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7 Attachment(s)
4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Hi all, thought it was about time I broke my silence and made myself known on here. Building my own CNC router is something I've wanted to do for a long time. Over 10 years ago whilst pondering the best way to tackle a woodworking project I came up with the idea of a cross vise on a drill press using a router bit to create a low cost but reasonably accurate solution. It then occurred to me that I could put motors on each axis and voila my own CNC machine. A short amount of Googling later revealed I wasn't the first to have this idea and that using a drill press in this manor wasn't a good idea and that is when I stumbled across the buildyourcnc website. Over the years I have collected project ideas and developed my machine requirements to a point well beyond the limitations of an MDF machine which is when I settled on a design based on Joe's Evo machine.
A decade goes by and I'm now in a position where I have the space to build a machine, more importantly I have approval from the boss!! The only thing in short supply is time, a young family takes up the majority of time and energy that I would usually commit to hobbies but I've set myself goals to make this happen. I'm determined to start building this summer and have spent the last 6 months or so learning Fusion 360 and designing my machine. I'm a long term (18 years+) Pro/Engineer / Creo user and initially found Fusion really wasn't intuitive but I'm getting there slowly.
So on to my machine, as mentioned it started as Joe's Evo but I have made tweaks along the way and have ended up with something that doesn't have much in common with this starting point. I've settled on a cutting area of 4' x 4' x 8" with an increased travel (an extra 12") on the y-axis (still confused about which is x and y but it makes most sense to me for the long axis to be y not the gantry) to allow dovetailing or a 4th / 5th axis to be added at some point in the future. I'll be working mainly with wood, plastic and with the occasional bit of aluminium.
The base frame consists of 2 welded side frames (made from 50x50x3 box section with 100x50x4 for the top beams), a welded top frame acting as the machine bed, and lower cross beams. These are all bolted together and then the top beams levelled using epoxy.
The x & y axes uses 20mm Hiwin rails, the z uses 15mm. The x rails are mounted top and bottom of a length of 160 x 80mm aluminium extrusion. The z axis has the carriages fixed to the x axis and the rails on the moving spindle mount plate. I believe this will give me the stiffest setup.
Up until this point I am pretty happy with the design although there is a lot more detail to be added before I start building. I have a number of questions that I would really appreciate the benefit of everyone else's superior knowledge and experience:
- How much over travel should each axis have, e.g. for the 4' x-axis how long should the travel really be? Is an extra 1" each side about right?
- What should the clearance between the collet and the spoilboard be at maximum (lowest) travel of the z-axis?
- What is the best transmission method for this size machine? A lot of people on here use ballscrews but there seems to be a move away from this within the Joe's CNC community for bigger machines (over 1000m). I'm currently using the CNC router parts rack and pinion unit but wondering if this is the best solution?
- I'm a little stuck on how I maintain the parallel relationship between the y-axis rails and the racks. Once the frame has been levelled with epoxy it is straightforward to align the rails, but my assumption is that the epoxy is the only reliable datum and the side of the frame could be distorted / twisted due to the welding. The best I can come up with is to either mount the rack on a piece of angle fixed to the top of the epoxy or mount the rail and rack to a piece of aluminium extrusion to keep them both parallel?
I'm sure there will be hundreds of questions to come, thanks all for looking and any suggestions you have.
Cheers,
Jon
P.S. Ignore the left hand side in these pics, I have only concentrated on the right hand side for now.
Attachment 24440
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Attachment 24443
Attachment 24444
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Attachment 24446
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Hi Jon,
I'm currently building a Joes Hybrid R&P 8ft x 4ft
my build is budget constrained so that's why I went with the cnc routerparts pinion drives but even for my machine at 8ft you can go ballscrews- they just need to be 25mm or bigger I was advised to stop the whipping.
If you are still thinking of the pinion drives then please be aware that the spur gear they use is a US imperial pitch size, so if you don't have any machining options they could be very expensive to change to metric- I was quoted £100 each spur! I found it difficult to obtain the Imperial Rack size here so had to sort it a different route.
Afraid that's my only input as I have followed most of the plans fairly closely.
