I am already in the process of building my third CNC router. I have a frame and gantry built of welded steel tubing that was designed around SBR20 fully supported round rails but after starting this thread http://www.cnczone.com/forums/linear...38786-cnc.html I have switched to Hiwin 20mm rails. My frame is built out of 4"x8"x0.25" wall rectangular tubing with 2" square legs and bracing, it's stout and weighs about 800 pounds right now. The Gantry is made of 8" square 0.25" wall tubing and weighs in at about 180 pounds right now but I haven't added the Z axis yet. The z axis will be built around the Hiwin rails and a 2010 ballscrew. I have purchased 3 NEMA 34 pro rack and pinion drives from CNCRouterparts.com, one for the Y axis and two for the X axis.
It has taken me awhile to save up some money but now I am ready to get this thing up and running. Below is a list of things I am planning on ordering very soon, I would order tonight if I was 100% sure. I would love it if you guys who know about this stuff to chime in and give your opinion.
1 Ethernet Smooth Stepper
1 PMDX-126 breakout board
1 PMDX-107 speed control
4 Gecko drives- Can't decide here. I was leaning towards the G201x or the G203v
Power supply- 72 volt 20 amp from Automationtechnologiesinc.com
4 Steppers. I was thinking of the NEMA 34 960oz from CNCrouterparts.com or the 906 oz from Automationtechnologiesinc.com
2.2KW Chinese spindle
2.2KW VFD for spindle, I'm thinking Hitachi WJ200 but may have to go with one from Huanyang. Is a 2.2kw VFD appropriate for the 2.2KW spindle or do I need a larger one?
I really need help selecting the steppers and matching the correct power supply, I don't fully understand how to do all those calculations. I would like fast rapids,1000 IPM would be nice as this will be used for 3d carving.
Ok, now for some pics!
My revised 2D drawings.
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Pics from pouring the Epoxy bedding.
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Here is a few pics when mounting the rails.
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This one shows a phenolic template I cut at work on an Onsrud CNC router to align the linear trucks.
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Aligning the Y axis linear rails.
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Starting the mock-up of the E-Chain.
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I need to get some current pics, I have progressed a little bit since these were taken. I'll get those and update the thread soon.