Aluminum Mechmate

[Jkountz]

Nice looking build Lee, I know what you mean about Ryobi tools too. Some are good and some are really bad. I have a 12v cordless drill that I know has to be at least 10 years old and its still going with the original batteries!! I have other drills that I use more often but that little 12v still get put to good use around here. Got any more samples of the work you machine has produced??

[Jkountz]

Here is my Sketchup file for my prototype. If anyone wants to play around with it and see what you come up with feel free, Im always open to ideas!!

[nguyenst]

I am a member of Mechmate also and got the same idea as you. I wanted to design a machine similar to the Mechmate but I don't want that massive of a machine in my garage.

I settle on a hybrid similar to yours using off the shelve parts. My rails will be angle iron or just flat iron for the X-axis. I will be using parts from Ahren ( CNCRouterparts.com) for my X and Y axis. I will be starting a build log soon. I've got the X-axis almost completed with the rack and pinion drives ready to be mounted and tested.

Steven

[Jkountz]

Sounds good Steven, would love to see your progress. Be sure to let us know when you get your build log going!!

[nguyenst]

My machine is only gonna be about 30" wide and 50" long. I am only using it to cut on 24" x 36". I like the Mechmate gantry design since it is supported better with the Z-axis in the middle. Only problem I have right now is deciding how big to make the gantry. The larger I make it, the less travel I will have on my X-axis. I do need it to be able to hold a decent size router.

Have you figure out the final sizing for your gantry/Y-car and how your Z-axis will mount to it? It's hard designing when you are trying to stick with 8020 extrusions and off the shelf parts.

[Jkountz]

If you take a look at the pictures hopefully you can see how the Z will work. There are two pieces of angle material that hold the v bearings. The z will slide up and down in those bearings. The rack and pinion setup on the back will drive the z unit and hold it in place. ( I hope)
Most all of it will just screw together with machine screws in tapped holes. Im still working on the weight calculations of the y and z car. When I have that I can finalize my design and decide on 80/20 or just 2x4 aluminum rectangle for the main gantry tubes.

Lots of things to do still....

[LeeWay]

Originally Posted by Jkountz Nice looking build Lee, I know what you mean about Ryobi tools too. Some are good and some are really bad. I have a 12v cordless drill that I know has to be at least 10 years old and its still going with the original batteries!! I have other drills that I use more often but that little 12v still get put to good use around here. Got any more samples of the work you machine has produced??

Thanks a bunch. I have made quite a few different things on that router. Mostly production stuff, however I am nearly ready to start playing around some with all three machines I built. Router, mill and lathe.

Here are a few of the products I cut on this router. I originally cut these aluminum tailhooks on this router. Now done on the mill.

http://leestyron.com/thook/thook4.jpg


I cut these lexan parts for this overarm cover.

http://leestyron.com/cover/psi/whale_shark_03.jpg

And this cover as well.

http://leestyron.com/cover/excal/excalolder1.jpg

Then I make multiple sizes and models of these Shark Guards.

http://leestyron.com/crman/crman2.jpg

Here are some throat plates cut on this router.

http://leestyron.com/zctps/ryobi/proto.jpg

I am wanting to start doing some small signage and 3D work as well.
I already have Cut3d from Vectric and have been saving for Vcarve.

[nguyenst]

I started my build log... I hope you guys follow along and give me feedback as I go.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99181

[mlabruyere]

Question about the mechanics of the Gantry.

[Jkountz]

The rack and pinion, just like the real Mechmate. Also see post #8. It talks about this very thing.