Best of luck with the build :)
Regards
Graham
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Hi Jonnyfive
Overall design concept looks OK, but some comments.
1) An extra 1" travel will be fine to allow the machine to go slightly over the home switch/prox and reverse back to settle at the home position. Gives a small amount of room before any physical hard stop.
2) When the Z is at maximum travel the collet needs to be close enough so that the cutting bit can level the board. I notice on your design that there is still plenty of Z travel left when nearly fully down, which is a bit of a waste. It also means when the Z axis is fully up/home it is still fairly close to the board which will limit the maximum height of the part you can cut. If you want to do vice work this gap looks too small. Most people work to 150 mm from a typical tool tip to the spoil board when fully raised. Yours looks considerably closer. Just check this is what you want the machine to do. You will see other machines on here use vertical risers on the bed, or vertical extensions of the side members for the base frame to get the main beam high enough that the gantry then runs on.
3) Never used R&P so can't comment. Others may be able to chip in on whether you can go up from 16 mm ballscrew to 20 mm ballscrew as an alternative step before going to R&P for the long axis, potentially tensioned at both ends. Wait for advice on that one . . .
4) I've seen racks shimmed in using a DTI mounted to the carriage of the rail, ensuring it runs parallel. Either use proper shim stock or aluminium foil if the gaps are not that big. One thing to consider is that the stiffness of that axis depends on the stiffness of the rack mounting so I wouldn't favour angle brackets and the like, rather a very solid shimmed mount back to the main gantry.
Best bit is when it is all built and moving you will be able to say JonnyFive is alive :friendly_wink:
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Thanks for the replies.
Graham:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GrahamWhite
If you are still thinking of the pinion drives then please be aware that the spur gear they use is a US imperial pitch size
I knew it was an imperial rack but had assumed it was of the standard DP type that isn't too hard to find? Do you know what pitch it is? What is the solution you have come up with?
routercnc:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
routercnc
1) An extra 1" travel will be fine to allow the machine to go slightly over the home switch/prox and reverse back to settle at the home position. Gives a small amount of room before any physical hard stop.
OK, I'll go with 50" travel, I'll round up to 1300mm as I'm a metric kind of guy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
routercnc
2) When the Z is at maximum travel the collet needs to be close enough so that the cutting bit can level the board. I notice on your design that there is still plenty of Z travel left when nearly fully down, which is a bit of a waste. It also means when the Z axis is fully up/home it is still fairly close to the board which will limit the maximum height of the part you can cut. If you want to do vice work this gap looks too small. Most people work to 150 mm from a typical tool tip to the spoil board when fully raised. Yours looks considerably closer.
This is why I was asking so that I can adjust the offset between the spoilboard and the gantry, it's at a random arbitrary dimension at the moment which I agree looks too small. I guess my question should have been how much does the shortest cutter stick out from the spindle, so long as that just touches the spoilboard then I can adjust my gantry height from that point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
routercnc
Just check this is what you want the machine to do. You will see other machines on here use vertical risers on the bed, or vertical extensions of the side members for the base frame to get the main beam high enough that the gantry then runs on.
Not entirely sure waht you mean by this, can you explain please?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
routercnc
4) I've seen racks shimmed in using a DTI mounted to the carriage of the rail, ensuring it runs parallel. Either use proper shim stock or aluminium foil if the gaps are not that big.
I can see the advantage of a ballscrew as there are only two points that need shimming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
routercnc
One thing to consider is that the stiffness of that axis depends on the stiffness of the rack mounting so I wouldn't favour angle brackets and the like, rather a very solid shimmed mount back to the main gantry.
I hadn't considered this, it's a really good point thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
routercnc
Best bit is when it is all built and moving you will be able to say JonnyFive is alive :friendly_wink:
This day is a long way off but I can't wait!
Cheers!
