One Big, One Smaller ... My 1st builds - TrickyCNC

[CarveOne]

haha, that was one of my ideas before I started reading and building !

I cringe when I read my first posts on here !

Rich

As do most of us. You can't do this work without grossly underestimating what it takes to build a machine that you will never need rebuild for one reason or another. (that applies to me anyway)

CarveOne

[TrickyCNC]

(that applies to me anyway)

CarveOne

You, Me, and I guess a lot more too !

so, not go much done today. I have designed my bearing block and motor mount (in my head) using what I have lying around.

the skate bearings OD just happens to be 22mm, which I have that size in a spade bit. 22mm counter bore in two bits of MDF, with 16mm through bore for the nut and screw clearance, and I have two halves of a fully encapsulated bearing block ... simples

I'll make the real one from birch ply. One half I will mount to my Z plate, the other half to my motor mount. They will be bolted together, so they can be split any time, to get at the bearing if I need to.

That's the general idea anyhow







I'll try and get that together over the weekend. Then it's just a router mount I guess, and then some cutting

[CarveOne]

The bearing pockets need to be snug enough to the bearings that the outer part of the bearing doesn't spin in the pocket. If that happens, wrap a strip of 320 -400 grit sandpaper around the bearing circumference so it is a snug enough fit that it doesn't rotate. Put the grit side against the bearing. The paper side may still slip if it is against the bearing.

CarveOne

[TrickyCNC]

Thanks C1.

I was planning on making the counter bore slightly shallow, so the bearing is 'pinched' between the two halves. I think that should work.

[CarveOne]

Thanks C1.

I was planning on making the counter bore slightly shallow, so the bearing is 'pinched' between the two halves. I think that should work.

That will work fine. I have used that method in the first machine I built, but with red oak instead of MDF. As long as something grips the outer ring of the bearing. With aluminum, I just make two threaded holes for screws and the heads tighten down against the ring.

CarveOne

[HorridHenry]

Just ordered steppers , drivers, BOB, PSU, Belt, and a couple of pulleys.

No going back now !

Thank goodness for that,for a minute there I thought you was going to use mice or hamsters for the axises.

[TrickyCNC]

Z attatched.

I made the coupling out of wood, so I'm not sure it will grip. but it's progress for now

[TrickyCNC]

router mount made ....


just got to wire up the Z, and I can test it

Maybe today is the day ?

[cliffy]

Tricky, that looks exhalent, I think you’ll be happy with the moving rail design.


Cliffy.

[TrickyCNC]

Thanks Cliffy

[louieatienza]

Looks good Rich! Should be soon!

[TrickyCNC]

Got the router mounted. (I know I should have waited until tomorrow for the glue to set .... )

Got the Z wired up, only to find it moving in the opposite direction. ???
Swapped a and b coils, and all is good now..



sorry - held my phone the wrong way up without thinking for these






Not done any tuning on the Z yet, but it carves




It carved deeper one end than the other, but I only had it clamped at the edge - off the bed, and I did notice it was lifted towards the other end.

I'll investigate tomorrow, (It's night time here now )

but

[HorridHenry]

It carved deeper one end than the other

That'll be the base(bed) uneven,which is a critcal and important aspect of a CNC.

[TrickyCNC]

That'll be the base(bed) uneven,which is a critcal and important aspect of a CNC.

It's not the bed. the carving was at least a 16th difference over about 7".

It's a flat torsion box bed. the rails are mounted on the bed, so it can't be that.

[HorridHenry]

It's a flat torsion box bed. the rails are mounted on the bed, so it can't be that.

Can you honestly say that a sheet of MDF is the same thickness throughout its length and width?

Attach a DTI on the bottom of your Y axis and watch it fluctuate.

[TrickyCNC]

Can you honestly say that a sheet of MDF is the same thickness throughout its length and width?

Attach a DTI on the bottom of your Y axis and watch it fluctuate.

yes ... I make stuff out of MDF for a living .. it's no where near that far out

[PaulRowntree]

Hey, TrickyCNC! Congratulations on motion + cutting. Well done.

[TrickyCNC]

Hey, TrickyCNC! Congratulations on motion + cutting. Well done.

Thanks Paul. It's been a while coming, but it feels good now it's here

[louieatienza]

Wow congrats on the milestone! The z looks really smooth. Once you get your machined tweaked you'll be alright, great job again...

[TrickyCNC]

Thanks Louie.

Now I need to think about software.
As I want to make money with it, I don't want to be trying each and every free linux option if at the end of the day I end up buying V-Carve or similar.

If there are free options , inkscape , for example, that are up to the job, then fine.

The 1st thing I want to do is get the sharp pointy tails on the carved letters. The EMC demo code, in the pic above, , just plunges in and follows the path, giving a blunt / round entry and exit to the letter.

I have a job out this week, which I normally carve by hand. It would be cool if I could do it on this machine