[chas]

And so I start with my 1st machine, read a little, bought some
parts built my 1st axis (z) read some more, realized that end
resuld would not be what I want.

Used a couple of rails and printer head supports some ali and
came up with this:

[chas]

Sorry guys, pictures are too big, i re-shoot them in less quality tomorrow.

[ynneb]

Chas, no need to reshoot them just resize them in a free program called Irfanview.
You can download it from here www.irfanview.com

[chas]

Thanks ynneb,
Here are a couple of picture of my 1st prototype axis:

[chas]

After reading a lot more, realized that If I wanted to do
inlay work, some woodcarving, some light ali work,this
design was just not going to cut it.

So I bought some more stuff and off I go again.
Got a couple of thk rail sets srs15's 21 1/2" (x)
and rsr12's 14 1/2" (y)
some delrin motion slides (z)
3/8 16 acme lead screws with delrin for nuts (x, y)
and a ball screw for z
some more ali and i'm off and running again.

I'll be using the 4axis hobbycnc 31v setup, complete
with 80 oz steppers. Done and finished waiting for
machine.

Like most of us, all I need is time.

[chas]

I know that it has been said over and over build machine
1st then the electronics. I hardly ever follow the pack.
Usually with mixed results. And true to form here I go again,
This is the finished 4th axis, don't have a machine but a
kicking 4th axis.
hahaha

[chas]

Here is some ali for x and y.
Have one of the thk's mounted on the x rail.
( Not enough screw holes. hahaha)
Also here is the controler, and small computer
to run the 1st machine.

Not sure if I am posting too much.

Chas

[DSL PWR]

It's not like you're spamming the board, so post away!

[ynneb]

Not sure if I am posting too much.

Are you for real ? There is never enough good photos and information.

Go for it !

[jimbo]

Can you elaborate a little on how you adapted the stepper motor on the 4th axis. Was it difficult.

Jim.

[chas]

i bought a rotary table on ebay that came with a servo unit attached.
it's a 12v dc motor that is geared down and attached to the table.
the table is round and has no way to attach. i removed the servo/gear
box from the table and attached a 1/2" ali plate (which i used as a
tool stand to support 1/2 the rotary table). some spacers and the stepper.
attaching the gear head to the stepper was an adventure. i had to take the
gear box from the servo apart and utilize the output shaft to attach to
the stepper. a quick support to the front of the table and one 4th axis.

hope this helps
chas

[chas]

Well once again following tradition I stopped the 1st machine
and built the second one first. I bought an x/y table off
ebay, I belive it was off some kind of medical testing machine.
Very solidly built cast iron beds with thk style linear bearing,
complete with ballscrews, flex couplers, motor mounts and
optical sensors. I also purchased a z axis from ebay which
has same style of linear bearings, complete with leadscrew
and non-backlash nut.
I built a steel frame mounted the x/z table and z axis.
Made a anti-backlash nut and motor mount and attached
to the frame. All three axis work great. Still need to wire
up the controler.
Using pre-gecko drives, and bob campbell breakout board.
Still wiring all together and mounting in a rack mount chassis.
Here are a couple of bad pictures. Will post more when I
get back to working on this machine.

You see.........

[chas]

.... You See I just couldn't let the first machine I see come to life
be this one, it had to be one that I actually built. This machine was
mostly built for me, I just assembled and built a couple of components.
The first had to be one I built...You only have one 1st time. (hahaha)
So I went back and started working on the first machine.
Here are a couple of picture of the x axis in process, and a couple
of the finished z axis.

[chas]

I'll just try that again!!

[chas]

And so here are a couple of pictures of the finished machine.
Sorry I didn't take more while building, Just got carried away
and finished it. Then went "dam" I should have taken more
pictures.
x axis 14 in
y axis 12 in
z axis 4 in

[chas]

And here we are today...here are a couple pics of the machine complete
with limit and home switches. The controler is a HobbyCNC 31v 4 axis
with 80oz steppers. 2.4 GHz computer running Mach2. I removed the
spindle for testing, in case I had problems with the switches.
And she's alive!!!!

And for those who are working on your 1st machine...keep going
it's a great feeling to see all your hard work pay off and see it
come to life.

Now the hard part learning cad/cam and actually seeing your
designs on the computer and later holding them in your hands.