Search:

Thanks Peter, I'm probably overthinking it again. I did think to buy 3 lengths of alu extrusion so I could check and scrape them, I imagine a milled level should suffice for the accuracy I need.

-...

Peter, I've been toying with the idea of making plywood/MDF straightedges. I'm thinking of making them 2400 x 500 x 36mm with 5mm aluminium epoxied on the edge, this will make the reference edge. Do...

I hear what you're saying, I had wondered about the density of the epoxy, figured it wouldn't differ much from ply.

Replication is a method I'd like to use, it's just having a good enough straight...

I've seen epoxy levelling done with good results in a few places, why don't you like it?

I'm not sure on accuracy, I'm just aiming for as good as I can get without spending a fortune on specialist...

Thanks Peter, I'll take all that on board.

I think as the main column is such a big unit I'll try the epoxy levelling method, that should get me somewhere close, I can then adjust by...

You may have finally convinced me down the plywood route Peter, I hope I don't find out you own a construction grade plywood company here in the UK ??

I think I may have to make a suitably long...

I am very tempted by ply Peter, I just wonder how I'd flatten the ways for the linear rails on a column that might be 600 x 600 x 2000mm. How did you surface your machine for the rails?

My machine is to cut polystyrene Peter, so I imagine even deep cuts would give less resistance than clay.

I'm so indecisive it's untrue, I just need to pull the trigger on which material I'm to...

Hi folks, long time no speak! Life gets in the way of these personal projects!

I've not really been thinking much about my machine build, I've just had it percolating away in the background.

I...

Yes Peter, you're right with the steel idea. I may as well just weld sheet steel instead of using angle and ply. I assumed the steel would have to be thicker than that, but I can handle 1.5mm.
...

Thanks Peter, I tried simulating with fusion but I don't have it as part of my package.
I'm aware of the issues with steel and I'll be cognisant of it when building. I'm thinking of either using a...

Hi Peter, am I right in thinking this composite design will have at least the stiffness of a plywood box? I like the idea of using steel as it will make mounting rails etc more solid. However, if I...

"Although on simpler parts, imagine a pawn chess piece, it would be nice to just turn it as you would on a lathe"

If I'm turning simple parts a turntable negates the need for multiple setups, I...

Thanks Peter, I'll have a think about it. I'm thinking of adding triangulation instead of the horizontals.

My issue with the big plywood box is figuring out how to flatten the ways for the linear...

Hi Peter, I can't get my head around your calculations, although I believe they're 100% accurate.

In the image attached imagine a sideways force, are you saying that a simple plywood box would...

Hi fellas, after a few weeks off from work with the new baby it's time to get back into it.

I'm still on with working out the final design, but I thought I'd run each part by you clever bunch as I...

Actually Peter, it's 6. There's 2 on the head :D

Now this is exciting, I've just found out that fusion has a built in machine builder. It lets you use a 3D model to build your machine, define the axes and then you're able to post process and...

I've had a look into linuxcnc, it's not for me :D

I feel you need to be a programmer to get the most of of it, and I'm definitely not.

I'll look into to it, thanks Peter.

What I mean is I output to a generic APT PP in fusion, then I use their software to turn that into the code for my machine. Obviously fusion doesn't have a PP for my machine.

They're making 5 axis cam output, they say I can use fusion to create toolpaths and create APT code. Then their software converts that APT to my machine code.

I'm not set on fusion yet, as they...

Yes all that will be taken into account, I'm going to provide a 3D model to the company to use so they know exactly the size of the machine.

Thanks Peter, I'll try and squeeze in some CAD around babies and DIY.

It's amazing how section size trumps material stiffness in such a big way, I guess that's how engineered wood/OSB I-beams...

Routalot, this was how I was thinking when coming up with the idea. I just imagined tipping my large format router on it's end and adding the BC head.

Peter, thank you for the maths. However, I...

I agree it's quite the undertaking, and yes as it's for more artistic purposes I'll have a bigger margin for error.
The way I see it, if I can get each axis flat and the rails parallel then...

A mixture of burrs and cutters, the reason for the 2.2kw spindle is the ER20 collets. Anything smaller and I think I'll struggle to find big enough tooling.

Earlier you mentioned the trucks...

I'm going to use a 2.2kw spindle just to keep the weight down on the Z.

Edit: Would a 100 x 100 x 10mm steel section be stiffer than 200 x 200 x 6mm aluminium?

I don't like the idea of plywood as we have very damp autumn/winters here. I just assume it will move too much?

Would you say a column of these proportions would be sufficient, if I use diagonal...

If I'm honest, working out how to do the setup of the axes in the software is something I'll have to figure out.

What are we thinking about the new version? 500 x 500 mm square footprint to the...