Building a CNC router

[Zephrant]

Man, I hear you there... I'd like to be able to run the machine late at night when the wife is asleep, but between the router and the dust collector I'm afraid it will be too loud.

My Jet mill is so much quieter than the 2hp router. I would gladly sacrifice some cutting speed for a quieter machine though.

Zeph

[balsaman]

Use a flex shaft? Perhaps you could scrounge some parts off an old gas weedwacker....They have 1/4" flex shafts in them.

Eric

[Zephrant]

How about something like this:
Servo


800 oz-in of torque, 3000 rpm, 1.95 HP all for $50.

Hook that up to your x2 pulley system to get to 6k rpm, and you might be set. Or find a high-speed 1:2 gear box, and not deal with any belts.

Zeph

[HomeCNC]

What they don't tell you is it takes 230VAC to run that motor. Still could be an option.

[HomeCNC]

I think I may have found a motor that will work. Check out

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?...8&category=174

It is 120VDC and 4800 RPM.

The weight will still be high, so I think I will change the servo ratio to maybe 3:1 or 4:1 I will need to do some calculations for the weight. I may need to get a stronger servo motor for the Z axis.

[HomeCNC]

This detail work is taking so long. I managed to get the ball screw in for the Y axis.

Maybe on Easter I can mount the first servo motor to run it!

[HomeCNC]

I got the first servo motor on and running tonight! This is great! Oh I get excited easy. My laptop would only let it run a 91 IPM.

[cncadmin]

Wow, very nice it's coming alone well, I wish my machine was servo driven! Kepp those pics coming.

[WOODKNACK]

You should do a movie clip on your site of the machine moving its 3 axis. I enjoy watching those! Good job!!!

[HomeCNC]

Yes, I have been meaning to add more movie clips to my site. The one I have is getting old.

[HomeCNC]

This animal is getting heavy. I think by the time I'm done it will be over 300 lbs. I decieded to build a steel table to hold this thing I think it will be better because I can keep the electronics, computer and Vacuum pump under the table on a shelf I will put there. Wow I have not welded since High School! About 25 years ago, and it shows

[kong]

This really is shaping up to be a supreme machine! One day I'll be as good as you! One day!

[HomeCNC]

I finished the stand and moved the router off my out feed table from my wood shop onto the stand. I hope I'm not posting to many pictures

[paulried]

Keep the pictures coming....I love it. Your router looks great

[Tompie]

That realy is a nice router...do you sell the planes for it?

[HomeCNC]

When I finish this router and use it, I will evaluate it's performance. If it performs well I will most likely add this set of plans to my existing drill/mill plans.

[HomeCNC]

I have now connected the X and Z axis up. I'm trying Mach 1 for the first time. Using a PIII 500, Mach 1 drove the servo's at 150 IPM! I will be looking hard at purchasing Mach 1.

It was also fun to jog the machine using a Joystick!!

[kong]

That must be oh such a good feeling! Did you sort out your spindle motor yet? I'm just interested in seeing some movies of that thing cutting!

[coherent]

Nice job, looks great. You won't regret buying mach1. I'm a registered owner and am very pleased. Art's support is outstanding, he'll go out of his way to help with any issues you may run into.
-Marc

[HomeCNC]

Kong, I just can't find a DC motor that is strong enough as well as light weight to run my spindle. I decieded to purchase a Porter Cable variable router. It has 5 speeds from 10,000 to 22,000 RPM. Maybe I can use the lower speed to keep the noise down. Anyway at least I will be cutting soon


Oh! I am also going to design some collet holders for the router so I can hold cutter in a holder and be able to use tool length offsets.