[CRFultz]

Hello all,
I am finally at a point that I can say " It's done".
It's been a year since I started this and without the help of some of ya, It would have never been completed.
All three axis are operating smooth, and everything seems to be working great.
I bought the SheetCam and Mach 2 package and some bits this morning.
My starting budget was a grand and i ended up just shy of 1400.00
I've been playing with the software and I have alot to learn, I thought the building would be the tuff part....simple compared to the software learning.
I'm starting out by writing the code from scratch and watching what happens. I figured it's the best way to learn the cam stuff if you know what the code means to begin with.
I uploaded some pics for ya to take a gander at but they are kinda big.
There are some pics of my er stubby chuck there as well. A sweet piece of tooling.
Now I'll be hanging out in the Mach2 forum asking a bunch of simple questions.
here are the big pics:
http://members18.clubphoto.com/cr677...ner-48ff.phtml
Small pics


Thanks again everyone!
Chuck

[ger21]

Looks good. Do you have a source (preferably internet) for that "stubby chuck"? Looks like just the thing for running small bits <1/4" in a router.

[CRFultz]

The company that makes it is "Craftsman Industries". (not sears)
I ordered mine from MSC but there price has jumped since then.
The stubby holder was 42.00 and the collets were 23.00 each.
I bought the 1/8th and the 1/4 inch collets.
I cut the holder in half on a chop saw. The LH set screw inside is nice to adjust tool height.
The holder:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMAKA=03939220
Here are the collets:

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=1559

[santiniuk]

Really nice machine. Well done !

I would really like to build something as professional as this.

Would like to see some pics of things you cut with this. (This is one area that seems to get missed on the forum. The machine gets completed and the thread dries up.)

Would like to know how you find Mach2 also, as I'm just learning it too.

Cheers

[CRFultz]

I agree, but everyone knows that the fun is in the building.
I will be breaking bits soon. Still reading about the code...applying the single line code at the mdi screen helps. There is alot to learn with Mach 2.
I wish there was a Mach 2 router profile that only showed the stuff that is needed. There is so much info on each screen it's easy to get confused. Or maybe thats just me....

[JavaDog]

Very Nice! The PC enclosure is great too!

Hey, you're running a DeWalt too. Is that a DW618? If it is, same model I am getting. :cheers:

Forgive the ignorance, but why would one buy the Stubby chuck? What is the advantage?

I wish there was a Mach 2 router profile that only showed the stuff that is needed. There is so much info on each screen it's easy to get confused. Or maybe thats just me....

Click the 'Simplfy Screen' button.

[ger21]

Forgive the ignorance, but why would one buy the Stubby chuck? What is the advantage?

You can't easily use very small tools in a router with a 1/4" collet. The ER-11 stubby chuck will let uase use tools with even 1/16" shanks. It's not cheap, though.

[CRFultz]

Yes, it is a 618. It comes with ER style chucks....1/2 and 1/4..
The stubby chuck allows me to use the smaller bits (small as 1/32 shank) with very little TIR. The less runout the longer the bit life. Plus the tool height will always be set the same if you have to change a bit.
Here is a pic of a 1/8 shank ball engraving bit. A regular cheap Dremal bit.

[2muchstuff]

I noticed in your pictures that you mounted your Y-rails one horizontal and one vertical. Is there an advantage to having it this way versus having the rails vertical? Or is it more of a personal preferance.

[CRFultz]

I think maybe i mounted them that way because it seem it would reduce the side loading on the thk bearings.
I knew my z assy. was going to be heavy so I figured it would even things out if one was loaded 90 degrees opposite the other.
This could be way off base....I know nothing about load stress or things along those lines. Most of this build came from seeing other ones here on the Zone, and plus it seem right at the time.
I know if I was going to do it all over they would be mounted the same.
There was alot of hours spent on the Z and how it mounts. Of course if I was to do it all over I would start from the router bit and design the whole machine around that. I started from the outside and worked my way in...things got real tight real quick. Lessons learned.
----
On a side note; I just made my first cut...I drew a bunch of lines in ACad and zigzag around in a area of about 5 inches, final measurement of the cut out is dead on. I am very pleased with the results of this build.
Time to start thinking about making that little Mercury lathe turn wood on it's own. I have a plan.........

