Comments sought on new build: A CNC Router for RC Gliders and Planes

[njhussey]

I've been wanting to build a CNC Router for some time now to help with building RC Gliders and planes. After much searching and looking on forums I've been recently collecting bits to make a CNC Router. I'm going the "skinflint" way at first to get into it before upgrading/re-designing later once I've had a good play! Bits I've bought/collected so fare are:

• 3 x Nema 23 Mineba Astrosyn 23LM-C355-P6V 1.5A/winding 550g/cm torque Steppers
• 250W 24V 10A Switching Power Supply
• 3 Axis TB6560 Stepper Motor Driver Board Controller
• TR12x3D Trapezoidal Spindles for the X & Y and TR10x2 for the Z Axis
• 6 x V£ type micro switches (limit & home)
• Emergency stop switch
• Delrin for antibacklash nuts (will make them myself from homemade tap)
• Performance Pro 701W Rotary Cutter
• 24V fans for cooling electrics
• 300x20x120 Plastic enclosure for electrics
• Screened Cable for wiring (from Work)
• Armoured cable sheath for running the wires in
• 100x100x19 block of Aluminium for making the router holder/mount

The frame is going to be made from 40x40x5 RHS steel (sourced from the scrap bin at work), the X axis rails are going to be from 1" NB CS Sch40 pipe (again from the scrap bin) the Y & Z rails from 3/4" NB Sch40 CS pipe (scrap bin raiding again!! ) The bed will be 18mm MDF. The Y Axis sides and frame are going to be from either 5mm steel or 10mm Aluminium. I'm going to use skate bearings for the runners, a combination of skate-o-rail (Z & Y Axis) and joes2006 design (Z axis)

I've had the electronics together and working, see => http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ9uujaey-0 so now I'm just drawing up the machine and starting to dimension the parts.

I'm going to make as much as I can. We have a Colchester Bantam lathe and Bridgeport milling machine at work so If I can remember how to use them (it's been over 20 years since I was last in a machine shop) I'll make all the bearing shafts, machine the leadscrew ends and drill/tap all the plates etc.

I've uploaded a PDF of what I've drawn so far (minus all the scrap bits round the side) for you all to comment on. All I want to machine is balsa and ply and possibly some plastic. Not sure it will be up to doing Aluminium so maybe that will be phase 2!

Cheers,

Neil