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  1. #1
    So, my name is Jesse.
    I'm going into college next year to do 3d design for two years.

    I enjoy modding motorbikes and Pcs!

    I've been wanting to build a CNC machine for a year at least and I've now ran into some money to do my motorbike bike test and build a CNC machine!

    I've got some designs, I'm going to be using linear bearings on 16mm steel rods and will probably use leadscrews with nema 23 steppers.

    All put together on some extruded Alu. The budget of this is going to be as low as possible!

    my Local Metal supplier is great! as long as I go around there with a pack of biscuits and when the boss is out he just makes up a number in his head for bits I need!

    I'll be CNCing Aluminium mainly so I was looking at a kress 800watt spindle.

    I'm hopefully going to get a working machine! I've already purchased some linear bearings so they can't go to waist now!!

    If anyone knows any good places to get things like Leadscrews, Housed bearings etc, then that would be a great help. I've just been looking on ebay.

    I'm looking forward to being an active community member not only getting help, but giving it too :)

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    So, my name is Jesse.
    I'm going into college next year to do 3d design for two years.
    Hmm, that implies you're about the same age as me...

    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    I enjoy modding motorbikes and Pcs!
    ...so does that!


    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    I'm going to be using linear bearings on 16mm steel rods ... If anyone knows any good places to get things like Leadscrews, Housed bearings etc, then that would be a great help. I've just been looking on ebay.
    I hope that's supported 16mm rails, not just round bar. It depends how big the machine your building is and what you want to do with it, but in general supported will be better (less deflection & vibration) and not too expensive if you get it from linearmotionbearings2008 on eBay.

    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    All put together on some extruded Alu. The budget of this is going to be as low as possible!
    I think steel box section is the most economical material to use for the frame. Aluminium extrusion is strong, but expensive. Having said that if you're paying with biscuits that may not be a problem

    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    I'll be CNCing Aluminium mainly so I was looking at a kress 800watt spindle.
    Definately use supported rail then if you want to be able to machine it accurately at a decent feedrate.

    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    I'm hopefully going to get a working machine! I've already purchased some linear bearings so they can't go to waist now!!
    Looks like it might be too late... I should have read the whole post first.

  3. #3
    Pretty close age wise.

    The mill I'm building is A4 Size, I've looked at many machines this size like this one

    I haven't paid for them yet, I was holding off until I had completely finished my drawing and I have now, almost. I'm in that process of making the numbers nice to work with.

    Extruded Alu for my A4 Cnc comes to a cool £60 excl P+P from Zapp and I'd say my design will be on par strength wise with the one I've linked.

    I may go full supported rail, but it's really expensive!

  4. #4
    i2i's Avatar
    Lives in Cardiff, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 25-10-2022 Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 699. Received thanks 29 times, giving thanks to others 1 times.
    Hi Jesse, i have a set of leadscrews that i removed from a working router that you're welcome to. I'm based in Cardiff as well, so you can collect them if you want.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to i2i For This Useful Post:


  6. #5
    Thanks but what lengths are they?

    I managed to cancel my order for the closed linear bearings. I will be buying Some 20mm supported rail, 600x600x300.

    While walking the dogs I saw my neighbor (who works at the metal shop) and they said under £10 for 1000mm of extruded box section Alu! That was off the top of their head though....

    So I'm thinking I'm going for linearmotionbearings2008 20mm supported rail kit, 50x50mm box section Alu and a 1000watt Spindle.

    Should be a beast! Plenty of 10mm Alu thrown into the design as well, for good measure Ofc!

    I'll be starting a build log soonish. I would respond quicker but the Mods have to monitor my posts! :( :(

  7. #6
    i2i's Avatar
    Lives in Cardiff, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 25-10-2022 Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 699. Received thanks 29 times, giving thanks to others 1 times.
    820mm, 670mm and 250mm, with nuts and bearings. If your picking them up you can have a nose at the router as it's currently being modded.

  8. #7
    If you can afford little bit more on the rails then get the 25mm (at least for the X axis) as it has one more row of balls than the 20mm rail. On my machine I used 25mm and 20mm and the 25mm clearly has less play in it. Might be a bit over the top for an A4 size machine...

    So it's just aluminium box section, not aluminium profile? It must be for that price...if it is just box section then how are you intending to fix the ends together? Steel+welding would be easiest.

    Have you considered getting one of the water cooled spindles that are available on eBay? I was going to get a Kress but decided/was persuaded that the water cooled one is better as it's quieter, less runout, stronger in general and won't wear out as fast. The collets are also a lot cheaper than Kress. I got the 2.2kW version since it takes 1/2" collets.

    Have you got a milling machine to cut the 10mm aluminium? If not I can help you there ...

  9. #8
    My budget is around £800~, Though I wouldn't like to spend this all On a CNC Machine as I need to buy ALU, motorbike parts and my Mod1+2

    My current criteria are:

    Supported Rails
    A3 workable area

    I plan to:
    Mill Aluminium.
    Acrylic

    What would you recommend as you guys know best? is the LC spindle really needed over a cheaper alternate such as the kress.

    is 40mm Alu Profile ok to build a machine of my needs with?

    is making the leap to 25mm supports really needed for a A3 machine?

    what Force Nema 23 motors will I get away with?

    Thanks.


    PS. I have a Drill Press, Some Cobalt bits, Files and Lots of time so I souldn't need anything CNC'd for me to make it :)

    but if I do, You'll have a PM,

  10. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    What would you recommend as you guys know best? is the LC spindle really needed over a cheaper alternate such as the kress.
    The Kress is in the end still a router, not a proper spindle. It will have more run-out, be noisier etc and won't last forever. The minimum rpm is 5000 ... whereas you can go lower with the water cooled spindle. That's good for cutting metals.
    Maybe get a really really cheap router to start with then save up for the spindle? I started out with a router for about £6 from the car boot sale ... one of the ones from Aldi. This is what I have now got:

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-2KW-WATER-CO...ht_7977wt_1139

    For an A3 size machine the only reason to get the 2.2kW version is because it takes bigger collets. The extra power wont be required.

    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    is 40mm Alu Profile ok to build a machine of my needs with?
    Do you have a drawing of it, or better know its second moment of area?

    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    is making the leap to 25mm supports really needed for a A3 machine?
    It's not needed, but every little helps. The more rigid the machine is the faster you can cut whilst still maintaining a good finish. I regret not getting 25mm for the Y and Z axis, but then my machine is much bigger.

    Quote Originally Posted by jcb121 View Post
    what Force Nema 23 motors will I get away with?
    These 3Nm ones are popular/economical:

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-X-3Nm-St...#ht_1617wt_905

    You could use less, but the price per Nm goes up if you do. The main thing is to look for motors with a low inductance and run them on a high voltage as that gets more torque at higher rpm. With those motors 70V will work well, which means you'll spend about £40-£50 on each driver.

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  12. #10
    So would these Stepper motors with these Stepper drivers hooked up to this breakout board with this 48v PSU or this 36V PSU

    and that would be the electrical side done apart from the spindle?

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