Another First Router

[ynneb]

That is an amazing effort Gerry.
It looks like you are taking no shortcuts.
It looks more like a wing structure than a cnc router. Will it be dual purpose?
I've seen a flying lawn mower b4, but never a flying router.

[pyrojon]

So it looks like your x-axis screws will be situated below and to the side of your x-axis tubes?

Will the Y-axis have any connection to the rest of the machine besides these screws? Is there any concern for the Y-Axis "tipping" since it's essentially just riding on top of the X-Axis tubes?

I'm concidering a similar design and I am just trolling for some pointers.


Thanks
Jon

[ger21]

The Gantry will attach to the rails the same way as the Z-axis. 1/4" 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" aluminum angle, with rollerblade bearings. The gantry beam shown in the pictures will be between the uprights, and threaded rods will run under the table pulling the bearings tightly against the tubing. The bearings will be about 12" apart, at 45° angles. It won't be able to tip at all. The threaded rod underneath was the reason for the stiff torsion box table. The entire table is suspended between the 2 end panels, and spans 59". And it appears it will have no flex at all.

The leadscrews will be under the tubing, actually more under the edges of the table. The sides of the gantry extend below the tubing and will have blocks that go under the table a few inches to mount the nuts to. The threaded rod will go through those blocks as well.

[ger21]

That is an amazing effort Gerry.
It looks like you are taking no shortcuts.

There are plenty of shortcuts due to time and budget constraints. Like most of the people here, I already have plans for a bigger, faster machine. Still made out of wood. But much lighter, and even stronger. And of course, much more expensive. Already have some THK an IKO rails for it.

[Chunky]

I love the looks of that thang! I just love torsion boxes. I even came up with a way of building them. Don't know if anyone else does it that way (not sure they should ). I like the choice of routers too. I recently chnged my mind from laminate trimmer to the 690. I have a 7518 in my router table but it's just too heavy. I think the suggestion for using the deadspace for suction was a great idea. You could even have little blast gates for zoning it off. Great idea about leaving the Forstner holes unfinished. Not only does away with prying the disc out but eliminates the tear-out too. Just a lot of good thinking here. Love it. Oh yeah, are you using dual motors for torque or symmetry?

[ger21]

The 690 is out, I have a brand new variable speed 892 sitting in its case. Dual motors are for more speed (torque).

[Chunky]

ger21]The 690 is out, I have a brand new variable speed 892 sitting in its case. Dual motors are for more speed (torque).

Yeah, like I say... you probably won't like that little 690

[ger21]

I do have a 7518, just in case.

[mikeschn]

Gerry,

Are you planning on fastening your conduit to your torsion box with JB Weld or socket head cap screws, or are the two end plates your only fastening points?

What's going to keep the conduit from wiggling around in the torsion box? Let me guess, it's all press fit?

Mike...

[ger21]

Just the end plates. It's a tight fit to get them through the end plates, and there is no bowing at all. Also, there will be threaded rod under the table pulling the gantry sides together, and holding it very tight. Also, the bearings on the gantry sides will be about 12" apart, so it will be pushing tightly over a large area.

[ger21]

Also, I think one end of one tube will be adjustable, in case I need to get any twist out of the table. Although it seems perfectly flat right now.

[ger21]

I should also mention that the tubes are not press fit into the sides of the table. They fit perfectly, but not tightly.

[Jason Marsha]

ger21,
I used threaded rod to pull my machine sides together and now the it is almost impossible for the gantry to push the y axis rods outwards.
Thanks for the tip.
Hope to see your machine completed and cutting soon.

Jason

[ger21]

Hope to see your machine completed and cutting soon.

You're not the only one.

[kenWinters]

Ger 21
If you don't mine what bearing did you use? I'm using what I have on hand but they are too small. I have 2" SS 16 gage with 2 x 2 x 1/4 angle that I'm trying to use.
I started Jero's design but found out I don't like mdf plus I have most of the wood on hand to make one like yours. Thanks I like yours alot

[ger21]

Just regular rollerblade bearings.

[ger21]

I started Jero's design but found out I don't like mdf plus I have most of the wood on hand to make one like yours.

I had mine mostly assembled last week and discovered some flaws with the Z-axis. The 4 threaded rods do not keep it from moving from side to side and front to back. I'll be adding side panels, and front and back panels to keep everything square. Basically boxing in the whole thing.

[Lionclaw]

Gerry, do you have any more pictures available? Your work looks top notch. I'm just hoping I can come up with something half as good.

[ger21]

Here's the template I used to route the gantry sides, a partially finished side, and a pic Mike took the other day when I had it partially assembled. I should be able to start finishing it up in 2-3 months. Maybe

[Bloy2004]

Here is the main table framing. All the baltic birch parts I cut 2 years ago were still perfectly straight (they were wrapped with stretch wrap). I drilled a ton of holes to lighten up the framing. After a few I figured out that it was faster to leave about 1/16" from going all the way through, so I wouldn't have to keep cleaning the circles from the forstner bit. After sliding everything together, I layed it on my table saw and it was perfectly flat. This was important as the table holds the rails that the gantry rides along. Each side was then skinned with 1/2" mdf, stapled and polyurethane glued. (for more working time). Once the glue dried, I set the table on two sawhorses, and checked for flatness with a 4 ft level. Perfectly flat in every direction. And I have to put well over 100lbs of pressure on it to see any deflection.Table size is 59" x 32". Y axis travle will be the full 32", but that will be right up to the gantry uprights. X axis travel will be around 48".

Gerry,... That is one super table!! If I didn't have the steel to use, I would have copied YOUR table!