[sagreen]

About a year ago I was looking for a 2nd CNC router. I have a Shopbot 48x96 but wanted another one that used mach 3. I produce CNC Guitar building videos so I wanted a 2nd machine to create videos based on mach 3 and a DIY cnc machine.

I looked into the K2 machines, but for what you get I just felt they were too expensive. For similar money, you can get a smaller shopbot with a lot more powerful motors and great support. So, I thought I'd look into building an aluminum machine similar to the K2. After asking if anyone had tried this, George of XZero contacted me with details of his machines. Well I'm finally putting together my XZero machine. Thought I'd do a build log.

So, here we go...

Scott ...

RMGreen Videos - Instructional Videos for Woodworking, CNC, Guitar Building

[sagreen]

Boxes as received. Took about 2 weeks to get to me (Seattle) from canada.

[sagreen]

Contents of boxes before unwrapping...

[sagreen]

All the parts

[sagreen]

Rails as shipped. These are mounted to the 8040 but not tightened down or aligned. You'll need to do that...

[sagreen]

Bolts to put the machine together. George throws them all into a bag. I separated mine before I started. George also forgot to send me M5x20 bolts needed to mount the gantry to the machine.

[sagreen]

First shots of Rails mounted to endplates...

[sagreen]

Huge 2525 ballscrew and mount.

[sagreen]

So, the motor end of the 2525 wont go through the endplate with the lovejoy installed. Also, once the lovejoy is through there is no clearance to get to the allen bolts. I had to grind the head of the allen bolt down.

[sagreen]

Pictures of the HiWin bearings. Important: There is a plastic carrier in the middle of the bearing before you install it. Dont remove this before you put it on the rail. As you are placing it on the rail make sure you let the rail push the carrier out.

[sagreen]

Frame completed. Right now I'm just putting the machine together to make sure everything fits. I will locktite everything after I get it assembled.

[sagreen]

One of the gantry sides mounted. Later noticed after I got gantry on the machine that I had it backwards. No problem, just had to take the bolts out of the gantry sides to bearings, flip the gantry around and it was fixed.

[sagreen]

More progress on the gantry.

[sagreen]

Dial indicator that I used to align the rails to the top of the 8040.

[sagreen]

Y and Z motors mounted and tested. All moved well.

At this point I am stuck. George just shipped the table top and a few of the parts I need to finish the machine.

[ihavenofish]

shiny.

[jassaf]

this shaft and coupling has thread?

So, the motor end of the 2525 wont go through the endplate with the lovejoy installed. Also, once the lovejoy is through there is no clearance to get to the allen bolts. I had to grind the head of the allen bolt down.

[sagreen]

this shaft and coupling has thread?

The thread you are seeing is the ballscrew. The end of the ball screw has a shaft coming out of it that the lovejoy mounts to. The lovejoy is split and has a allen head bolt to tighten it up. That bolt must be ground down.

Scott...

[ihavenofish]

this shaft and coupling has thread?

the coupling does thread onto the ball screw to hold the bearing tight, then clamps to lock down. this was on the earlier machines. the newer machines no longer have this setup.

[jassaf]

i understand, only by pressure: the end of the shaft without thread. thanks

the coupling does thread onto the ball screw to hold the bearing tight, then clamps to lock down. this was on the earlier machines. the newer machines no longer have this setup.