[Cheeto]

Still need to lay the epoxy bed and do final calibration.

[the_tool_man]

Nice. I like the Sharpie test method. Congratulations.

[Mac.CNC]

Congratulations! Looks awesome, very nice build!!! :-)
I too like the sharpie method, great idea! Perhaps I'll try that too first.
So, did you put any foam inside the torsion box or the walls?
--
mk

[Cheeto]

I didn't spray any foam inside after my post, didnt want to mess it up and have to rebuild the base. Only problem I have now is Jamestown has the epoxy on backorder until 8/20

Here is a shot before I painted the outside green, the inside was painted with white Brightside marine enamel

[the_tool_man]

Was the order of creating the letters in the word "INTERNET" intentional, or did the CAM software do that automatically for some reason? Also, do you have any post-paint photos in good light showing the green? In the video, it looks like you painted it black.

[Cheeto]

Sorry for the blurry picture, the high gloss white kept blowing out the camera.

The text was written in Lazycam and that's how it laid out.

[Cheeto]

I fixed the front panel and took some better pictures

[Mac.CNC]

Very nice work, looks great! I would almost consider finishing the cover just with poly, not paint - it really looks great the way it is.
Did you build it in your kitchen? ;-)
--
mk

[Cheeto]

I'm working on the hold down table for the work piece. I plan on using 2 angle aluminum brackets mounted to the side wall. Then using four 1/4 20 bolts with the tips filed down to points driven into the bottom piece of plywood to hold it secure. I'm doing this to avoid having to use wood screws in the base to secure the work table. Will this work or should I just screw it into the epoxy covered base ?

[ezakimak]

So the angle will be mounted 3/4" up from the base on the side of the machine, you will then slide a 3/4" spoil board underneath and fix it in place with the 1/4" bolts?

Sounds reasonable as the bolts will help push the spoil board down

[Cheeto]

Thats exactly it except I went up around 1.5" to make it easier to slide in and out

[Cheeto]

OMG IT WORKS

[Mac.CNC]

Whohoo! Congrats on finishing your machine and thanks for the video. Looks great!!!
Please do make more videos on the items you're making with your machine, I bet there's lots to learn from that.
The idea with the rails is great, I might just adopt that in my machine too :-)
The more I learn about this stuff I keep thinking that a thin vacuum table attachment would be super cool to have.
Using your idea with the rails, that thing could just slide in and out of the machine as needed!
Me likey :-)
--
Mac

[Cheeto]

First cut on an actual part.



Update: I've cut usable real parts. Replacing two metal pieces with clear Lexan on my pinball machine. This is awesome


Attachment 199852

[cb_designer]

Awesome build, congrats!! One side note, that's too long of a bit for that thin of material. Would look into getting shorter bits so you don't run into deflection issues while cutting harder materials. If you are going to be cutting a lot of Lexan or other plastics, get the single flute bits. You can find them pretty cheap on ebay. Have fun making some chips!

[vtxstar]

Congratulations! There is nothing quite like seeing it all come together and start to make something you need.

+1 with cb_designer's comment on cutting tool length. If your speeds are very slow in soft material, you can get away with a long tool -- sometimes.
It is amazing how much they deflect and start causing repeatability errors or odd looking cutting paths, all due to tool flex.

Well done! There is nothing like success to make more success.

-=Doug

[Mac.CNC]

Awesome! Thanks for the note about the pinball machine part. I've been dying to figure out what that was you were making there.
Could be a flipper part, what is it?
Thanks for the video & thanks for the comments on the cutter deflection, that makes a lot of sense - I'm learning so much from this forum, it's awesome.
Keep posting your progress! Building the machine is one thing, but tuning and using it with the tools available and the optimal feeds and speeds is a whole different animal.
--
Nice job,
Mac

[Cheeto]

I ordered a few single flute 1/16" end mills from ebay and I'm getting much better results ! Thanks for the suggestion

I'm replacing this metal part with clear lexan.
Before -
Attachment 200438
After -
Attachment 200440
Cutting a sheet to sell (and a set of limit switch holders)
Attachment 200442
Desktop manufacturing on the kitchen table !

[ezakimak]

Very cool

[the_tool_man]

You must be single, lol.