[matth]

Short clip of me testing the Y carriage with a dewalt drill in place of the motor:

[matth]

Got the Y motor mounted up:

[matth]

Got the Z motor mounted today , I also bolted up the Y energy chain and machined the Z ballnut carrier.

Attachment 220374

I've started planning the Z router plate. I will have one main plate bolted to the Z carriages and ball nut with all the bolts countersunk and then another plate with the spindle bolted through from the rear. Both plates will have two rows of holes so they can be bolted together with extra holes to offset the plates thereby raising or lowering the spindle.

Attachment 220376

Once this is done all I will have left to do will be the X and Z axis energy chain and the limit switches plus the connection/junction boxes.

[widgitmaster]

How old is that Hand-Scraped cast iron surface plate your spindle is sitting on?
Ya don't see them so often any more!
Widgit

[matth]

It's not that old, maybe 8-9 years. Purchased off eBay.

[matth]

eBay item number: 331086685703

[uawgmsmco]

You're winning the race.

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[matth]

Hit a bit of a milestone today! I finally got the spindle mounted up.
I have put lots of bolts in the Z plate but only to fill the holes really, there are lots of holes so I can mount the spindle higher or lower as necessary:

Attachment 220530 Attachment 220532 Attachment 220534

The spindle makes the machine look smaller than it is but it is a 3KW / 4HP unit, looking at it all together I really think I'm going to be able to utilize the power of the spindle.

Now I've just got to get the X and Z energy chain mounted up and the limit switches in place then I'm ready for the electronics.

[uawgmsmco]

Dude this is very nice.....and what an awesome spindle...this is definitely a capable machine! The ballscrew was sounding really nice in your clip. So how much have you gone over budget so far? Hahah

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[matth]

Most of the initial buildout is now done. Limit switches, energy chains and motors are now in place.
Next is the control box build, nothing fancy, standard breakout, dual switch mode psu's, lead shine drivers and Chinese VFD with serial control.
I will be adding a laser crosshairs and fixed and mobile touch plates to work with Gerry's screen set.

Attachment 221268 Attachment 221272 Attachment 221274

[daniel28]

Way to go dude! You own a monster!. How much did this cost you?

[slowlearner]

Nice work!

[matth]

Cheers guys.

Budget for this was £2.5K without the computer or software which I already own.
I was on track until I ordered the Aluminium plate for the table as I had been planning on using wood. But after I started seeing it come together I knew a wood table would let the machine down so I stumped up the £700 for the plates.
The rails were second hand and I already had the two small rails used in the Z.

I was planning on this mainly being a wood and plastics router and using my X3 for metal work (which is still only half finished). But now I'm thinking that this will be more than capable in Aluminium so I will be giving a couple of parts a try (Motorcycle top yokes and rearsets).

[matth]

My selection of components:

Attachment 221356 Attachment 221358

Just trying to workout the best placement to keep high and low voltages apart as much as possible.

[uawgmsmco]

Yum yum yum yum!!!

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[matth]

Been waiting on some components to turn up.
Ordered some of the mains connections, isolator, cable, din rail with terminals, filters and a 5HP contactor.
Got it all mounted up today and I will start wiring tomorrow.

Attachment 222764

The din rail acts as the main earth strip and simplifies the grounding of all the different components.

[uawgmsmco]

i do like a clean looking electrical setup! coming along nicely my friend!

[matth]

The control enclosure is mostly finished now, I just need to wire up the start/stop switches and fans.
I can then mount the cabinet to the wall and start to hard wire the steppers and limit switches etc.

Attachment 222908 Attachment 222910 Attachment 222912

[uawgmsmco]

Very very professional. I can't remember...what size steppers are you running? Any idea of what kind of speeds you're looking for or just gonna play with it as you go?

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[matth]

I've got 425 Oz/Inch Nema 23 steppers.
I would hope for 10M/Minute rapids and 5M/Minute fast cuts, 360IPM and 180IPM respectively.
I might not have the voltage to get up to the rapid speed (36v) but I'll play it by ear.