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Ok the vertical risers comment- I meant at the moment the side members that the long axis rails sit on would need to move up to push the gantry up and that it would be stiffer if the vertical parts of the lower frame were longer rather than finding a rectangular section which was very tall and slim. In fact I would probably not go with side members quite as rectangular as you have drawn them but make them a bit more squarish. Then get the height you need by making the base frame vertical parts longer. Very tall large open rectangular sections will start to lozenge when they get pushed sideways by the cutting forces. Away from pc so I can’t sketch something.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Understood. They were originally 50x50x3 like the rest of the frame but I changed them to increase the second moment of area. I can change them back easy enough.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I bought my rack while the parts where on their way from USA, noobie error on my part! lol
I only matched up the 20 degree angle not the DP
End up buying new 60tooth gears with a hub on and new spur gears for mod 1.0 rack and drilled out and reassembled the drives, at least now if I ever need to replace the spur gear they're only £5 :)
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Good luck - it's a fun process!
I built something roughly similar a year or two back - here. Probably more useful if you look at the "what I would do different next time" comments!
Joe's CNC guys go rack and pinion because it is a heavily US-based community. R&P can be bought from US manufacturers who don't seem to make ballscrews which generally come from China. Not a popular choice for US builders, unlike UK/Europe. Seems to be almost a fashion thing rather than technical choice. Both can work but unless you really need R&P, ballscrews are much easier.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Thanks for your input Neale, just read your thread - great work on documenting everything so thoroughly!! It'd be nice to see some photos of the entire machine, looks like I'm heading along a similar path to you.
Interesting what you say about the R&P. My understanding of the ballscrew / R&P decision was that although ballscrews are more accurate & efficient anything over 1m should use R&P because the ballscrew whipping limits performance - is that correct? There doesn't seem to be much of a cost difference between the two?
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GrahamWhite
I bought my rack while the parts where on their way from USA, noobie error on my part! lol
I only matched up the 20 degree angle not the DP
End up buying new 60tooth gears with a hub on and new spur gears for mod 1.0 rack and drilled out and reassembled the drives, at least now if I ever need to replace the spur gear they're only £5 :)
Sounds like it might have been a costly way of doing things? I had considered designing my own version as there's nothing clever about it really but thought the costs would be more than buying from CNCRP.
Out of interest where did you get your aluminium extrusion from please?
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I ordered it from the UK stockist for 8020 down in Portsmouth. Again a pain to do but I was following the plans, the UK profiles didn't seem to have the same T-slot configuration as the 8020 one. Not much in the price though just longer delivery time.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GrahamWhite
I ordered it from the UK stockist for 8020 down in Portsmouth. Again a pain to do but I was following the plans, the UK profiles didn't seem to have the same T-slot configuration as the 8020 one. Not much in the price though just longer delivery time.
That's good to know, I have been in contact with them but not had prices yet. They're not far from me so was thinking I could save on delivery charge by collecting but was concerned that the cost of having it shipped from the US would be prohibitive.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I collected mine anyway and I'm in Lincolnshire lol, didn't trust a pallet delivery and it was gonna be £100 anyway way so I went for a jolly :) I think for 2x3m and 1x2m was about £430,whether that's expensive or not it suited me for the plans and everything else has fitted around that.
.........
Just looked at bosch and its actually a fair bit cheaper:( but like I say it suited the plans better
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I've been looking at item, they do a 160 x 80 profile with a slightly higher second moment than 80/20, haven't got any prices from them yet though.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JonnyFive
Interesting what you say about the R&P. My understanding of the ballscrew / R&P decision was that although ballscrews are more accurate & efficient anything over 1m should use R&P because the ballscrew whipping limits performance - is that correct? There doesn't seem to be much of a cost difference between the two?
This is where we get into real design decisions! I'm using 2005 ballscrews. There are a few online critical speed calculators available; the general consensus for 1750mm, fixed/floating bearing, screws is around 900-1000 rpm. That gives me 5000mm/min rapids, which is slower than ideal but which works for me using a hobby machine. In retrospect, I could have used 2010 and run faster. However, I am also using 2x3Nm motors to drive these. Pulley drive, but 1-1 gearing. This is because the motors are just about reaching their corner speed (where torque starts dropping rapidly) at about the "whip" speed of the ballscrews. I'm not entirely sure (because I haven't studied other people's designs) if the motors would handle the load of my heavy gantry using 2010 as there is also the acceleration/speed trade-off. I doa fair bit of small fiddly machining where acceleration is more important in overall cutting time than speed.
