Well it's been a long road with many late hours after work but my first CNC router table is almost done. Or is it? I guess you are really never done since you always seem to find some addition or modification that you want to add.
I know that I already have a few ideas of things that I want to add to the machine like a vacuum shoe, a spotcooler, a 4th rotary axis, and a vacuum table. Still have to finish wiring the Home and limit switches plus mount the MDF table top but I will do that after I move the machine from my work to my home.
When I started this project about 6 to 7 months ago (I really can't remember anymore how long it's been exactly) I just wanted to build a small cnc router table which I could used to help me get into the interesting world of CNC machining. I figured if I had a small 3 axis machine I would have a better understanding on how to learn CNC programming. After all it makes things alot more fun if you can design a part in CAD then actually see a real machine going through the motions of making it, rahter then just looking at the simulation on a screen and since I don't have access to any real CNC machines were I work this was my only option.
But after I started picking up some of the linear rails and bearings off ebay I realized that this was not going to be a cheap venture to build, so since I was already commited and didn't really have a final design in mind I decided to go bigger. So a machine that originally was suppose to fit on a small table has grown to a machine that required it's own steel frame to be made which measured 54"L x 32"W x 28"H.
The table dimensions are 54" x 31" but I still need to measure the actual working or cutting area. I am estimating it will be around 45"(X) x 26"(Y) but it could be abit more in the (X) axis. I have around 6 3/4" clearance between the top of the table and the lowest part of the Z -axis mechanism with 8 1/2" of travel in the Z-axis.
The main frame has both casters and leveling feet on it, so I can wheel it around easily but once in place I can turn the leveling feet down to give it a good solid footing. In hindsight I only wish I would have used a heavier wall tubing for the frame because I am abit worried that with the frame being so light that it doesn't have enough mass to help dampen any vibration that the machine may have when running at higher speeds. I guess I can always add some sand to the inside of the tubing to give it more mass.
The only real vibrations I have noted to date while testing and doing some sample cuts seem to come from the (X - axis) and (Y- axis) ballscrews. The vibration in the (Y -axis) seems to be more evident in higher feed rates and seems to by amplied by the aluminum gantry. It's almost acting like a tunning fork. The (X-axis) vibration is also more evident at higher feed rates but I believe this is due more to the longer length of the ballscrew and smaller diameter (1/2" Dia.). If I put some pressure on the ballscrew with my hand I can dampen the vibration quite abit. I am not going to worry too much about these vibrations since the don't appear to affect the operation of the machine plus they are only there during rapid movements which are faster then the feed rate I would be cutting at.
My controller consists of a 24VDC / 5VDC powersupply, Xylotex 3-axis stepper control board, Xylotex Single axis stepper control board (for the future addition of a rotary 4th axis), two Opto-relay for activating the spindle and vacuum, all mounted in a Hammond enclosure. I am using Nema 23 Pasci PowerMax II, double stack, stepper motors on all axises.
Well enough of my babbling. I just wanted to share with the rest of the Zone on the progress of my machine and to say thanks to the Zone and it's members for all the great information I picked up. I wouldn't have started a project like this if I hadn't found the CNCZone.
In the meantime here is a picture of what my CNC router looks like now plus there are a bunch more in My Gallery.
Thanks,
Carl :cheers: