DIY C.N.C Router project...possibly other junk too

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

I had a couple folks ask for more info on my router machine.

This idea was presented to me by my brother. He said to me on more than a few occasions that we should build a cnc machine or two once we both retired. I never thought a lot about it. I did a bit of casual research and dreaming, but never thought it would come to pass. My brother was a bricklayer and welder. He like my father could design and make stuff in his head, and then just build it without a pause. NOT ME, I was just a copier repair guy turned network engineer.


At the age of 48 my brother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and died several weeks later. After his passing I couldn't shake the notion of actually building a machine similar to what we had talked about. After some research and study I found a guy who sells a set of blueprints for $40.00......I mean how sideways can it go starting @ $40?!? And so it began.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

This is 6 sheets of plywood coated in clear poly. I did alter the plans a bit. I widened the table to 48 in wide and shortened it to 60 in.

The guy who designed this built his in MDF, I felt that a premium grade plywood might offer more rigidity.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

It took a few projects to get the machine working the way I wanted it to. The CNC stuff is all new to me. After a few adjustments and learning the software a bit, this machine works better than I thought possible...considering I built the darn thing!!!

 

[larry4406]

Awesome!

Sorry to hear of your brothers loss.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Awesome!

Sorry to hear of your brothers loss.

Thank you

 

[The Cobbler]

Awesome work, Condolences on your brother!
I have a line drawing that I would like to be etched in wood, are you interested in looking at it ?
Cheers

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Awesome work, Condolences on your brother!
I have a line drawing that I would like to be etched in wood, are you interested in looking at it ?
Cheers

sure, I can take a look. Vector works best, it's not a lot of trouble to convert a high res line art tho. you can email it to me f you like. [email protected]

 

[The Cobbler]

email sent
thanks

 

[The Cobbler]

Thanks for trying. much appreciated

 

[bullnerd]

Hot rod shop sign is beautiful!

You brother would be proud!

Great job on the router too!

 

[matt_i]

Great build. Sorry to hear about your brother.

I have to ask, was the motion control details in the $40 plans? Are you using stepper/Gecko drives or full servo drives? does it run off G-code ? Do you have a CAM package that generates the G-code for those artistic panels from the line-art? Sorry for so many questions

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Hot rod shop sign is beautiful!

You brother would be proud!

Great job on the router too!

Thank You!

Great build. Sorry to hear about your brother.

I have to ask, was the motion control details in the $40 plans? Are you using stepper/Gecko drives or full servo drives? does it run off G-code ? Do you have a CAM package that generates the G-code for those artistic panels from the line-art? Sorry for so many questions

The blueprints came in a PDF. It was around 45 pages in large format 1:1 ratio. I had it printed at a real print shop ($70ish). They included recommended hardware and sources and 2 different possible wiring diagrams/electronics connections.

I chose to use a gekio 540 and nema 23 steppers. I used a old P.C case (and power supply) as my enclosure for main power supply and other electronics. I refurbished another old p.c. to run Mach 3 for c.a.m. software. I started with v carve pro to design and create tool paths. I quickly that I needed Aspire to be able to do 3-D (like the hot rod sign). I hope this answers your questions. If not ask away!

BTW the plans can be bought here http://www.grunblau.com/

thanks!
Brian

 

[bullnerd]

Just checked out the link you posted.

Router looks very well thought out.

His you tube channel is very interesting also.

He makes a neat little set of welding tables.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[bigguns69]

Really nice. A home built CNC router and CNC plasma cutter have been on my to do list for a while. Just haven't taken the plunge yet. Any advice since you've been there already. More detail pictures of your router would be cool, particularly running. Thanks for the share.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Really nice. A home built CNC router and CNC plasma cutter have been on my to do list for a while. Just haven't taken the plunge yet. Any advice since you've been there already. More detail pictures of your router would be cool, particularly running. Thanks for the share.

As far as advice goes, the plans I ordered are cheap and VERY good for the price. The electronics pages helped me understand how things connect, communicate and function. In 30 days time I went complete cnc virgin to building a working machine. Granted, I consider it hobby grade machine, but, I also consider it a very cheap education. It has been a fun journey.
If I were to build another one I would use purchased linear guides instead of making them out of angle and skate bearings.

It has been quite a satisfying project. I am happy with the work it can turn out, I wish it was more robust......I want to run it harder faster AND cut aluminum. I would like to build a plasma table, but I just don't have the room.

I have been considering a redo in steel with bigger steppers, and probably a bit smaller. The thing is, it's hard (for me anyway) to weld up a project like this and keep it all flat and square. The more I study and check prices, I think I'm going to try a V2 in steel. I've almost ordered parts a few times, once that happens, there WILL be an attempt at least!

