My lego NXT mill

[btopley]

Hello!

I'm new here and I want to start my first machine.
I've made a prototype x axis (pictured), and I am still thinking about the y and z. I only want a small machine to start off with, doesn't need to be strong as I'm only going to be attempting soft materials or maybe fit it with an extruder. Any help or suggestions I would be grateful.

[btopley]

I have started the y stage, I used 7 worm gears which will be driven by a gear on the motor, which needs a mount. I used two 12 and two 6 axels to make slides, although they don't slide very well they might after some grease

[DSL PWR]

Good luck, and you should probably glue it all together once you know it works.

[btopley]

I was unhappy with my first design and have taken it apart. Here is my latest design which I think is far better as the tables have guides and I have use a rack and pinion system for x y movement. It slides better and I have connected the motors to the NXT and done a test run just the z stage now which is coming on nicely. If my current z plans don't work, I'm going to remove the y stage and attempt a gantry mill. The older style motor is what I plan to use for a spindle, powered by the train controller. I have found a sharp pointed think that would make a good cutter for soft things like toast and cheese

[High Seas]

Let me guess - you'll use VCarve pro to make dainty little cheese toasts!
I gotta see more! This is soo cool.
Thanks!
Jim

[btopley]

I'd like to use a milling programme like vcarve pro, but all I have to work the motors at the moment is the NXT. But if the motors are servomotors like lego say, I might be able to make a motor driver and use Linux CNC? Anyway I thought that the machine moved way too fast to be able to do any work, I turned the motor power down in the lego software but it was unable to move then Now I have added a worm gear to the x motor which makes it move almost exactly 1 rotation to 1 mm

[btopley]

After many hours of building and changing I have finally got a working machine! I have ghost cut a square, which I have posted the video of Enjoy the video, I hope to make cuts in burnt toast tomorrow and post the results

[tmasman]

Any progress or video? (The YouTube vid is down...)

[btopley]

Sorry about the video. Don't know what happened there. I seem to have lost my master copy though And the machine has been dismantled. Stay tuned for Lego NXT CNC 2!

[btopley]

Right, I'm making progress with version 2. Looks more like a router, has a gantry I think my motor ran too slow to even begin to be useful, so I'm working on that, the z movement will possibly be controlled using pneumatics, as it would take up allot less space on the mill, leaving more room for adding stability Ill post some pics soon, and hope to keep you posted.

[wwendorf]

So!!! What's up with V2!!! I'm dying of curiosity!

Wade

[spunky1974]

HOLY CRAP!!! I thought it was a joke......It's not!