Diy large format cnc machine forums

[Countyroadtrailers]

Can anyone recommend a similar environment as GJ that caters to the diy cnc speciality?

I'm starting out planning a stupid big cnc system and don't know where to begin. 10'x50'. I want to direct a spray wand around. My tolerance is extremely low as I'm spraying a good 12"x12" area at a time but want to be able to program general paths. I would need to be able to acuate a small solenoid for a trigger but for the most part it will move left to right 8 ft move back 6 in and move right to left etc etc. If I got high tech it would be neat to be able to angle for certain jobs but just straight down spraying would suffice as I could cut in manually with the spray.

I'm hoping someone has built a very light duty but large format cnc machine for trimming foam or something similar but I haven't came across anything yet.

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[UglySign]

Try

https://www.cnczone.com/



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[bdbecker]

Have you seen This Old Tony's DIY CNC router build on YouTube? Granted, its not nearly as large as you are thinking, but he does a fantastic job of breaking down and explaining how everything works. As an added bonus, he presents the info in an entertaining, but not over the top "trying too hard to be funny" way.

EDIT:

https://8020.net/

Also, this might be a good place to start snooping around for ideas. Not cheap, but could be just the ticket for making a lightweight gantry system.

 

[Ralphxj]

Lots of options out there for building a large cnc router or plasma table that could be adapted to what you are looking to do. You wouldn't need to spend as much as either router or plasma since you dont need the persicion they require. I've seen cnc router tables many almost entirely out of wood. Some plasma tables use flat strips of steel and cheap bearing for the gantry and still get good results. Candcnc.com is a good source for diy electronics kits with good tech support. Ebay has lots of really cheap electronics kits, but wont have the tech support for issues.

If you are on Facebook, there are a couple good cnc plasma groups that have a ton of people who have built there own tables that would be able to give lots of adviadvices and tips.

 

[manwithtools]

That's a big footprint for a gantry style machine. You will need a fairly substantial framework just to deal with the span and the forces involved. There are foam cutters of this size and even some plasma's that you might be able to salvage the framework and controls (problem is the controls will be outdated and expensive to work on the salvaged machines). It will take some good size motors to move the mass of that size gantry as well.

Look on the equipment auction sights or eBay. Might get lucky and find something close by.

 

[Countyroadtrailers]

Have you seen This Old Tony's DIY CNC router build on YouTube? Granted, its not nearly as large as you are thinking, but he does a fantastic job of breaking down and explaining how everything works. As an added bonus, he presents the info in an entertaining, but not over the top "trying too hard to be funny" way.

EDIT:

https://8020.net/

Also, this might be a good place to start snooping around for ideas. Not cheap, but could be just the ticket for making a lightweight gantry system.

Thanks for the feedback, cheap is all relative the time it could save me if I could at least automate the flat work of my spray jobs would easy make it worth it.

I will definitely check out the link. It's had to find information on machines this size. Like screw, timing belt, rack and pinion ( the only way I can see to go) etc. That's the biggest thing

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[Countyroadtrailers]

That's a big footprint for a gantry style machine. You will need a fairly substantial framework just to deal with the span and the forces involved. There are foam cutters of this size and even some plasma's that you might be able to salvage the framework and controls (problem is the controls will be outdated and expensive to work on the salvaged machines). It will take some good size motors to move the mass of that size gantry as well.

Look on the equipment auction sights or eBay. Might get lucky and find something close by.

I feel like I have two different directions. One would be to make something exactly like a gantry crane.. heavy and big then maybe have it pick up a axis assembly that could move faster left and right then have the gantry move back six inches at a time.

Or...I'm thinking about more like a rolling engine hoist on a floor track or even wheeled as I don't really have a precision need. Even if it wasn't square to my surface I'd have a little waste but a lot less then I do currently.

Have you ever seen a rolling cnc machine like that? I need the top to be around 14 foot tall but be able to manually extend the polyurea gun mount lower at times for a different height camper

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[cvairwerks]

You are going to definitely be into high dollar components for cnc that big. How about a lightweight gantry with a powered Z axis that you can simply push back and forth as needed?

