[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.

[diyengineer]

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

Hey man! Where in seattle are you!

[sagreen]

Hey man! Where in seattle are you!

I'm in North Bend, bout 35 miles east of seattle on 90. Off of exit 32.

Scott...

RMGreen Videos - Instructional Videos for CNC Guitar Building

[diyengineer]

I'm in North Bend, bout 35 miles east of seattle on 90. Off of exit 32.

Scott...

RMGreen Videos - Instructional Videos for CNC Guitar Building

I tried to message you but your inbox is full.

[cornbinder23]

I'm in North Bend, bout 35 miles east of seattle on 90. Off of exit 32.

Scott...

RMGreen Videos - Instructional Videos for CNC Guitar Building

Man, I gotta say Twede's has some coronary breakfasts!!! good but lethal
Was just there 2 weeks ago. Have you eaten there?
The casino is pretty nice too

JTCUSTOMS

[sagreen]

Man, I gotta say Twede's has some coronary breakfasts!!! good but lethal
Was just there 2 weeks ago. Have you eaten there?
The casino is pretty nice too

JTCUSTOMS

haha! Yeah eat there all the time. And you are right, their breakfasts are way too big for a single person to eat!

Scott...

RMGreen Videos - Instructional Videos for CNC Guitar Building

[Zygoat]

i have an idea that might work. a little complicated to explain tho.

in the first picture take the 4 big bolts out. then leaving the carriages (the red things in the second pic) behind; slide the ball screw, nut, and plate all up above the carriages. then you can turn the plate left and right. this should let you get to the back side to screw the bolts into the spindle. ie turn it as far left as you can and install the right bolts to the spindle then do the other side.

then just slide the whole mess back down and bolt it back together.



hopefully you can understand that.

[sagreen]

i have an idea that might work. a little complicated to explain tho.

in the first picture take the 4 big bolts out. then leaving the carriages (the red things in the second pic) behind; slide the ball screw, nut, and plate all up above the carriages. then you can turn the plate left and right. this should let you get to the back side to screw the bolts into the spindle. ie turn it as far left as you can and install the right bolts to the spindle then do the other side.

then just slide the whole mess back down and bolt it back together.



hopefully you can understand that.

zygoat,

Thanks for the idea! the problem is that we are talking about 2 different plates, the one that is bolted to the Z axis, and one that I will bolt to the spindle before I bolt it to the zaxis plate. Basically its and adapter.

I went ahead and drilled and threaded new holes in the plate that came with the machine. I've attached pictures. Now off to create the adapter plate.

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

[sagreen]

Ok, made some great progress tonight. Got my drawbar finished on the mill, the spindle plate faced, countersunk and finished and the spindle mounted to the machine. I'm pretty happy with where I am tonight, and can get a bunch of stuff done tomorrow that I didnt think I would get to.

Scott...

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

[sagreen]

Installed tray for Igus cable carrier...

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

[lgalla]

Scott,I just don't get it.The motor side or end of a ballscrew usually looks a bit different than yours.Is there a set of A/C bearings?Perhaps I am confused.Yes.What does the opposite end of the ballscrew look like?I have never seen a setup like this before.
Larry

[sagreen]

Scott,I just don't get it.The motor side or end of a ballscrew usually looks a bit different than yours.Is there a set of A/C bearings?Perhaps I am confused.Yes.What does the opposite end of the ballscrew look like?I have never seen a setup like this before.
Larry

Ok, I spoke with george, and he's going to take care of the problem. In the mean time I am going to turn a new pin in my lathe (temporary solution) and get back moving...

lgalla,

The pictures are on the ballscrew side of the motor. George drilled the inside of the ballscrew and inserted a dowel pin for the motor shaft. Way easier than milling down the ballscrew. The ballscrew is 25mm in diameter. Apparently the pin was undersided and didnt hold. Make sense?

Scott...
http://www.rmgvideos.com/

[mactec54]

sagreen

I have not seen such primitive work/design like this in a long time, George you are no machinist, or have a clue about designing, Nobody builds machines to sell with work like this

Thanks for showing this Scott, & I hope other people see this, to know what they are getting into when buying these machines

[gio666]

sagreen

I have not seen such primitive work/design like this in a long time, George you are no machinist, or have a clue about designing, Nobody builds machines to sell with work like this

Thanks for showing this Scott, & I hope other people see this, to know what they are getting into when buying these machines

i had got this design off of machines that sell for half a million dollars, i asked them why ,and the reason was when you machine a ballcrew down ,you are machining the hardness away , so once all the hardness is gone the centre of the ballscrew is soft,which will cause vibration and bounce on heavy ballscrews,
with centre bore you still have all the harness and the dowel pins are precision ground and hardened,which would make the ballscrew a lot stronger on the ends, funny there is lots of Japan made machines do the same thing ,as where they got the idea from and has worked for years with no problem for them and 20 feet long and 3000ipm speed

mactec54 i see you try jumping on everything to put my stuff down , just the last post you made about profiles ,say if they know how to take care of there stuff lol meantime the company sales are over 50 million a year around the world

[gio666]

sagreen

I have not seen such primitive work/design like this in a long time, George you are no machinist, or have a clue about designing, Nobody builds machines to sell with work like this

Thanks for showing this Scott, & I hope other people see this, to know what they are getting into when buying these machines

mactec54 I also see your trying to sell home made machines yourself? i guess your machines can't sell themself,so i guess you need help trying to sell them by trying to put other machines down ,and if you go on Hiwin and THK site you will see the same design .
here is a pic ,and mostly only done on ground ballscrews , as it cost more to use pins them it does for machining.Very first in picture is a dowel pin