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Stock CNC Router

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Jay Lytle, Aug 11, 2017.

  1. Jay Lytle

    Jay Lytle New
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    Jay Lytle published a new build:

    Read more about this build...
     
  2. stargeezer

    stargeezer Journeyman
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    Hi Jay. Sounds like you have a good plan. If you need any help or advice, ask away!

    You'll find a bunch of very helpful folks here, all willing to impart what we know.

    Larry
     
    Mark Carew likes this.
  3. Jay Lytle

    Jay Lytle New
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    Thanks, Larry! It's been quite a learning experience. I had planned on having this completed and running back in March, but it just took way longer than I planned to get the design down, parts purchased, and assembled. Ended up getting way more screws than I needed so I may have some that I can send to others to help out. Haven't sat down and counted up what I used vs what I bought yet.
     
  4. stargeezer

    stargeezer Journeyman
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    It's funny how it works that way. :) And you just never know when you might decide to build a printer (or 3), a lathe, a vertical mill or a robotic arm - those extra screws might be handy. :) I have tons of extra hardware, but I'm retired and enjoy building things. I've got 6 mills (2 commercial) and 6 3d printers around here and quite a few I've given away to kids in the area.

    It's worse than potato chips...... :)
     
  5. Jay Lytle

    Jay Lytle New
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    Cool! Well, I am toying with the idea of building a 1500 mm wide by 3000 mm long CNC router if I can figure out the drive system. Something that I can drop in a full 4x8 sheet of plywood and do large sign or multiple cutouts for yard signs, etc. Not sure if a belt drive would be good enough or if I am going to have to spring for ball screw drive.
     
  6. stargeezer

    stargeezer Journeyman
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    In that size, I'd not even think about belts. Maybe some super big industrial belt that would cost more than a ballscrew, but that's not a good idea in my mind. For 3000mm you'll need a 1 inch screw, in my opinion. I'm using a 1/2" screw on a 1500mm y axis and it's as small as I'd ever go with that. For double the length you'll need much thicker plates, bigger bearings, heavier frame. Making that jump in size requires a lot more engineering and moving away from aluminum to a steel frame. Some have done that size with aluminum and even wood, but I suspect that a honest report would be that steel would be better.
     
  7. islahcnc

    islahcnc New
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    It seems like it would be a good built. What you gonna use for the working area. MDF or Aluminium.
     
  8. Jay Lytle

    Jay Lytle New
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    I'll be putting MDF down. Not sure exactly what I'll do to hold my work pieces yet, but leaning toward double sided carpet tape.
     
  9. Jay Lytle

    Jay Lytle New
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    Hey what about using a rack and pinion or helical rack and pinion to drive the Y axes? 1605 ball screw should do for the X and standard 8mm lead screw should work for the Z, right?

    Thank you in advance for any info!
    Jay
     
  10. stargeezer

    stargeezer Journeyman
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    Rack and pinion should work just fine too. Sorry I didn't mention that too. 1605 should do OK for X and Z - as far as that goes 8mm would work for the Z axis, unless you are hanging a lot of weight on it. I've used 2.2kw water cooled spindles on one up to 3ft long, but at that point there is a definite twisting of the gantry. I'm going to back my gantry with a piece of 3/8 x 3" steel flat to see if that helps. If not, I'm going to pull the gantry apart and add another 20x80 v-slot behind the gantry C-Beam.

    Stretching out to 4'+ will only be worse and why I suggest a steel channel for the gantry.
     
  11. Jay Lytle

    Jay Lytle New
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    My idea for the x axis for strength is to strap 2 C Beams back to back to form an I Beam for the added strength. It will make an 80 mm wide x axis, but it should be really stout.

    Jay
     

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