Stone Machine

[ramsbury]

Well folks.
I have decided to Build a Stone profiling machine.
After looking at hundreds of machines online and at stone fairs and shows decided they are Either too small for what I can afford. so expect to build a machine to the same size of commercial machine for the same price as a smaller machine.

Reason to increase production.

Began last weekend
Buying the Steel..

Machine Dimensions are:

2700mm long 2440 x axis.
1350mm wide 1220 Y axis.
1500mm high. 450 Z Axis.

Steel box section rectangular 120mm x 60mm x 5mm..

Nema 34 1600oz pair on X to drive two R&P and on Y to drive a single ballscrew Undecided what size,, on Z probably 820oz simply to have the guts to drive a 3kw motor with a diamond profile finger into stone with Cuts at 10mm deep Max per pass, without dropping steps.
commercial hexagonal rails and profiled rollers on x because of stone dust and water
still looking for a supplier.

THK rails for Y and Z

mainly based on a 3 axis Stone saw But with a spindle cutter instead of a Disk.
the Table is my design which will take 500kg without too much deflection.

the maths works out at 0.45mm deflection at 3 metres unattached so should be able to achieve .04 at least after welding legs on.


Cut the steel two days ago.
Ground the ends and started welding today.

[kingcreaky]

sounds like you have it all worked out! we expect plenty of pictures

[ramsbury]

Here are the first two Pictures Started welding last wednesday and Saturday, didn't realise how much welding there is in it, Ive still got corner holding plates, two middle braces, 4 more legs, Diagonal braces and of course the Runner supports for the rails. then Ill be ready to start making the Gantry. I was thinking Brake pressed or welded steel Made boxes and steel across the gantry itself to take. Rails which will be profile with carriage.

Although the frame will easily support 1 ton of stone It will also be bolted to the Concrete floor where it will be placed.

Input would always be welcome.

[Lee Roberts]

Looking good, subscribed...

[ramsbury]

Has anyone any experience with R&P integrated profile rails?.

[ramsbury]

Decided to go with servos instead of steppers

[george uk]

Hi

what was the deciding factor, ?

[ramsbury]

Hi

what was the deciding factor, ?

decided to Go with Servos. steppers just don't have the Continuous torque for the length on the machine,thee is also the possibility of extending it. Most of the stone I shall be cutting will be over 1700mmlong x 500mm widex 100-300. now toying with a 4th axis to make columbs instead of building another machine.

[george uk]

hi

thee is also the possibility of extending it

.

If so, you may wish to consider the rotating ballnut design for driving your X

now toying with a 4th axis to make columbs instead of building another machine.

Have you played much with the software, because there are options for 2 sided machining, and it would be a lot easer to do columns with 2 sided machining than rotating it. 4th axis is well worth doing, but if you specificaly want colums, or anything of that weight, you would be better doing a vertical machine just for them.

I would have a play with some of the software, meshcam ( free trial ) is a good bit of software to start with if you want to see what 2 sided machining can achieve, the learning curve of the software is reletivly easy as well

MeshCAM - CNC Software - CAD/CAM Software

[ramsbury]

Definatly sticking with R&P can get it to .04 most of the software I have used is lettercutting on various machines Ive looked at vertical machines and they are simple to make.. 4 axis is a secondary thought but may still.
so will take your advice and have a look at some software, I suspect I shall have the machine finished in about 4 months at the rate im going.