CarveOne's Solsylva 25x37 Router Build
Hello fellow builders and lurkers. I've been knocking around these forums for a few months while deciding which router design to go with for my first build. I have previously built my own redesigned version of a manual duplicator based loosely on the Copy Carver. A photo of it is included below.
However, I also wanted to build a CNC router - even as I was working on the previous machine. The machines have distinctively different applications and similarities of course.
For various reasons I decided to build David Steele's 25x37 dual lead screw design. One of the reasons is the ability to raise the machine easily for carving on thick objects. I chose red oak for the wood parts mostly for the stiffness and for the looks, being somewhat of a wannabe woodworker as well. The side rail and y axis boards are laminated 1x4 boards to arrive at the equivalent of the 2x4 boards specified in the Solsylva book.
Current status and changes from the plans book - The table frame is completed and the y axis gantry is completed except for addition of the end plates and trucks. All of the oak blocks for the Z axis have been cut but not drilled. I made the stepper mount plates from 1/4" aluminum plate. I'm currently working on the z axis side plates, which will be made from 1/4" aluminum plate. I have cut the x axis bearing support blocks from Purpleheart but this may change to 3/8" aluminum if it is necessary. The lead screws are going to be 1/2" everywhere possible. I'm not sure at this point if the leadscrews will be allthread or acme thread. I made some 3/4" x 1/2" thick round nuts to go inside the EMT tubing. The nuts were installed in the tubing and a length of 1/4-20 allthread was blue Locktited in place in the nuts. This allows me to hold the tubing and channel in place on the side rail and gantry with a nut and the assembly is easy to remove if necessary. I installed a piece of 5/16" thick by 7/16" wide oak to go inside the channel so that spreading of the channel walls won't be an issue if the mounting nuts have to be torqued a lot.
I hope you find the changes to be entertaining and worth following. Your comments, suggestions, and questions are welcome.
CarveOne
CarveOne
http://www.carveonecncwoodcraft.com