Cleveland ohio area

[fz1]

I'm in the cleveland west area. I would like to help and be helped with building a cnc router. I have some parts at my disposal and 30 years experience machine building. I do not have a milling machine so most of my projects are sometimes limited. Tools I do have for building or helping with others are a table saw, planer,jointer, router, enco compact 5 lathe, drill press, welder, torches etc.
I use autocad and solidworks.
My complete knoledge of cnc controls to control a cnc machine is in need of some help. So maybe I can help with some of the mechanical parts for someone in exchange for them helping me.

[jdebuck]

Has anyone responded by pm or email? Just curious...it seems like an awful lot of views with no replies.

[jimbo]

I am in the same boat as you, but without the machining experience. I have the parts but have not completed my router(s) yet. Havent got to the electronics and software. I am about 35 min SE of cleveland.

you could also ask whatever questions you have on this board.

good luck on your router.

Jim.

[jdebuck]

Originally Posted by jimbo I am in the same boat as you, but without the machining experience. I have the parts but have not completed my router(s) yet. Havent got to the electronics and software. I am about 35 min SE of cleveland. you could also ask whatever questions you have on this board. good luck on your router. Jim.

Maybe you guys can still help each other get your machines built...

[fz1]

I have not had any replys yet. I have the ability to design a machine with no problems. Probably much better than the economy styles some are making. Most of my machining will be in wax or foam so it does not have to be solid like cast iron or a weldment.
Time will tell if someone is interested in getting together to help each other out.

[jimbo]

I'd offer but I am out of town at the moment. Won't be back until beginning May. After that I'd certainly be interested.

What size of router are you planning?

Jim.

[fz1]

I'm planning on a 48 x 60 bridge type that will later be converted to 5 axis. I have all the woodworking tools needed and have some ideas on boxing mdf to make it ridgid. No work has been started yrt except some of the preliminary drawings to make some of the frame parts. I will watch this thread and see when you are back in town and maybe get together and talk designs.

[fgeiser]

Little late perhaps, but fwiw; I'm located about an hour south of Cleveland (44666) and I currently have a entire 4'x8' bed router and steppers that I just need to purchase drivers for to get it running. I didn't build the machine, I bought it for scrap price from my employeer, but it's a very simply designed machine, could probably be built with a few orders from MSC or similar. I've spent quite a bit of time setting up and programming CNC routers and lasers for woodworking (currently running 11 routers and 12 lasers). Some of these are large tool changers with cast parts that weigh a few tons, but I've spent most of my time with the smaller, almost hobby level, machines.
Anyways, just throwing it out there, if I can be of any help. If you're in the area, let me know and I'll give you a tour

[jimbo]

Cool. I have a plywood framed router that is nearly finished, Just need to hook up the motors, geckos, and power supply. I am also collecting parts for a 5'x5' router that will have a steel frame and use 76" IKO slides that I got for dirt cheap. Plus I have parts to make a couple of small size routers. The biggest hurdle for me will be setting up the software and learning cad to produce what I want to make as well has learning the machine capabilities such as feeds and speeds.

What software are you go to use on your personal machine? You say it is a simply built machine, What kind of slide bearings are on it? What is used for drive, rack or ballscrew? Just curious if this is a shopbot style router? Wish I knew someone to get a router for scrap price...

[fgeiser]

Jimbo,

I'll probably just start off borrowing a copy of CNC Controller (old DOS based stuff, but nice and reliable) and EnRoute from work to stay on familiar territory to get it going, but I'll check around a little bit, maybe give Turbo CNC a shot?

The slides are made from a pice of aluminum, about .25 tall, 3" wide, and as long as the rails with a groove cut in both sides for a hardened steel rod to be pressed in. Bearings with a rounded groove in the center are used on either side of this to squeeze it together and support the bridge. The bearings are mounted using eccentric bolts for adjustment. There are two bearings on each side of each rail (eight bearings total). It's sounds a bit weird, since that's a lot of weight to be supported sideways on the bearing, but they work pretty good, lots of hours until they need replaced, and they're easy to replace also. The X, Y, and Z all work the same.
Everything is geared down with a short belt drive to a rack and pinion as well, good solution for X and Y, kind of a bummer for Z, if you lose power to the driver the head will drop like a rock!
The frame is entirely made up of aluminum I-beams. The rails are something like 6" wide x 10" tall beams with smaller ones across for support.
All that metal is certainly going to cost more than a wooden machine, but it will also hold tolerences much better. It's been used only for wood, but I'm intending to do more aluminum work than anything (custom ATV/Motorcycle/whatever brackets, engine side covers, skid plates) I'll probably end up setting up my own anodizing line while I'm at it, if I'm going to jump in, why not go all the way?
Chances are really good that we'll be upgrading and will have another similar machine for sale in 2006 sometime. I'll be sure to post it here (if I don't decide I need another machine by then)

[jimbo]

fgeiser,

very nice. Those bearings sound pretty effective and low cost. I forgot to ask what spindle are you using. A hand held router or something bigger?

the 5x5 router that I am planning to build will be multipurpose, mostly foam, wood and aluminum. I am considering a 3-5hp fimec/ekstrom carlson spindle that another board member pointed out or something similar. I still have a ways to go yet, I need ballscrews, servos, drives, and some steel for the frame.

[jimbo]

fgeiser, If i can pick your brain some more. I am also looking into dust collection and vacuum holddown. Do you use either? For dust collection was just considering a cyclone system. BUt for vacuum hold down, what kind of pump do I need and how many horsepower? Any ideas for the table surface, just a grid with o-rings and small holes for vacuum? thanks, Jim.