So ill update this as i complete the CAD drawing but ive been looking at buying a VMC but im cheap. So i started thinking maybe go the china route like LCVETTE did but he has an actual production need. I just do some small one offs for my brothers company and my current mill handles that fine. This will be a practice of drawing every bit in cad then ill calculate costs and if it comes out under the cost of a used VMC of the same class then I will proceed. I may do it even if the costs are higher just to have built the machine. My other option is to convert a RF-45 to cnc but by the time i add linear rails and whatnot i think the cost will be about the same unless i can find one used for dirt cheap (doubtful) and still nothing but crappy tts for an atc.
So my goals are:
Keep cost reasonable
Be able to have slide ways machined on my current machine (I can coax about 24"x40" i think but ill have to reverse the x axis motor.)
Be able to cut 12"x12" plate minimum
Needs to be fast 400ipm rapids or so
Needs to hold .001"
Well designed to fit everything well
To learn how to better design structures and the small details
Off the shelf components
Rigid machine
30 or 40 taper machine i want readily available tools plus my current machine is a 40 taper
No more mach 3
Complete weldament machine (so far ive been able to keep this up) but i have to be able to weld it with my machines
Not my goal so much but a selling point if i end up needing a more industrial machine is keeping it under 2000 pounds (i think it will finish right at that with control etc)
Other things
Alot of the bar stock sizes and whatnot i use are what i have on hand. so far ive kept it as only weldaments
This machine is designed by me. I did use some of Fadals ideas but i didn't take any measurements besides looking at pictures and doing some basic referencing (I have never seen one in person) just saw a manual. I am guessing that the main tube on a Fadal is 16" and mine is 12" so that is where the 3/4 scale came from. I admit that their way cover ideas were ingenious and i may have borrowed that. I didn't have much to go off either there isn't much out there on these vmc15s.
What type of cad files do you guys like? for now ill post a picture of the main assembly i have so far.
I use Solidworks for modeling if anybody cares
Spindle:
I considered using a tormach pcnc 1100 spindle but theres no ATC capability on the 30 taper model so i found these spindles on ebay and alibaba that are bt30 with pedal clamp for around $700 so thats probably what ill design around. considered just using the pcnc 1100 head casting too but if i can make the saddle weldament ill be able to weld up a head.
Fabrication:
I plan on stick welding pretty much everything together and later ill decide on whether ill send it to get normalized or if ill get two of the grass burner torches and just do a good post weld heat. I think the welds will have to be pre heated (about 400 f) i think so that would be the easiest time to raise that temperature up to normalizing temperature (900-1100 degreesf)
Equipment:
I have a large lathe 14x54(19" actual swing 14" is over the cross slide lol)
Decent size mill its a Spindle wizard excello 602 retrofitted by me.
220 amp mig
175amp dc tig/stick
6x18 surface grinder
decent size bandsaw
all sorts of other tools
Travels:
I said what i wanted in the beginning but it looks like so far ill be getting about X18" Y14" and Z24"
the z I am still not sure on as I have yet to design the spindle mounting plate only the beginnings of the column. the X and Y and mostly finished pending some minor modifications to what rail size (id like to use standard sizes) The table is 18"x12" and i think ill have to get this piece cast and ground from china but thats long in the future
Control:
Gonna try Linux cnc with Gmccoppy on my other machine so well see how that goes
Planning on a set of mesa cards if i decide on the linux
Lastly bear with me I am active duty military so don't expect to see this machine in 6 months it could take me a year or three. Plus i am in the process of having a new shop built back home so that will take priority over this and ill only be messing with actual construction when I am back home on leave. Therefore i have loooottss of time to fully learn to design every aspect. Hopefully i get a good response from you guys to keep me motivated and answer my thousands of questions.