 

[outdoorspace]

Look up "CoreXY". On a big machine like that, it will give good rigidity without needing the structure of a gantry machine.

 

[bullnerd]

Track on the floor would be easy. Use anchored down chain for motion like they do with the big bandsaw mills.

I picture a 10' aluminum ladder for the Y gantry! lol!

How tall is the ceiling? Upside down mounted to the ceiling FTW! lol!

I mentioned your project to an occasional member here that could design this whole thing while taking a nap, and for little $$$, but I'm not sure if he will chime in.

 

[dkmc]

A number of years ago I designed, then built several Gantry machines for Waterjet cutting of stone. They were about as simple and modular as can be.
Just open loop stepper motor driven because there is no cutting force involved.

 

[bullnerd]

A number of years ago I designed, then built several Gantry machines for Waterjet cutting of stone. They were about as simple and modular as can be.
Just open loop stepper motor driven because there is no cutting force involved.

See, gantry looks like an aluminum ladder! lol!

Nice job dkmc.

 

[Countyroadtrailers]

Track on the floor would be easy. Use anchored down chain for motion like they do with the big bandsaw mills.

I picture a 10' aluminum ladder for the Y gantry! lol!

How tall is the ceiling? Upside down mounted to the ceiling FTW! lol!

I mentioned your project to an occasional member here that could design this whole thing while taking a nap, and for little $$$, but I'm not sure if he will chime in.

I thought about gate opener chain lol. Maybe driven up each leg of the gantry and jackshafted from the top so there is just one motor to deal with, unless I could simply feed it from one side. I could use even gate track drilled to the concrete floor, gate chain keeping the cost lower.

Will normal cnc software deal with sizes this big?

My roof is 20 foot tall



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[Countyroadtrailers]

A number of years ago I designed, then built several Gantry machines for Waterjet cutting of stone. They were about as simple and modular as can be.

Just open loop stepper motor driven because there is no cutting force involved.

Yes there would be no cutting force for mine either, 10-15 lbs of upward force from the spray but that's about it.

Some of my roofs have a corner radius that would need to be sprayed at a angle towards the RV so that would be neat if I could incorporate that movement potentially. But honestly I have set out this quest with the idea to let this semi automatic do even just the flat work would save a day of work per each.



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[dkmc]

Some of my roofs have a corner radius that would need to be sprayed at a angle towards the RV so that would be neat if I could incorporate that movement potentially.

You could make it 4 or even 5 axis, and any angle, radius, shape, etc could be programmed for your spray head to follow.

 

[bdbecker]

I thought about gate opener chain lol. Maybe driven up each leg of the gantry and jackshafted from the top so there is just one motor to deal with, unless I could simply feed it from one side. I could use even gate track drilled to the concrete floor, gate chain keeping the cost lower.

Will normal cnc software deal with sizes this big?

A lot of guys make their own v-track using angle iron. If you've got a welder, or know someone who can fab, that may be an more economical option than purchasing the door track.

This is just my opinion, but I would personally avoid a complex chain and sprocket arrangement if at all possible. I can just see a situation where chunks of stuff or drips of oil start finding their way into the product you are spraying and causing rework. Multiple stepper motors can be synced and driven off the same driver, provided the driver is sized correctly and has the capacity to handle the load.

I don't believe software will be an issue. Related to that, as simple as your application is, manually writing the G-code would be pretty straightforward. I don't think you'll need to purchase a sophisticated software package right away because you will only use 1% of what the software has to offer. Manually writing G-code is also a really good way to learn the basics of what is going on with CNC programming as well. Once the system is up and running and you want to start adding additional axis control, then it might make sense to get programming software.

...Some of my roofs have a corner radius that would need to be sprayed at a angle towards the RV so that would be neat if I could incorporate that movement potentially. But honestly I have set out this quest with the idea to let this semi automatic do even just the flat work would save a day of work per each...

As the old saying goes "crawl, walk, run". I think you're on the right path wanting to get the X and Y part of the system sorted out first. The Z, A, B, and C can come later.