I have some generic video but nothing too detailed. Next time I fire it up I will try a few short clips. http://www.raefco.com has a short generic clip of the first part I tried to cut. It's before I discovered the backlash in the X but it gives an Idea of a real time cut. I typically run it 40-50 I.P.M. in 2 and 3D runs.

 

[stioc]

Very cool!

 

[brianh]

Nice job I have been thinking of making a dedicated cnc for mortise and tenon I do them on my cnc router now but off the end of the table limiting the length of tenoning parts. In effect I would be running the router parallel to the table surface making the x axis my z axis. The price of the 540 is attractive is there a adapter for the parallel port to run on usb?

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Very cool!

Thanks!

Nice job I have been thinking of making a dedicated cnc for mortise and tenon I do them on my cnc router now but off the end of the table limiting the length of tenoning parts. In effect I would be running the router parallel to the table surface making the x axis my z axis. The price of the 540 is attractive is there a adapter for the parallel port to run on usb?

You must do a lot of mortise and tenons. What machine do you use now?
Yes, I use a parallel port adapter called UC100. It has been quite good. I was losing communication with my Mach3 p.c., but that went away when I changed to a usb cable fitted with ferite chokes and replaced the spindle relay that would sometimes not switch the router on. I think the relay was arcing causing noisy signals and communication errors.

 

[brianh]

Thanks!



You must do a lot of mortise and tenons. What machine do you use now?
Yes, I use a parallel port adapter called UC100. It has been quite good. I was losing communication with my Mach3 p.c., but that went away when I changed to a usb cable fitted with ferite chokes and replaced the spindle relay that would sometimes not switch the router on. I think the relay was arcing causing noisy signals and communication errors.

I have a shopbot I bought it back in 2003 when you could just buy the kit and build your own table I build a 4x8 steel table for it it has been a workhorse in the shop, From making furniture parts, signs. large surface planer, ect.

I build a lathe that mounts to the table I don't use it much comes in handy when I need it.

I make a lot of furniture with it, for chairs tenoning off the end of the table works fine long bench parts are limited by table height. Thus my thought of making a machine for that purpose.


Here is a video of it tenoning and mortising parts

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

I have a shopbot I bought it back in 2003 when you could just buy the kit and build your own table I build a 4x8 steel table for it it has been a workhorse in the shop, From making furniture parts, signs. large surface planer, ect.

I build a lathe that mounts to the table I don't use it much comes in handy when I need it.

I make a lot of furniture with it, for chairs tenoning off the end of the table works fine long bench parts are limited by table height. Thus my thought of making a machine for that purpose.


Here is a video of it tenoning and mortising parts

nice machine and setup! Thanks for sharing the video!
I didn't leave room for my spindle to travel past the end of the table, That's something else to work into the V2.0 lol

 

[brianh]

Having use of the end of the table is really handy I dovetail drawers with it too easy setup and fast when I have to do a lot. The setup is more refined since the video.

Dovetail video

https://vimeo.com/87861666

 

[bullnerd]

That's badass Mr. H!

Always liked your carvings also.

 

[stioc]

Wow, that's awesome! The creativity of folks especially with CNC amazes.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Having use of the end of the table is really handy I dovetail drawers with it too easy setup and fast when I have to do a lot. The setup is more refined since the video.

Dovetail video

https://vimeo.com/87861666

That is very cool!

Assuming that is hardwood, there is no way mine can plunge in like that at that rate.
Thanks for sharing, now I really meed to get serious about my redesign

 

[brianh]

I just ordered a 540 kit still refining the design I have in mind. I am thinking a small steel frame that can flip vertical and horizontal so it would have standard table capacity also. Kind of a bench top design, nothing big I already have that.

 

[The Cobbler]

Awesome work, Condolences on your brother!
I have a line drawing that I would like to be etched in wood, are you interested in looking at it ?
Cheers

this has been a round too it project , I thought I posted up on it but can't seem to find it. anyway, here is the project to date that I am working on. It's a guest registry book, was a school that my friend went to, now a historic building sort of museum I guess.
This wood came from the site apparently . I stained it with the vinegar/steel wool trick , several coats of urethane and it was laser etched.
just fitting up the hinges & registry sheets now, final touch ups and another coat or 2 of urethane

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

this has been a round too it project , I thought I posted up on it but can't seem to find it. anyway, here is the project to date that I am working on. It's a guest registry book, was a school that my friend went to, now a historic building sort of museum I guess.
This wood came from the site apparently . I stained it with the vinegar/steel wool trick , several coats of urethane and it was laser etched.
just fitting up the hinges & registry sheets now, final touch ups and another coat or 2 of urethane

That looks great! The laser etching is far better than a router could have done.