Any Canadians out there want to work on and help design an affordable cnc?

[mocnc]

Ok this post is pretty well the same as the lower post. The only difference is location. I am not sure how the rest of you Canadians feel, but sometimes I feel like I pay the same or more for shipping then the product that I am purchasing. Also, building my cnc I feeling somewhat alone, because alot of the builders here are from the United States.It would be nice to have a group of ppl in may area to work with or get a helping hand. So hopfully keeping it to an area will help keep the design cost down but not hurt the actually design of it. I want to design a very affordable cnc that is easily built for the common man/women with the basic tools. A nice work area, (my guess about 20" by 40" approx) so that a wide range of items can be made on it. I have notice that a lot of ppl want or would like a 4th axis. This could be also added to the design. I guess the first place to start is what ppl want. Starting with cost of the unit(Cnd cost). Is $250 to $500 a good range........its total demensions...and of course its functions, what do you want to do with it. I know we wouldn't be able to meet all goals, but at least we can narrow it down to what the majority want. My goal is to help out the community. I live in Ontario Canada and hopfully there are more of you Canadians out there so that we can keep what little cost down in the design aspect. Well let me know what you think and most of all let me know what you are looking for in a cnc. Please by all means, if anyone who is not Canadian, but still want to help out you are welcome as well. Input here is very important. I just wanted to see if I can get a group of ppl in the same area to keep design costs down and to have ppl possible meet up and work with their hands to build the first unit.

[Yves514]

Hey,

I'm from Ontario, Canada too. However, I'm just starting my research/plans for making my first CNC machine. So I'm not sure how useful I would be at this point. Like you, I'll be relying on the past experiences and references from the people on this forum.

But I'll be sure to share info on the local parts and supplies I find.

Yves

[FrankG]

Mocnc & Yves,

I too live in Ontario Canada...

I've built two very basic CNC mills so hopefully can help in someway, though I have to admit that I'm more tied up in EV related projects at this time (at least untill the fall...

I have a basic electronics background as well, where I think that I can be of the most use would be in proto-typing any custom hardware for a project... My existing mills are used for machining EPS foam patterns that are cast into Aluminum parts, stepper motor mounts, spindle mounts etc...

I'm not offering to make 100's of parts for free, but would be able to donate a dozen or so (over a period of time) towards an open source project that is well documented on a common web-site (obviously with links back to my site)...

To get a feel if the the work that I'm offering is up to snuff check out the link below...

http://www.theworkshop.ca

FrankG

[forrey45]

Hi.
Just outside TO, full time CNC programmer/setup, have been toying with the idea for a while, maybe being in contact, and on the same page with others locally will be a good idea.
Forrey

[elogicca]

I'm near montreal, i'm onto my 3rd or 4th machine should be the last one

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37267


I order all my parts into champlain then just drive accross the border and pickup, much cheaper and faster than shipping into canada, also much cheaper than trying to buy the stuff here.

[vulcom1]

I am in the wrong part of the country but would be interested in monitoring what you gentlemen are going to do as I can learn from it also. I have almost completed a foam cutter and next project hopefully a small mill or router. I purchased the Hobby CNC 4 axis pro board to play with and was about to build my own board when I added up the cost for parts individually.(ouch)
If I can help in anyway I would be happy to.
John

[KnottyBuoyz]

Just getting started here in Easthern Ontario (Iroquois) Literally the black hole of CnC hobbiests or anything else for that matter. Everything has to be shipped in via courier or we go across the bridge to Ogdensburg to pick up shipments at the UPS store.

I don't know much about CnC yet but I intend to learn quick, just bought the BigBear CNC plans as well as accumulated all the Open Source plans available here. Many thanks to those who've contributed their knowledge and experiences here! Bravo.

I can't contribute much because I really don't know anything yet. I have some AutoCad & Sketchup skills. My background is in Marine Engineering Logistics so I tend toget caught up in the parts sourcing process! *sigh*

Read elsewhere on here that McMaster-Carr doesn't ship to non-commercial clients in Canada, can anyone confirm/refute that?

Our ultimate goal is to build our own boat, a 30.5' trawler in Stitch & Glue ply&foam/fiberglass composite construction. If I can help I will but I'll probably have a lot more questions than answers.

Yours Aye!

Rick

[ataxy]

montreal here id be happy to pitch in currently working at sargent aerospace as a cnc lathe operator and i speak both french and english
but i am mostly into metal so something 20x40 would not be affordable

[Buzz9075]

I am in Ottawa Canada. I will help where I can. Suggestion if you are going for 20 * 40 go 25 * 49 that way you can work on 1/4 sheets of 4 * 8 material.

NottyBoyz - Yup your are right they will not ship to Canada unless you are a long standing comerical customer... they will even tell you OK will ship but afterward call back and so so sorry to bad you can't have it.

[KnottyBuoyz]

Originally Posted by Buzz9075 I am in Ottawa Canada. I will help where I can. Suggestion if you are going for 20 * 40 go 25 * 49 that way you can work on 1/4 sheets of 4 * 8 material. NottyBoyz - Yup your are right they will not ship to Canada unless you are a long standing comerical customer... they will even tell you OK will ship but afterward call back and so so sorry to bad you can't have it.

Hey Buzz! Thanks for the info. That's what I heard. Suks! I might have to tap into your experience when sourcing parts if that's ok?

[mocnc]

sorry guys been away for a bit.....looks like we have a good start here, lets some how get in touch with each other and see what direction we would love to go.

[TCSpooner]

Hello All

I live on Vancouver Island. I have built 5 CNC machines to date and am designing a commercial CNC router right now. I would love to help you design a low cost router. I own Alibre expert and I have plenty of 2D drafting experience. I am a mechanical engineering technologist and for the time being I work in a college machine shop.

Cheers

TCSpooner