Modding Project: DIY CNC - V3 Reinforced Z Axis

Popably, but where would be the point in welding it ?

so, a massive update here, managed to install the x axis

Drilling side panels which hold the x later on





Finished holder for the router



Assembled













A friend of mine finishing the plates



Cutting threads / drilling the z axis middle plate



first x axis plate in place !





Cutting out bits of the angle connectors ( they would get in the way as u can see in later pics )



Assembled x axis



X axis Ballscrew mounted ( thx jav )





closeup of a bearing ( jav, whats the name for this one ? )



Whole x axis mounted, yay



















Thats it for today, i had to order some new parts, so slow progression untill the middle of next week...

 

that is a flange bearing.

 

Looking pretty solid there.
I'm amazed no one has made cast aluminum parts for this kind of thing. -Like they make for the surface of a table saw or router. Something like that would take a serious chunk out of the cost of a table cnc, and would probably sell like crazy.

 

I think the problem there would be that theres no real "one size fits all" if u have a look around all of the custom routers u can buy are higly different in build and purpose aswell, dunno... but for example the spindle holder is a prefab part it has a standardised mount ( euro 43 ) and some holes / threads so it will fit some suction parts etc...

 

Okay. Just found this log and read from start. Just to see you build this ( as well as it's little brother! ) has got me 1st wanting to see the final, and 2nd I can't wait to see the projects you're going to build using this monster, considering all the skill it took to cook this up! Many thanks

 

Thanks Neutral !

I really hope i can start soon with my first case, already ordered some fibreglass and carbon for it

 

once you got this done you should make an exact parts list so we can all build one too!

 

Hey, dont go for my intellectual Property i could pre made this machine and sell it as a whole, but right now its already pretty expensinse ( just the parts alone ) so im not sure this one still fits into the "hobby" category

 

If it had enough precision you probably could sell them.

 

Yea, What he said! Really! Oh and a big yes to some carbon!

 

What I meant was probably would have been cheaper to use "normal" rectangular Aluminum bars instead of the 80/20. Anyways, those 80/20 brackets are VERY expensive so you may have been able to reduce costs by welding.

 

welding the frame would not be a good idea because the heat would cause warping.

 

Thats exactly what i thought talla, i really like the bosch Profiles, another great plus is that they stay adjustable, even when they are assembled !

I havent seen a single "welded" cnc, the parts are either cast iron or profiles, i think welding precision parts requires a lot of gear to avoid warping.

50 Brackets with two screws and nuts each are 70 Euros, so theyre not that expensive.

 

Ahh.... that makes sense. I didn't think of that.

Here in the US, the 90 degree corner brackets (10 series) are ~$3 each,so for 50 brackets only with out , it's 150 or so. See: http://www.amazon.com/80-20-2-HOLE-..._1?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1277218016&sr=1-1
The inside corner gussets you've used are ~$4 here: http://www.amazon.com/80-20-2-HOLE-INSIDE-CORNER/dp/B001IA2M0M/ref=pd_sim_indust_2
So for a set of 50, that's $200.

The Amazon prices are more or less the same as ordering from 80-20 directly.

 

Some precision machines are indeed welded. They need to be annealed after welding to stop the warping. Usually the same machine parts are normalized before welding to make them behave more predictably and anneal better. The same applies to cast iron structures and machining.

A heat treatment wouldn't hurt your 80/20's either. All metal parts twist and bend after assembly. I'd suggest you re-tighten every nut and bolt after the cnc has been used for some time. Also be sure to check everything keeps in alignment.

 

wow great machine you have got there (v2). keep up the updates. quite a cost those linear rails + screws must have been on the bigger machine!

 

Thanks ! yeah, they were quite expensive but i dont think theres anything cheaper that can match the precision

Today i received the last ballscrew but the guy forgot the last aluminium plate i need to assemble the z axis so i spend the day cleaning up and wiring more power lines in the shop

for the last time, they are not 80/20s, the profiles are manufactured in germany by a german company called Bosch ( Propably u guys now them better for shitty power tools ) if u have a look at the cut section ull see that theyre different from 80/20s

ill retighten everything for sure, im already expecting some parts to come loose after a while, but with self locking nuts and lock tite ill try to keep everything in check

 

Ahh! It's Bosch! That explains the cost difference LOL!

 

some progress, sleeved / mounted some of the steppers !





Second one



the three ive done yesterday together



Closeups









and in place on the machine !









thats it for today

 

Awesome build, I can hardly cope with all the beautifully assembled, sturdy aluminum parts.