2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Building my 2nd CNC first, I hope. I have been researching for over a year, read a thousand threads and articles, and am hopefully building my 'second machine' for my first. There is still a ton to learn and that process will probably never stop. Of this I am certain, I will be in new territory for a while. For over 40 years I have been building things, doing hydraulics, pneumatics, and electronics builds and troubleshooting along with a lot of woodworking but have never used or built a CNC machine. This is going to be fun!!
The machine is a new model by Nate at Fine Line Automation. It's a 'pro' series he calls Saturn and it is very heavy. Shipping weight was 525 lbs. for this 2'x4' model. Take away the OxBox and pallet and it's probably still 475 lbs. The frame is welded and stress relieved steel, powder coated Pantone 305. It has THK style linear bearings, rack and pinion drive, and the components are anodized black 6061 aluminum. I have a 3 Kw water cooled spindle and NEMA 34 stepper motors ready to mount. I'll be using the Hitachi WJ200-022SF VFD to drive the spindle. The actual cutting area is 28”x52” with 10” Z travel.
The first order of business, now that it's here, was clearing out enough space in our shop for two CNC machines (our shop is the attached two-car garage). It has to set in one place while I build the stand where it will actually reside, so space for two in an already crowded shop. I'll be building a frame with 2x4's and maybe a couple of 2x6's. Then I need about 5 large friends to help me carry the CNC over to the stand.
Picked up from FedEx and barely fit on a friend's trailer -
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5ucd9two.jpg
OxBox container removed and setting on the pallet until I get the stand built -
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...pszohdbswr.jpg
A few close-ups –
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psevhppcjg.jpg
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psdb6cy5uq.jpg
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...ps197oalg4.jpg
Next step will be a trip to Lowe's for 2x4's and then make some sawdust.
Hope you enjoy the ride with me!
David
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
What's the purpose of the 10" Z travel with what looks to be 2-3" of gantry clearance??
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ger21
What's the purpose of the 10" Z travel with what looks to be 2-3" of gantry clearance??
Gantry clearance is 7"
Nate
Fine Line Automation
Home - Fine Line Automation
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ger21
What's the purpose of the 10" Z travel with what looks to be 2-3" of gantry clearance??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FineLineAuto
Here's a better shot of that, Gerry -
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psecf4g7ow.jpg
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Looking great so far!
Nate
Fine Line Automation
Home - Fine Line Automation
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Finished the stand today. I know I'm thorough but this took me about 20 hours to build and I have no idea if that's slow or fast or about average. It's actually fast for me and I managed to do it in two sessions - 8 hours yesterday and 12 today.
All the pieces that will contact the CNC frame are jointed to ensure they're flat and straight and each hole was drilled with 1/8" for threads, 3/16" for the barrel, countersunk for the head, and securely tightened, so about 4 operations for each of the hundred or so fasteners. Each joint is square and tight and then the entire stand was sanded. I may come back later and put some Shellac on it but not today.
A friend is coming over tomorrow and bringing his engine hoist so we can lift the frame onto the stand. More later!!
David
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3uz0cepf.jpg
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psk8szigjj.jpg
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
David,
looks great so far. Let me know how the engine hoist goes.
Nate
Fine Line Automation
Home - Fine Line Automation
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FineLineAuto
The engine hoist actually worked very well - better than I expected! I thought about building a gantry crane with a chain hoist but this was probably better.
- - - Updated - - -
We managed to get the CNC frame lifted over the table saw extension and on to the stand. The stand worked perfectly, so that's a good feeling. Nothing creaked or moved and it is dead level with the additional nearly 500 lbs. of weight just as it was without the frame weighing it down.
My friend Adam, also a good woodworker, brought his engine hoist over and we managed to maneuver the CNC over the obstacles and set onto the stand and only had to move my air compressor to make room. That's not a bad feat given how tight this was.
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...pspf9zid3r.jpg
CNC frame on the stand -
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3giuyj9i.jpg
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Here's a good shot of the CNC in our shop. There's some clutter from moving things around to make room for this but I'll get that organized and cleaned up soon. You can see the spindle, steppers, and other components on the bench so hopefully I'll get a chance to start mounting those over the next few days.
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psqncdd8f0.jpg
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Added some locator blocks to keep the frame on the stand. I figure gravity will do its part to hold the machine down onto the stand but inertia and momentum may persuade the unit to slide on the stand. Hopefully this will suffice. There are 4 of these blocks in opposing directions, two on each end.
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...ps34cszwtl.jpg
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psiwkscoiu.jpg
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
The machine has a nice welded frame should be pretty good platform. Keep the posts coming.
Russ
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Busy day but managed to get three of the motors mounted and belts tensioned. I'm waiting on a spacer and a coupler to mount the fourth motor, also waiting on the spindle mount, all from Nate. He just found out about the spacer today but the other things should be here any day.
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psotoj5nur.jpg
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...pspcjokqj6.jpg
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/...psgggkfodd.jpg
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
David this is looking great! Can't wait to see it cutting!
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
louieatienza
David this is looking great! Can't wait to see it cutting!
Thanks, Louie! I'm really looking forward to it, as well.
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Quick question - I see VFD's mounted inside panels/enclosures and others mounted away from the machine on a wall or column; which is better? Do they need to be on a wall or column away from the machine for heat and vibration reasons, quick access to the control panel, etc., or is it just personal preference?
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
difalkner
Quick question - I see VFD's mounted inside panels/enclosures and others mounted away from the machine on a wall or column; which is better? Do they need to be on a wall or column away from the machine for heat and vibration reasons, quick access to the control panel, etc., or is it just personal preference?
It's largely personal preference. I know of some folks that go as far as mounting the VFD directly above the spindle on the gantry to eliminate the spindle cable. Vibration shouldn't be an issue, though the electrical noise can play a role if the spindle body and cable shield are not tied to earth ground. I believe your using the Ethernet Smoothstepper so noise shouldn't be as big of deal.
Does that help?
Nate
Fine Line Automation
Home - Fine Line Automation
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FineLineAuto
It's largely personal preference. I know of some folks that go as far as mounting the VFD directly above the spindle on the gantry to eliminate the spindle cable. Vibration shouldn't be an issue, though the electrical noise can play a role if the spindle body and cable shield are not tied to earth ground. I believe you're using the Ethernet Smoothstepper so noise shouldn't be as big of deal.
Does that help?
Nate
Fine Line Automation
Home - Fine Line Automation
Yes, thanks Nate! I've read that if you keep the cable short then it isn't necessary to use shielded cable for the spindle - is that the case? I assume 'short' to be under 10' but that's an assumption only...
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
I would always shield the spindle cable. This is mainly because noise issues are very difficult to debug. I've had customers have issues with 6' runs of unshielded cable causing a USB motion control driver to lose connection because of the noise. A non-shielded cable on a short run will probably work but the shielded cable is cheap enough.
Where were you thinking of putting the VFD?
Nate
Fine Line Automation
Home - Fine Line Automation
Re: 2nd Build (first) - Saturn CNC 2'x4'
My opinion is that everything should be in the cabinet, and the cabinet should be well sealed with well filtered intake air coming in. If you mount the VFD outside of the cabinet, it will fill with dust eventually.
You'll never see a VFD mounted outside of the cabinet on an industrial router.
I would always use shielded cable for the spindle, limit and home switches.