All I'm really saying is that you have to balance up all the conflicting requirements for an engineering compromise that is right for you and your intended use. My design/build might not be optimal, even for me, but at least it works! There are plenty of posts one this forum with other designs successfully using ballscrews of this kind of length and I would happily do the same again.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
That's good to know, I appreciate your input. I'll keep trawling through build logs and see what others have come up with.
Given what you have said do you think it would be better to have used torquier motors and gear them down to get the speed up, perhaps needing to go up in screw diameter as a consequence? I have no real concept of how fast is too fast / slow or how much torque is needed to cut at reasonable feeds. I have a combination of small fiddly and large uncomplicated projects that I'd like to be able to do on my machine. Initially I'm not that concerned about speed but at some point I would like to make some money out of this and so higher speed would be nice.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Does this look about the right amount of clearance with the z-axis at its lowest?
Attachment 24464
My plan is to have two pieces of wood for the bed, the top one being sacrificial. I've assumed the shortest cutter would stick out about 25mm and allowed this much clearance from the top of the first spoil board. This should allow for the top board to be resurfaced a few times and still give enough travel on the Z. Am I about right with this?
Cheers
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JonnyFive
Does this look about the right amount of clearance with the z-axis at its lowest?
Attachment 24464
My plan is to have two pieces of wood for the bed, the top one being sacrificial. I've assumed the shortest cutter would stick out about 25mm and allowed this much clearance from the top of the first spoil board. This should allow for the top board to be resurfaced a few times and still give enough travel on the Z. Am I about right with this?
Cheers
Spindle looks ok but spindle plate would be better higher to give clearance for clamps or vice jaws. To still give enough travel the whole gantry then needs to be raised the same amount. But if you move it too high then the Z axis has to extend down further so it is all a balancing act in the design stage.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Ok, I’ll move things around a bit to raise the gantry and mounting plate. Cheers
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JonnyFive
Ok, I’ll move things around a bit to raise the gantry and mounting plate. Cheers
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If you raise the Z plate and lower the spindle in the clamp to stop the Z plate catching clamps etc.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I had the spindle mount lower down in my original pics. I’ll put it back where it was. Thanks [emoji1303]
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2 Attachment(s)
Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I have now moved the spindle mount lower onto the backing plate, how does this look?:
Attachment 24477Attachment 24478
I have done a bit more digging into why people within the Joe's community have moved away from ball screws to R&P, the reasoning appears to be about speed, ease of assembly / maintenace and price more than anything. Looking at the pricing of C7 leadscrews on BST Automation they seem to be cheaper than using the CNC routerparts rack and pinion system (although the postage costs are about as much as the screws!) - I'm confused as to which way to go, any suggestions please? Would I be looking at 2010 for the longest axis, it will be 1600mm long? This comes out around 1000RPM critical speed - is this too low?
All help gratefully received.
Cheers :beer:
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Are you confusing lead screws and ball screws?
Joe's used to use lead screws and went to R&P ,ball screws are better than both but way more expensive!
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Looks ok to me with that spindle mount position. One thing I did on my Mk3 was to drill and tap a second set of holes a bit higher on the Y plate so I had the option of mounting it higher for very tall work. Of course you can only reach across that work an amount until the Y plate may hit it but it is a quick feature to add at the build stage. I also added tapped holes along one edge of the Y plate to allow me to bolt a reference strip and maintain spindle tram alignment whilst adjusting the spindle holder. Never used it of course! But worth a mention
Can’t help on the ballscrew a that long and r&p as haven’t used them.
If you search the forum that sort of thing has been asked before and Jazzcnc has given advice
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
As far as I can tell Joe's Hybrid machine used lead screws, the Evo used ball screws and the EVO MKII uses R&P, just wondering why they would move away from ball screws if they are the best?
Good shout putting extra holes for spindle mounting, I'll definitely do that.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Hello, I am new to this forum and I was looking for information of "pinion & rack & gear reduction with spring tension" -packs - similar to cncrouterparts version of
PRO Rack and Pinion Drive, NEMA 34.
