Just a brief update to show that I have not abandoned the project and am alive and well. I just didn't have enough time and way too many distractions, including Christmas, BristleBot, Quadcopter, Photo Studio, Arduino Ethershield, and summer to get back into CNC.
A few smaller events...
I made contact with someone in Tasmania who's caught the CNC bug and he's making nice progress building his table. He's using MDF, aluminium angles, and ball bearings instead of shafts and linear bearings and he reports it's a rock-solid design.
Google Analytics tells me that I get more visits on my blog when I DON'T post. Well, seems like less is more... By the way, if you are using Google Analytics yourself, then you can look at the source of this page to figure out how I filter my own visits to the site. If there is demand, I can post the details.
I realised that I have to move the wall-mounted shelving in my garage to make space for the router table. Arrrgh.
Back soon...
2 comments:
I am working on a very similar design to yours, but using two ball screws, and different reasoning. Basically I think I can add a lath style 4th axis to my machine at a later date and with the table below the X axis, allows for room to turn something in the lath part.
I also am taking much longer than anticipated due to other obligations including travel work and life. And keep getting stuck on minor issues such as weather to use steel or alloy for various parts.
Also what are you making your frame from, I am trying to work out if the weight of steel (close to 200kgs) is worth while or using all alloy (140kgs), as I want to cut steel with my gantry, but don't want it to be tooo slow to accelerate (the max speeds are fine... if it can reach them).
Matt,
I intend to make my table from MDF, ie, wood. My skills & knowledge aren't good enough to go for metal, so I can't say anything meaningful about the choice between steel or alloy.
I guesss your selection of stepper motor and drive system will have to find the sweet-spot for your desired stepping precision, maximum speed, cutting force, and acceleration, given the gantry weight.
Sorry I couldn't be of much help
Thomas
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