Vertical router build

Hi All,

Have started a build on a vertical router. This will progress as I have the time but will be easier now since I finished my X2 mini mill. It will be able to cut some of the brackets I'll need.

The pictures attached show the main frames which are cut out of 3/4 Baltic Birch. I sanded and clear coated them with a Spar sealer.

One of the nice things about this concept is you can make it as long as you have space for. The bed on this one will 64" long which is all the space I have for now and is the proof of concept. If you want longer or shorter just add or subtract frames. This design also has a space to cut decorative columns up to 12" in diameter. The frames are spaced 16" on center.

It is assembled by sliding the frames onto the 2" and 4" tubes which are as long as you want to make the machine. Put on a frame then slide on a spacer made from schedule 40 PVC pipe from Home Depot, then add another frame then the spacer etc. Once it's all on then a piece of 1/2 all thread will tighten it together end to end through each tube. The picture just shows the top spacers hanging on the all thread and the bottom spacers are just on the floor. I pick up the aluminum tube I ordered tomorrow and then I'll post more pictures of how the main bed of the router goes together.

OK.. got the aluminum 2" tubing and 3-1/2" aluminum pipe in. The pipe then gives you a 4" OD. Had to to use a 4" hole saw to get the inside of the PVC pipe round and slightly oversize so it would slide on the pipe. In the end it was still a tight fit but it went together. Will be milling the end plugs for the all thread that holds it together tomorrow. Pic attached.

And I got the bed length wrong in the above post. It's 81 inches with 6 frames

Got the end caps for the 2" tubes made. Will finish the 4" caps tomorrow and put in the all thread and clamp the bed together.

Got some of the all thread clamps in today. I decided to cut the large 4.5" end plugs from 3/4" oak to see how well that does. Should be cheaper than 1/2 aluminum plate.
On one end the plug will 4.8" and flush without a short section of PVC for the pipe to fit into. It takes some fitting of the size of the end piece of PVC so when clamped the aluminum pipe is pushed flush on one side and then protruding on the other into the PVC spacer so the whole thing compresses together.

Got the bed tight with the all thread clamping system. Works very well and the oak end caps work also. That is cheaper and easier to make rather than aluminum. Next will be to mount the bed slats and the top and bottom rails. Waiting on some EZ-LOK thread inserts for the rails.

Looks good. Keep the pics coming.

Got the oak cross slats fitted and counter sunk for the large construction screws I'm going the use fasten them to the frames. Their 1/4" x 3" which should work good.

I made two jigs on my cnc mini mill to get all the holes drilled the same on every frame. The rail mounts will have inserts put in. Pic attached.

Got the oak slats and the rails drilled and bolted on today. The bed is very stiff and the whole has some weight to it which will be nice when it's running. Made one design change. I was going to use inserts on the rail mounts but the construction lag screws worked so well I went with those. I think my design is meeting the goal of being able to be disassembled for when you move or change shops plus it is very rigid and does have some weight now. Also one of the main design elements was no MDF so that it would have more strength and longevity in use.

Hi All,
Only done one thing with the build. I'm waiting on parts and doing Holiday stuff so the build will slow for a little while.

I loosened all the all thread bolts so I could get the track boards straight and then re-tightened everything once straight. Pic attached.

Nice Job! Looking forward to seeing it in action. I'll book mark this one

This build hasn't stopped. Just on pause for a bit. Working on other projects for the moment. Got my cnc mini-mill completed and doing things with it right now. Will be back to this soon.

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Originally Posted by Dan2464

This build hasn't stopped. Just on pause for a bit. Working on other projects for the moment. Got my cnc mini-mill completed and doing things with it right now. Will be back to this soon.

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Any updates?

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Originally Posted by Panovak

Any updates?

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I know this has been on pause for awhile. The reason is I moved to Wyoming. This has been reassembled in the new location but is awaiting me finishing my CNC conversion of a 1914 LeBlond horizontal mill. Details on that will follow in another thread.

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but is awaiting me finishing my CNC conversion of a 1914 LeBlond horizontal mill. Details on that will follow in another thread.

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Examples of of horizontal mill conversions are rare, examples of 1914 horizontal mill conversions rarer still :)
I'm assuming 1914 is year of manufacture, not a model number.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

Back on this build. The rails have been ground and mounted This Y axis wood has been sealed so better pictures coming Here is a pic of the start of getting this mounted on the rails. I have some parts on order.Attachment 452322

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Originally Posted by cyclestart

Examples of of horizontal mill conversions are rare, examples of 1914 horizontal mill conversions rarer still :)
I'm assuming 1914 is year of manufacture, not a model number.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

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Attachment 452324 Attachment 452326Early design pic. You can just make out the horizontal bar of the Leblond Mill the milling head I designed is attached.

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Originally Posted by Dan2464

Got the bed tight with the all thread clamping system. Works very well and the oak end caps work also. That is cheaper and easier to make rather than aluminum. Next will be to mount the bed slats and the top and bottom rails. Waiting on some EZ-LOK thread inserts for the rails.

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Vertical Routers work well, I'm not sure why more are not made

The problem with the all-thread is it will stretch a lot over that length, I have used 4140 and just thread the ends of the rod where it needs the thread to be, even this stretches over long lengths

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyclestart

Examples of of horizontal mill conversions are rare, examples of 1914 horizontal mill conversions rarer still :)
I'm assuming 1914 is year of manufacture, not a model number.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

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Not 1914 but just did a horizonal conversion on a Bridgeport Boss 5 CNC