[shaffin]

Hello,

It's been a while since I actually revisited a build design. Often I am encountered with fabricating stock that challenges the traditional limits of machines I currently own on the shop floor. I have since forced myself to make the time and effort to build a machine platform that I know (the way it's been put together) and how to fix it if problems do occur.

I will be sharing pictures of my experience and posting pictures of the design and build to completion. The premise of the design will include:

1. Using heavy gauge aluminium extrusions with minimum 4mm walls

2. Gantry plates that are fabricated using 1" 6061 grade aluminum stock

3. 20mm linear rails and blocks on X and Y axis

4. Have the ability to support precision ballscrews as well as racks in the near future

5. 2.2kw ATC ISO20 water cooled spindle (since the machine will be used for production, need an ATC)

6. Still deciding on the controller but the Masso Controller looks enticing

If there is any feedback please do not hesitate to provide either by contacting me directly or via post

Shaffin.

[shaffin]

Doing some more research, I think I have come down to what RoverCNC offers, any thoughts?

- Gantry kit:I love the 20mm thick plates that they offer - https://rovercnc.com/collections/cnc...dard-drive-kit

- Z-Axis Assembly: Provides almost 8" of travel and built with linear rails - https://rovercnc.com/collections/z-a...mm-stroke-7-87

- Planning to use 80mm heavy gauge extrusion - still looking where to source from...

- Linear rails and ballscrews that I am considering is 20mm rails and 16mm ballscrews - while RoverCNC also offers it, I am still looking around...

Has anyone built using RoverCNC HD plates? Any feedback appreciated. Being located in Canada only a hand full of options.

[ger21]

You didn't say how big of a machine you want to build?
It looks like those Rover parts are designed for a smaller, lighter weight machine.
I would consider a minimum gantry beam of 80x160, which appears to be too big fore those parts.

[shaffin]

Hello Gerry,

The platform I am looking for is around 4' x 4' but would be extending it to a 5' x 10' in the future. I am told by the vendor that the same plates could then be used when expanding.

I had the same concerns around rigidity but the plates being 20mm thick, it gives me some confidence. I will mostly be milling larger aluminum plates with this platform, and was going to retrofit a steel base for it.

I will be sharing some drawings soon as possible as I am actively working on them.

Thanks,
Shaffin.

[shaffin]

I have started off by designing the base platform. The base platform uses heavy duty gauge 80mm aluminum extrusions. I particularly like this extrusion because their walls are 4mm thick, and they are fully supported to the center core, this adds a lot of strength to the extrusion. I am attaching a cross section of the extrusion.



I also designed the platform with the rails being supported by the extrusion (rails sitting on the extrusion), and to hanging to the side supported by screws. The platform footprint is about 60" x 60" with 2 beams along the y-axis and 3 beams across the x-axis which I believe is sufficient enough to mill aluminum plates between 1/2" - 1" for my needs.

[ger21]

I wouldn't use those on a gantry that size, unless you can mount a much larger gantry on them. It's not a question about the rigidity of the plates, but the size of the gantry they will accept. The gantry beam is where you'll have the most flex.
And that Z axis is on the small side as well, imo.

Those plates are pretty pricey, too.

[shaffin]

I wouldn't use those on a gantry that size, unless you can mount a much larger gantry on them. It's not a question about the rigidity of the plates, but the size of the gantry they will accept. The gantry beam is where you'll have the most flex.
And that Z axis is on the small side as well, imo.

Those plates are pretty pricey, too.

I completely agree with you Gerry. I am considering something larger for the x-axis beam since thats where a lot of the weigh will be considering the static, dynamic and cutting loads. I noticed that many extrusions are designed with a good volume of hollow space and almost none that are supported all the way to the center core with such thick walls reducing a lot of flex on all sides. What I also noticed is the there is quite a bit of meat around the what I would consider screw holes.