Hello,
I am trying to build my CNC machine with the dimensions 12 ft X 22 ft X 10 ft (z axis).
What’s your recommendation on how to go about doing this with a budget under $2000?
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Hello,
I am trying to build my CNC machine with the dimensions 12 ft X 22 ft X 10 ft (z axis).
What’s your recommendation on how to go about doing this with a budget under $2000?
1: Don't
2: There are good cnc machines and cheap cnc machines. There are no good and cheap cnc machines.
3: What may help if you are very, very technical, both on the software side and the mechanical side.
4: If you are good with linux, linuxcnc can probably tie all the old hardware together that has no value for anyone else and thus is cheap.
But.....
even a good small cnc for 2000.-- will be hard, not to mention the size you mention.
Brain wave:
You do not mention what you are going to do with it nor where you are located.
You may get far if you do not need super precise results with steel i-beams, rollerskate wheels and "bicycle chain and sprockets"
But it is not going to be easy...!
Why the huge Z axis? Really you could multiply your budget by 1000 and still struggle.Much more sensible to build an 8'X4' machine and send out the large jobs since they will probably need to be done on a 5 axis machine.
No where near realistic on that budget.
You could build a 1/10th scale of that for a little less than that.
You'd struggle to cut foam with a $2000 machine that size.
It was the 10 foot tall Z axis that caused my response. :)
That requirement alone means you cannot under build the supporting structure.
$2000 probably isn't enough for motors to move such a huge machine, which would likely way a lot. And the only affordable method of motion would probably be chain drive, which would have a ton of stretch at those lengths.
ok, thanks for the input. I am unsure what the costs would be for something of this size (hence the reasoning behind the question).
If the machine was not designed to cut, mill, or fabricate anything at all, and all it can do is move in the 3-axises at those lengths, please chime in on whether or not it can be fabricated and if so, at what would be the estimated costs? (no hvac, no drill sets)
Some companies have quoted me anywhere from $50K - $500K USD.
What is the purpose of the machine?
[The wide range of prices reflects the vague nature of the question. A real CNC machine of those dimensions made by a professional company that could do a reasonable job cutting aluminum would be at the upper end of the range - I've seen several that cost a lot more.]Quote:
Originally Posted by gjsang
What can be a solution that can move in 3-dimensional space where instead of a lathe at the end of it, placing a sensor of some sort? Precision/accuracy is not a characteristic needed to be achieved, but rather, the gross movements to the inch will be satisfactory. While one can argue that a CNC machine may "over-qualify" for these requirements, one suggested a "faro arm" or a "digitizing arm" alternatively to a CNC machine.
It sounds like what you need is a big robot arm. Even something like an excavator or backhoe arm would work. The size of the hardware would depend on the amount of weight you would need to support at the end of the arm. Maybe something like a jib crane would work for you. Overhead crane maybe?
I still don't think you can do it for $2000. However, the 1 inch positioning accuracy requirement would allow the use of a pretty crude mechanical and control systems.
The robotic arm was the initial solution but extending at a horizonal length of 24 feet out with a weight of 42 lbs at the terminal end of the arm and being suspended in the air about 8 feet off the ground was just not mechanically favorable.
If you cannot provide details of what you are in need of accomplishing, I will not provide ideas.
You can use combination of parts from CNCRP such as linear carriage, UCCNC and I beam. So not using linear bearing or linear block. You can make it really cheap cnc, it could be under $2000.
That leaves a jib crane or gantry system. You might be able to buy materials $5000. If you include cost of engineering and labor to build you will be over $20,000.Quote:
Originally Posted by gjsang
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