DIY Build of Aluminium CNC Wood Router without Workshop & Tools

**JAZZCNC** · 02-09-2012

Originally Posted by m_c

Jazz, got any good suppliers for taps?
I'm needing a couple..

I buy most of my stuff from cutwel tools www,cutweltools.co.uk

Not the one of the cheapest around but high quality and Ok prices. Great delivery and not unusual for me to order at 5pm and still receive next day am.!

**WandrinAndy** · 21-09-2012

Thanks to Irving and Jazz, I'm going vertical... as this solves the logistical space constraints of doing my CNC build in my touring caravan whilst still living around it... and most importantly this has allowed a wider re-design getting rid of those finicky corner post thingamajigs!

Drive belt assembly for the X-Axis sorted... will use a 2250mm belt.

Getting closer to the end... of the beginning.

**WandrinAndy** · 22-10-2012

I'm still faffing about on my design, and have been thinking of the possibility of eventually upgrading my machine to handle 8x4 sheets of MDF... vertically.

So with this possibility in mind, have extended the length of the X-axis... ball-screw, profile-rail, and extrusion.

These components now give me a cutting length of 1220mm, whether they are initially used on the X-axis or later transferred to the Y-axis.

The unsupported Y-axis will initially be 800mm... and later 1400mm.

So I've redesigned my Y-axis as below. Although pictured horizontally, this machine will be used with the X-Axis running vertically. As always critique is most welcome...

Have also taken a stab at pulley brackets on the top [right] of the X-axis for the gantry counterweights.

**WandrinAndy** · 05-11-2012

Quick query on the adjustable recessed motor mounts that many folk seem to have machined.... I will be using Nema23 motors...

Is 10mm plate sufficiently thick for making the mounts... and then having a border of 10mm wide left unmachined all around the motor sufficiently strong?

Btw, for the counter-balancing I picked up some nice strong 60mm steel groove wheels from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3209778190...84.m1439.l2649

**Jonathan** · 05-11-2012

Originally Posted by WandrinAndy

Is 10mm plate sufficiently thick for making the mounts... and then having a border of 10mm wide left unmachined all around the motor sufficiently strong?

Yes it should be. I've done it by cutting a pocket for the motor into 1/2" aluminium, so the surface the motor actually rests on is only about 4mm thick, but the border is 12.7mm thick. This provides plenty of support without reducing the available shaft length.