Starting My own CNC

[gadman58]

Hi all as quite a few others have said, I have been lurking around for a few weeks and decided to make my own machine.
I would like to say thanks for all the great info everyone has put on this site.

I was given 3 25' and 15'' linear motion rail. They are basically 8020 type extrusions with 25 series linear mounted inside a cog belt positions a aluminum piece mounted to the rail. The positional spec was .005 so I figure I am in fat city.

I am cutting up the extrusion to make the rest of my machine which will have an 4'x8' table. The X axis will be two of the rails cut down to 10' and some change. The Y axis has 53" of travel the Z axis 12". I am using Acme screws for both.

I plan on the xylotex 4 axis 425oz motors, and a DL05 plc for my e-stop and some of the limits/homes. I will also be purchasing Mach 3 for the control.

I still have a few things to figure out, I hope to get started on it this weekend, if the honeydo's don't get in the way again.

Thanks
Glenn

[Jason Marsha]

With those parts it looks like you are off to a good start. Keep us updated with pics.

Jason

[gadman58]

Hi all
Got most of the parts made yesterday. I love freebies. After spending 4 hours cutting out the uprights for the gantry from 1/2" aluminum with a jig saw, I got a friend at work to allow me to use the VF4 Haas. Goes much faster with the Haas.
I now am only missing some bolts 4 cogged pulleys for the X axis and the acme screw which is ordered.
Hopefully will see them by the end of the week. I have to figure out cabling for the motors now and connectors to plug into the old computer case I have as well as for the limit switches.

Here is the cost of my build so far.

Linear rails and Bearings Free
8020 extrusions Free
PLC DL05 $75.00 Ebay
Mach 3 $159.00
Xylotex $380.00
Scrap aluminum $131.00
Bolts $18.35
Linear Bearing $98.25 (my wife cleaned the garage and tossed one of them) Applied
Acme Screw and bearings $112.40 (ordered a Nook precision acme screw) Applied

Glenn

[gadman58]

So I am getting close enough to start seeing the end.

[gadman58]

Just Some more pictures

[Zatar]

Looks nice

[Slowanimtion]

Is that a boston gear box with a stepper motor attached?

Is your main table going to be T-slot config? Keep up the good work and post lots of pics I don't think thier can ever be enough pics of the ingenious things people around here come up with.

[gadman58]

Slowanimtion
It is a Dayton 5:1 speed reduce w/ 0 backlash according to the numbers.

It had a 1/2 hp 3 ph motor that use to power it. I still have yet to run the motors under power, so I will have to see what happens.

The table top will be 2 sheets of MDF epoxied together with a grid pattern for 1/4" foam seal to seal of areas. I am copying a table top from MultiCAM and Onsrud. I will use 2 shop vac to supply the vacuum to hold the parts.
Once again will see if this will work. I tried a little test using one and a varnished MDF with the gasket material it was pretty tough to move the part.


I hopefully will get to work on it in the next few nights. I was on a trip and the honeydo list got long again.

[Slowanimtion]

Not sure what kinda vacs your using but if you can't pull enough vac try checking out some a roots blower. One of the old foundry guys I know degasses some serious castings with one, makes a heck of a racket, definatley need hearing protection. But that is one serious industrial vac... not sure what they run but you could probably find one on ebay.

Other than that sounds like a good design, and Dayton gear boxes look pretty much the same as the boston, we have both at work and they seem to hold up pretty well...

[gadman58]

I got the plc program done for the DL05 last night and tested a stepper motor with out being hooked up. It jogged back and forth still needs to be tuned but at least I have some more forward momentum on this project.

I will try and post screen shots of the plc program and the brain in Mach that I made to run the plc tonight.

I have to cut about 80 cap stone this week end to finish a project for the misses so not sure if I will get time to wire up the machine this weekend.

Glenn

[gadman58]

After dealing with a lung infection I get to work on it this weekend I have yet to get the screen shots of the brain and plc but plan on it this weekend.

Have been looking for wire at all the hardware stores and even a commercial electrical store, Comman theme we can order that but it comes in 500 ft roll. Home Depot has the shield-stranded 4 wire 18 ga in 500' rolls in stock but at $168.00 is more than I can afford.

At work we have a UL list electrical shop so I got with the head electrician and a Electrical engineer they looked at my set up and said shieled was not necessary. My limit switches will only come with in 2" for the last 6" of length. The stepper cables are 1" apart at all times except where they will connect at the drives/

I also came across this articlehttp://machinedesign.com/ContentItem...icalnoise.aspx . It provided some insight as well.

So based on that I am going to use the flat 4 wire 16ga that is used for trailers. The size is over kill but because it is flat it will flex better I am told.

Glenn

[cncmad]

Great stuff Glenn. Keep up the good work. This is a new interest of mine as I am looking to make a 8x4 or 10x5 table myself however I am looking to make it universal so I can use it as a router, plasma or basically anything I want to bolt onto it. It’s good to see all the pics as I am still on the drawing board. I am a fitter and turner by trade so the parts and table manufacture side or things are fine but the software, PLC, and tuning are all new to me so I will be out pick some of your brains when I get to this stage. Keep the pics flowing in and keep up the inspiring work. Mark!