New Machine Build- Gantry Mill

[lcarrudajr]

After building a small cnc lathe and retrofitting a small round column milling machine (like bf-30) I decided to build something bigger.

As always I took advantage of a good friend of mine to help projecting and building these stuff, Flavio. But this time I have to ask for help to Max, too.

Considering the big machinery that I have access to (max's machines) we decided to build a gantry mill, with its base measuring 2500mmx1000mmx500mm.

After a rough project, we started the building of the base.

I will continue to post as the building advances.

By the way the linear guides on the base will have 65mm (2 1/2 inches).

[Khalid]

Very Nice build.. Is it made to cut STEEL?..

[lcarrudajr]

Yes. The bent profile is made of 1/2 inch steel and the covers and internal support of 3/8 steel, and the table is made of 1 1/2 normalized steel plate.

[Khalid]

Originally Posted by lcarrudajr The bent profile is made of 1/2 inch steel and the covers and internal support of 3/8 steel, and the table is made of 1 1/2 normalized steel plate.

Thanks for answering... I am also working on a Big Router 10 feet x 12feet working area.. That will be able to Mill and Drill in 10" Carbon steel plates..

Can you kindly answer my following Questions:

1- What Spindle You will use? What is the Power rating (KW) and will you use VFD with it?
2- Are you using Stepper Motors or Servo Motors.. Can you share with us what is the specifications of these motors?
3- What material you will cut with this CNC ?

Best Regards

[lcarrudajr]

Great work and great site Khalid.

1) I didn't gave much thought to the spindle yet, but I will have automatic tool change, a 2.2 to 3.7 kw motor controlled with a inverter.

2)I will be using two stepper motors for moving the gantry (X), one for (Y) and two for Z.
The stepper motors are 12nm or 120 kgf each. Maybe for (Y) i will be using a 20 nm or 200kgf stepper motor.
I will be using g203v gecko driver. I'm pretty happy with the 120kgf stepper and g203v setup. It's very strong, fast and affordable.

3) Sorry, forgot to say "yes" to the last question. I will be cutting steel. But as this machine is built without commercial aspirations (home based machine), I might be cutting wood too (very sloooow cutting).

[Deviant]

Holy Crap...

That thing is going to be massive....

G'job and keep the pictures coming.

[Jesse B]

Originally Posted by Deviant Holy Crap... That thing is going to be massive.... G'job and keep the pictures coming.

I know! I looked at the CAD rendering, and assumed it'd be a bench-top machine. Those pictures showed me otherwise

[lcarrudajr]

I had the base painted to prevent rusting, and moved it to my home.
I have chosen the moving gantry design to make it easier to fit it in my small home shop.

[lcarrudajr]

I had to wait a little, I had to save money to buy the linear rail.
If you pay attention to the photo you will see a 6¨ caliper.
The rails are 65mm (2.55¨) by 2500mm (97").
I will have I lot of work for the weekend.

[Andre' B]

If it is not too worn out I think I would be looking at CNCing that little planer mill you are using as a welding assembly table.

[lcarrudajr]

Originally Posted by Andre' B If it is not too worn out I think I would be looking at CNCing that little planer mill you are using as a welding assembly table.

That machine belongs to a friend. At first I thought buying that machine to retrofit it, but it is very expensive here in brazil, so I started building one from scratch.

I learned that is easier to build a machine from scratch than retrofit an old machine.

The planer was used as welding table because I needed a flat surface to join two 1/2 inch "sheets".

[lcarrudajr]

Some more photos.
Linear rails are aligned.