Reasons why I decided to use rack & pinion were exactly those that JF mentioned above (+ the option to make extensions later). So if anyone can help me where can I get as ready sollution as possible I am interested to hear. Nema 34 and module probably 1.25 with straight teeth (the rack can be cut with laser).
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Been making very slow progress on my design lately and I'm looking at redesigning my frame but can't decide what size tubing to use. Originally I was using 50x50x3 for most of the frame with 100x50x4 for the rail support, I'm toying with increasing this to 50x50x4, 50x50x5 or possibly even 60x60x5. Obviously there is a cost difference associated with each option so I'd like to do some sort of stress / deflection calculations to work out whether the cost is justified. Can anyone tell me what sort of loading I should be applying to my design to work this out please? I have seen example calculations with 50N as the load on the spindle which seems more than enough from my experience using a hand router - is this a good number to work with? If so I don't imagine I will get much flex from the frame using 50x50x3 let alone the heavier sections, I think most deflection will come from the bearings and aluminium extrusion gantry. What is an acceptable amount of deflection? I understand the argument for increasing mass to reduce vibration but if I can reduce the material costs for the frame and find another way of adding mass to it (sand / epoxy filling the frame?) then I can spend the money elsewhere.
Thanks for your help!
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I know that you've had a look at my write-up already. I used 3mm wall thickness. If I were doing it again, I might have used 4mm for some of the parts (like anything that has a rail bolted you it) just for better damping. However, from a strength point of view I am happy with what I have, remembering that my machine is very much hobby class, not commercial/production. Just recently I have been machining quite a lot of small steel components. I use small (2-4mm three-flute coated carbide designed to run without coolant) cutters at around 7-8K RPM and am getting good results. Again, not production-style heavy cuts but the ability to machine more complex profiles (with some 3D work as well) means that I use the router in preference to my vertical mill. My gantry is quite stiff (three 50x50x3 sections). I'm pretty happy with the overall capability which is much more than I might have expected and way beyond what I had hoped to achieve.
This is just one data point from one user so consider it alongside other opinions and designs but it emphasises that engineering design is as much about compromise as ultimate performance in one aspect. After all, my machine is too slow for an ideal woodworking machine and much too light for decent metal cutting. The fact that I can get acceptable results, even if not optimum, owes more to luck than judgment...
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
The thicker the better as it significantly dampens vibrations which translates into cleaner cuts and longer tool life.
Don't be messing around with sand etc because while it dampens vibrations slightly the cost in performance due to the extra weight is too expensive for the returns.
Spending a little extra for Thicker steel will pay dividends in quality and stiffness.
For a machine this size I'd go with 60x60x5 as a minimum. It will give you a much stiffer machine than using 50x50. I've built machines this size using both sizes and 60x60 is the better choice.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Neal / Jazz - thanks for the feedback.
I'll look at thickening things up, it does add up quite a bit - going from 50x50x4 to 50x50x5 to 60x60x5 each jump adds about £100 but I only want to build it once so want it to be right.
Jazz - I was only thinking of sand filling the static parts, I wasn't intending to fill the gantry - I'd be much happier not to have to do this. The gantry will be the same 160x80 ali extrusion whichever way I go with the frame.
Is the 50N loading a fair number?
Cheers!
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JonnyFive
The gantry will be the same 160x80 ali extrusion whichever way I go with the frame.
Is the 50N loading a fair number
The 50N loading in which direction.? However, to be honest, no matter the direction the correlation between simulation in SW and real-world when it comes to cutting and vibrations etc won't match.
What I can tell you from experience of building god knows how many steel-framed machines is that the extra cost of using thicker steel pays big time regards vibrations. The loads going into the machine don't come close to stressing the steel so it's not something worth fretting over.
Regards the Gantry then again most of my machines use HD ITEM Profile. If you want a much stiffer gantry then I'd suggest you change design slightly and go with L shape setup like I use. Over the years I've used both setups and the L shape is far far stiffer and two pieces of 120 x 80 arranged in an L shape gives much stiffer gantry with lower vibrations than single 160x80.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
The 50N loading in which direction.?
