Originally Posted by
lunchtrayrider
I've started/nearly finished designing (wishful right?) a build. I've already built two small mdf routers but am looking for something a little beefier. Here are a few images. I would love any feedback relating to the interconnection of the 8020 as I have no experience with this. questions or comments very welcome.
The design concepts are as follows:
I wanted an extremely efficient envelope. so I tried to make everything overhang and interlock as best I could. The cuttable area is 22.5 x 34.5 so I should have no problem doing 22 x 34 pieces. The primary use will probably be topography for my architecture models. I also wanted to keep the cost as low as possible but am not willing to skimp (i still want a gecko g540 and ahren's sweet motors but want to keep my cost under $2000 for the initial build.) A lot of my dimensions are just bigger then what ahren and nate offer for sale on their websites, but i live very close (same city) as discount steel so I can get my steel for rails pretty cheap. I wanted to use the rack and pinion drives because a lot of machining will be out of rigid insulation foam. it cuts pretty fast, so it like to speed through it accordingly. Those are my basic goals and concepts. thanks for any feedback.
the first three images are the obvious shots. the fourth shows how I am lining up the y-carriage and the y gantry leg. the 1/4" steel plate is actually designed to be notched here. The upper y-carriage is ahren's long bearing block which is two inches wider the the short bearing block that is on the bottom of the y-carriage. this allows a two inch overhang on the top saving me 4 inches in total width. i also slide the y gantry rail one 'notch' back in the 1545 from the front. i can add gusset plates on the backside to strengthen the corner in this position. I considered moving the y gantry rail all the way to the back of the y-gantry legs to better align the router with the y-gantry leg bearings but then the z-carriage bearing blocks interfere with the y-legs and I lose my width advantage. I would also like to be able to have the router reach past the end of the table to do finger joints in wood that I could clamp out there. stuff in the background is greyed out. thanks again.
-aaron
Two issues I see in the end view drawing that I think should be pointed out for consideration:
1 - The rails are below the table top and dust/debris will quickly pile up on them if nothing is done to prevent it.
2- The carriages seem to have no means to keep them from spreading apart other than the gantry vertical supports being fairly stiff. My question is whether the extrusions can be counted on to prevent binding and misalignment. The pinions running in the racks may or may not help keep the carriages running on track. The bearings that run on the edges of the rails may develop gaps and not touch the rails.
CarveOne
CarveOne
http://www.carveonecncwoodcraft.com