X and Z axis's that I already had and went with that. Works pretty good, but if I had to do it again I would have rotated the gantry 180 degrees so that the Z is closer to the centerline of the gantry and made a stronger X so that it didn't flex like this one does. 3/4" would be better for the rails then the 1/2" that I used.

[jspencer]

Just a quick update, I've got all but the right gantry sides cut and have assembled a little bit more. Need to cut the bearing blocks before I assemble too much more.

On another note, I've noticed that most people are using a break out board. Can someone just give me a quick description of what they are and what are they used for. I currently am using the Xylotex 3 axis controller and am assuming that if I am going to add E-Stop, limit & home switches and possibly a relay for spindle on/off that I am going to need a break out board. From what I've gathered the break out board is to protect the computer and probably myself if my computer starts to flake out or something surges. Now with my setup, do I add the breakout board before or after the xylotex controller. I would think that I could put it either way, but maybe there are some benefits to doing it one way versus the other.

This looks like a good one for my setup, but maybe someone with a similar setup has some experience that could chime in and give some advice.
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Parallel_Port_Interface_Card.htm


Thanks,

James

[bp092]

I and David use a multifunction card from cnc4pc to function a few ways. One, to control the router, to have inputs for estop and limits, three to create a safety charge pump in case your computer crashes and it will signal an estop, and four to act as a barrier between your pc and the xylotex driver. More or less, instead of frying your mother board or electronics on your computer, it will fry some components on the board which are much cheaper to replace. I choose to get the 4 boards sep. but arturo has the new one in stock again now. If it was me I would go with the multifunction card, it has everything included and soldered together and minimizes wiring and connecting.