I'm referring to the reaction force of the machine pushing the cutter through the material so could be in any direction depending on which way the router is moving. My only reference point is using a hand router and it doesn't fell like it needs 50N to push the router along. I'm talking about the cutting force as shown on this diagram:
Attachment 26549
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
two pieces of 120 x 80 arranged in an L shape gives much stiffer gantry with lower vibrations than single 160x80
Do you mean 120 x 60? I can't find 120 x 80. I have run the calcs on the L section and I'm amazed how much difference it makes - you've convinced me! Do you have any examples of the machines you've made, I'd love to see them.
Cheers :beer:
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JonnyFive
Do you mean 120 x 60? I can't find 120 x 80
Don't worry, I've found it - I was looking in the Profile 10/12 sections, it's in the Profile 8.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JonnyFive
Don't worry, I've found it - I was looking in the Profile 10/12 sections, it's in the Profile 8.
Yes, the 8mm slot is better because gives more area for profile rail to sit onto.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
I've found the 50 N force in X and Y directions to be a good guide but it is only the start. If under this simple load condition if you are <0.05 mm then I would call that a fair start point, and you would expect a fair amount of accuracy on the finished dimension.
But wait, this 50 N is a simple static force, and does not account for the repeated impacts of the cutting action in the material which will cause a ripple on top of this average force, say from 45 N to 65 N (making the numbers up to show the point) with every rotation. As the cutter rotates very fast this will cause vibrations in the machine, not only at the main impact frequency but across a wide frequency range with amplifications where the machine frame resonances are and this may show up in the finished part.
This is where the wall thickness will help you as Jazz is advising, and this is money well spent. It adds significant stiffness (more than might be suggested is required by the simple static load analysis), which will lower the vibration levels as higher frequencies decay quicker and as they are stiffer they also deflect less initially with each impact. It also adds mass which will also lower the vibration (acceleration) levels as shown by re-arrangement of the famous F=ma equation ; a = F/m). So it is a win-win up to the limit of what your steppers can accelerate around.
Technically you would not have added much damping (energy absorption through friction, e.g. damping pads or sand) but you will still have reduced the vibration amplitude through the mass and stiffness which is all that matters.
If it helps I went through the same thought process on my mk4 machine for the upper box section members on the bed. I went with 5 mm wall in the end, as every mm costs £, but I know it makes a difference.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
RouterCNC - thanks for taking the time to explain all that, I appreciate it. I've had a bit of a play with your stiffness calculator spreadsheet and I'm getting gantry deflection of <0.05mm as I would expect following Jazz's advice.
I think I'm going to redo my frame design using 60x60x5 for the legs, 120x60x5 for the rail supports and maybe use 50x50x4 for the bed and triangulation / stiffeners.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JonnyFive
I think I'm going to redo my frame design using 60x60x5 for the legs, 120x60x5 for the rail supports and maybe use 50x50x4 for the bed and triangulation / stiffeners.
I wouldn't take that route as the difference in steel price won't be massive. It will make welding more difficult because of your mixing different thicknesses and tube sizes.
At this width, the bed will be much less resonant with the thicker, wider tube size giving a better finish on parts. Esp when cutting harder materials that will resonate into the bed and frame.
Keep in mind it's the foundation of the whole machine. It really isn't worth spoiling the broth for apeth of salt.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
It really isn't worth spoiling the broth for apeth of salt.
Where's yer grammar lad? "It in't worth spoilin' t' broth for an ha'p'orth o' salt"
.
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
Keep in mind it's the foundation of the whole machine. It really isn't worth spoiling the broth for apeth of salt.
Understood, you're right, if it's worth doing it's worth doing right. I'll crack on with 60x60x5 & 60x120x5.
Cheers!
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Re: 4' x 4' x 8" Router Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kitwn
Where's yer grammar lad? "It in't worth spoilin' t' broth for an ha'p'orth o' salt"
.
Tha's reight old lad, cummin from't God's own country a shuda known bet'ta, but think tha'll fi'nd it's spelt ha'peth.!!. . . . cos we'll av non that posh "orth" rarynd here si'thi.