DIY CNC Milling Machine From Scratch

[totts]

Finally some more work, been a bit slow the past couple months with a few problems, but nearly finished the bed,



Rail slots machined and fixingings tapped!

Ready to bolt the rails on!



Slots machined and ready to accept 14mm t nuts



Next on the list it to fix the rails on and finished grind the surface.

Then purchase the electronics cabinet, start painting and building and adding strengthening bars to the machine stand and a few little odd job bits! Light at the end of the tunnel??!

[GEOFFREY]

Looking great, I think this will be a really nice machine. Great stuff. G.

[JAZZCNC]

Light at the end of the tunnel??!

Ahh ahh ahh . . .. You poor dillusional Fool.!! . . . It's only just begun.!!!. . .LOL

Nice work by the way, impressive.!! . . . . wish I'd got a big surface grinder it really does make a difference in accurecy and finished look.

[totts]

Thankyou, Yeh they are awsome machines, shame they are so damn exspensive! Lucky to be able to use one really.


Just changed all the countersunk screws to stainless ones, they were jolly tight! Doing their job !

[totts]

More progress today, cut the rails to length and screwed them onto the bed,



Countersunk screws and dowels in place,









Hopefully get it finished next week :)

[EddyCurrent]

Great workmanship, it's a thing of beauty, the T slot bed especially.

[Lee Roberts]

Looking really nice !

Question 1: What is the orange/red'ish color coming from the bottom of the rails?, looks like a layer of crafting felt or something?
Question 2: Am I right in thinking that, the dowels allow for fine adjustments of the rail towards the Datum Edge ?

.Me

[totts]

Thanks,

Lee, its copper grease just running out a bit, didnt want any of the coolant corroding the bottom of the rail and causing the table to lift, although minimal i may aswell do it while i can.


Yes the dowels are there to push the rails towards the machined datum edge. Both edges 'should' be parrallel with one another.

[Lee Roberts]

Ah right both cool ideas I haven't seen before so thanks!

Have you dialed them in with an indicator as well?

.Me

[totts]

I will run a dti over them when i put the blocks on, but should be parrallel as the steps were machined in one setup. Touch wood!

So more progress!



Added the holes to fix a plate onto the back of the main pillar




Mocking up the plate ready to drill and tap 20 holes with a hand drill :(







Y axis plate all mounted with rails too, time to start adding the rest! Will be starting to get heavy!