Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
I couldn't tell you why. Maybe I just like to do things the hard way, maybe I like the looks of things built with composites.
Maybe, we'll see, if I'm just another dreamer.
Standard Chinese Stuff:
US SBR20 Linear Rail Set+3 Ball screw RM1605-350/650<wbr>/1050+BK/BF12+<wbr>Coupler CNC EBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/391930155935
US SBR20 Linear Rail Set+3 Ball screw RM1605-350/650<wbr>/1050+BK/BF12+<wbr>Coupler CNC EBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/132846144299
CNC Spindle Motor Kits, 2.2KW Water Cooled Spindle Motor 2.2KW Inverter + 80MM Clamp Mount +13PCS ER20 Collet + 5M Water Pipe + Water Pump for CNC Router
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
UC300ETH-UB1 comes as a complete ready to use set , consisting of the UC300ETH and the UB1 board.
https://www.cncroom.com/interface-ca...n822i1du9cj117
Tecnik 3437 Servo Motors Discontinued from a previous project. More on that in a future story.
Instrument-grade motor, 400 oz-in, 4000 count/rev encoder and step and direction drivers.
That pretty much sums up the main stuff.
Still need to get wires to make harnesses, a power supply for the axis motors, and wire chains.
The composite materials will be outlined in future post.
This is my second CNC project. The first was a knee mill conversion, with many mistakes, and some really cool results. I had intended to make something a lot more ambitious, but my better angels prevailed. The next post will be the Fusion 360 designs images. I hope you guys have fun following along and I am looking forward to your incites, observations, and advice.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
Someplace on the net there is an example of a router / Bridge mill made out of composites. If nothing else it would offer some inspiration, unfortunately I don't have a link.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
Quote:
US SBR20 Linear Rail Set+3 Ball screw RM1605-350/650/1050+BK/BF12+Coupler CNC EBay
1610 ballscrews are a much better choice, as are profile linear rails over round supported shafts.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ger21
1610 ballscrews are a much better choice, as are profile linear rails over round supported shafts.
Thanks Gerry,
I couldn't agree more. But this little machine is going to be used primarily for making wood signs. I am going to try cutting some aluminum as a test of accuracy under heavier loads.
The immediate need is to make signs, The 600 X 400 Chinese Routers would solve it, capacity wise.
I started to research them and found out they have lots of problems. So I stated looking for kits and components to keep my cost within this range. Worst case I will try adding distance to the blocks to minimize movement. As far as travel speed is concerned, The affordable kits I found all have 5 mm pitch. These motors are capable of 3000 plus rpm at 60 volts so that is 590 ipm. Not fast by industrial router standards, but the travel for this application is short.
If this machine starts to make money then improvements will be much easier to justify.
Please continue to give me opinions and advice. This is the first of several machines I have in mind.
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Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
Looking forward to seeing more about this project.Will the composite be epoxy/concrete or will there be something like carbon involved? I noticed you mention an immediate need to make signs and I hope it isn't too pressing a need as just the cure time for the composite will be a few days and they you have the attachment of the rails,ballscrews and steppers not to mention populating a control box and calibrating the control software.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
The Table will be a wood product composite, that I will do a report on during the construction phase. The Gantry will evolve into a molded, cored, Fiber Reinforced Epoxy, which will be fiber glass or carbon depending on test of actual machine. The first one will be used to make the subsequent ones and will probably not have all of the same style as the model.
Thanks for asking, the need for the engraving is part of a new product launch that will be in February.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
The basic shape is much like my router I made years ago.
I think its a nice clean looking setup but I found that having the Y screw under the table locates it further away from the point of cutting. The greater the distance the more flex you will have.
Having two screw located right above the rails is a better setup.
I know it cost more.
Most people don't like the round rails, I have not used them but you can get the China rails fairly cheep thees days.
I really like the look of the mill so far. Better than most.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
I agree with you guys 100% about this not being strong enough. The system is way out of balance. The problem is the budget. The saving grace is that this is a very small machine.
I just will have to find out how hard it can be driven. I have some machine tools so I may make a step up belt drive to add to it. In the mean while, the frame will need to be tested, and I can make some engravings, and woodwork.
The math says that the maximum force will be about 50 kg. of force at the table or about 70 kg.. at 100 millimeters from the lower rod. 70 kg, even 50. is a pretty substantial woodworking force.
Either way, can't turn back now.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
This keeps getting better. I opened the package and what do you think I found? LOL
Flex couplers equivalent to something you might find in a printer.
The ones I just order are rated for 12.5 nm. About 4 times what I need. One weak spot down.
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Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
Gosh, I am just confused a little when it comes to building these small footprint machines out of anything but real metal. What exactly is the advantage ? Light weight ? Portability ? One could make a CNC out of horse hair reinforced paper mache too, but WHY?
Using Cast aluminum plate for example, the overall dimension would be smaller for any given work area and the final rigidity would be far more predictable / controllable by comparison. If we've seen one, we've seen a hundred stories of people building a second, third, fourth, etc. machine because the earlier attempts never really were rigid enough. Why not just build as substantial as possible ?
I've included a build picture of a 12" x 15" work area machine I made some years ago from cast aluminum tooling plate and thk supported rails throughout. The plate is very inexpensive because you can purchase it as cut-offs or drops in such small sizes. It's plenty easy to cut part profiles from it even with carbide wood working tools, and much of a machines accuracy can simply be calculated... dictated even by the "stack-up" of the already reliable uniformity of the specs for Alcoa5 or Mic6.
At least when your done, you have a machine that > really can < cut a variety of things because it is very rigid and contains at least some level of built in mass not found in plastics, wood or whatever. I don't really bring this up just to be negative... I just see so many machines that are built so "light duty" that I have no idea what people really end up cutting with them..... marshmallow V-Carving ? Maybe that a thing ?
To me it seems it takes about the same amount of design, build and assembly effort either way whether you use something strong and with mass of light and flimsy. Why not make the end result a bit more of an actual guaranty ? Even at the OP's size of roughly 40" x 24", the cost of a 1/2" aluminum tooling plate would be worth every nickle, and serve as an adequate backbone for a formidable machine.
Re: Small Composite Router Build 1000 X 600 X 300
How close can the spindle get to the table ?