[JavaDog]

Yes, it is a 618. It comes with ER style chucks....1/2 and 1/4..
The stubby chuck allows me to use the smaller bits (small as 1/32 shank) with very little TIR. The less runout the longer the bit life. Plus the tool height will always be set the same if you have to change a bit.
Here is a pic of a 1/8 shank ball engraving bit. A regular cheap Dremal bit.

Very cool. I will have to remember that when I get my machine up and running. I have some projects that will require the use of smaller bits like that.

Glad to see more people using the DeWalt - I've been hearing nothing but great things about it. :cheers:

[CRFultz]

Would like to see some pics of things you cut with this. (This is one area that seems to get missed on the forum. The machine gets completed and the thread dries up.)

-
Well Here is my first piece, not much to it but since today is my 16th wedding anniversary, I figured I would make her something with the machine. She stood by patiently for the last year and watched without saying a word while I took up the whole patio, so I guess she deserves the first piece. She normally goes gaga over stuff I make her so this ought to get me some,,,,,,,,,,,,, brownie points.
I drew it up in ACad and the word "years" was centered, but for some reason it didn't come out that way.
I'm still reading about offsets so I air cut and then placed my piece of walnut where I thought it should be.
I cut the outside with the scroll saw, I don't have any bits yet that were long enough to cut all the way through it.
More to come....
Chuck

[chuckknigh]

That's very sweet, and very thoughtful. Congratulations on both fronts...getting your machine working, and reaching your 16 year anniversary! Both are impressive accomplishments. All my best to you and your wife.

-- Chuck Knight

[santiniuk]

Way to go Chuck, very thoughtful, and a great piece to start with.

Keep the pictures coming.

Cheers

[mb198007]

Good looking machine. What are the working dimensions of your axis? What did you use for linear bearings? How high and wide is your gantry? I am looking at building a machine using round linear bearings with a gantry.

[Halfnutz]

Looks great. Im getting ready to start one like it as soon as my slides and 80/20 get here. I got everything off ebay and so far have spent about 400.00 on the framing and guides. Not too bad for a 3'X2'. Whats your deck made from? It looks like the Techno table plate, or maybe 80/20 stuff?

[CRFultz]

Good looking machine. What are the working dimensions of your axis? What did you use for linear bearings? How high and wide is your gantry? I am looking at building a machine using round linear bearings with a gantry.

The x is 22" and the y is 21".
The bearings on all 3 axis are thk sr20.
The gantry height from the table top is 18 1/2" and the width is 32 1/2 OD.
I have a bunch of thompson bearings, open and close, some 1/2; 3/4 and some 1" that I'm getting ready to sell. Actually I have a couple of boxes of stuff left over that I don't need. It's time for spring cleaning

[CRFultz]

Looks great. Im getting ready to start one like it as soon as my slides and 80/20 get here. I got everything off ebay and so far have spent about 400.00 on the framing and guides. Not too bad for a 3'X2'. Whats your deck made from? It looks like the Techno table plate, or maybe 80/20 stuff?

The top is 1/2" MDF. Two pieces lamenated with INCRA T-tracks. The outside and underneath is framed with 1020 series extrusion. If you are using 10 series extrusion let me know if ya need anything...I have way to much laying around....At work I order the stuff stock length (20') 1010; 1020; 2020. I build enclosures around whole machines with it. There always pieces coming in with cosmetic damage (scrape) from shipping. My boss says get rid of it. Our supplier just send's me replacements on the next shipment.
It seems most everyone uses 15 series which is better but I can't beat the price of free. I think I'm going to build a enclosure around mine to keep the chips at bay. Lexan MR10 and 8020 is a nice combo.
Good Luck on your machine and keep us posted with the progress.
Chuck

[Crushmonkey]

Fultz:

Great machine! I've been charged with building one similar to it on a larger scale. I was wondering if we could see a picture of the set-screw location on your stubby holder, and I also wanted to ask if your machine is compatible with third-party software like Flexi or other such Gcode-standard programs?

[ger21]

I was wondering if we could see a picture of the set-screw location on your stubby holder, and I also wanted to ask if your machine is compatible with third-party software like Flexi or other such Gcode-standard programs?

There is no set screw in the stubby chuck. It is basically just a collet with a 1/2" shank, that's held in the routers' collet.

His machine is controlled by Mach2, which runs standard g-code. http://www.artofcnc.ca You can download a free version that will run up to 1000 lines of gcode.