Its ALIVE!!!!!

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martyb

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Aug 21, 2006
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Des Moines, IA, USA.
After 2 months of work, my new homebuilt CNC router is alive!
I still need to mount the spindle, but I've got it calibrated and ran it through a few sample G-code objects to test functionality.

200710316334_IMG_0644.jpg



For those wondering, I built from David Steele's plans with a few customizations/modifications.
http://solsylva.com/

If you want to see the build photos I have, they're posted here.
http://penworks.bauerglobal.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=187

Now to mount the spindle and get a few projects lined up for it!
 
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Looks great!!!!! But if you are going to post that in this forum, you'd better get it jacked up a little and add the 4th axis[:)] Is your controller set up for 4 axis? I run a 5 axis MotionMaster 5'x10' machine for my day job, but still go over to cnczone quite a bit. I had an old 1990 Digital Tool machine in my basement for a long time, but traded it for cash and a small controller with 4 Nema 23 steppers. I thought I would build a small machine like yours someday, I really needed more space that the 4'x8' machine was using.

Great work and keep us informed on your progress. I really like the idea of doing lithopanes using the Vetric software as a little hobby/money maker.
 
My current controller is a 3-axis package from Xylotex. I REALLY debated the 4th axis, but at this time, I held off. But its a definite if/when I build another machine. Something smaller, but with the 4th.

The reason I built the machine was that I've become very interested in wooden geared clocks and their construction. Having the CNC will greatly speed gear cutting for prototyping as well as production cutting. Also a MUCH higher degree of accuracy. Some friends/family/coworkers who know I do a fair amount of woodworking, and who've learned of this project have already started placing orders for various things. Some signs, some ornate shelf supports, I've even got a coworker who's ready to put down a deposit on an as of yet undesigned Marty original clock for her anniversary next year. While the pens and bottle stoppers I'm hoping will someday sustain themselves, this could turn into a small money maker for me.
 
VERY cool! I'd like to build one myself someday. What are you going to be using for the spindle? I've seen some that use a PC router motor, Rotozip, or even a Dremel (smaller setups than yours though!)

Eddie
 
Eddie,
I've got a 4.5amp Ryobi trim router I planning on using for the time being. The nice thing about the Z-axis of this machine is that it is very simple to adapt to use different spindle mounts. So I could build a mount for the Ryobi, or my Dewalt router, or my dremel as well. If you want to do some learning on the whole home-built CNC "movement", take a look at www.CNCzone.com. Low_48 is a member like I am. Just I'm not a "contributing" member of the forums. There's lots of info and lots of pointers towards paid plans, free plans and the trips/tricks to doing this. It's the most complex build I've ever done, but looking back at it, it really wasn't that hard to do.
 
Marty,
Have you seen the woodgears.ca website? I found that yesterday and had a blast. The guy has a great wood gear template generator with animation to boot. Unfortunately for you now, no dxf files. The guys name is Matthias Wandel and is really quite brilliant. I really liked his binary marble calculator. The sight might just give you some ideas for the gears if you hadn't seen it before. I like the idea of using wood gears, chains, wood augers, etc.... to build desk top candy dispensers. Well, after I collect more burls, turn more pens, turn my Jet mini-lathe into a rose engine lathe, etc..........
 
Very nice. I would guess that you could use this machine as a 4th axis since only 3 axes are needed; X,Z, and Rotary. The Y axis stays on center. You just need to get a small rotary axis like the ones Sherline has and run that instead of the Y axis when it's plugged in. You just scale your Y axis stuff to 3.6" or whatever your gear ratio dictates. The machine doesn't know any difference. It would be easy to switch back and forth between rotary and flat work that way.
 
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