Hi all,

This morning I have replied to a post and also introduced myself there, but I think I should go for a proper introduction in the right place, so here we go ...

I am Italian (well, no one is perfect!) and currently live in Kent. I come from a software development background (web and mobile apps) with occasional drifts into DIY building stuff. Three years ago, wanting to learn arc welding, I built a trike bicycle using steel tubes and parts cannibalised from old bicycles I found at a local scrap metal place in Italy.

Fast forward to last September 2015 when I bought an OX-type machine from a UK supplier. It's sturdier than the openbuilds standard model in that it has double plates on the Y axes. My experience with it is not too bad, but I believe I have exaggerated with the size (1000 x 1500mm). Its limit is visible in the design, especially the direct-coupling belt drive, where you have your steppers rotating very slowly compared to when using acme screws, for example, or at least some gearing on the pulleys (I really appreciated the excellent post by JAZZCNC on http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/3823-...med-CNC-router about this and other aspect of CNC design). This specific shortcoming is my main concern, as it does not only limit resolution, but, because the steppers would be running slower than their optimal speed, it seems to me that this is also the cause of unwanted vibration at low feeds.

However, the entire exercise of building a ready-prepared mechanical kit has been an invaluable (albeit expensive) learning experience for me. I feel I have learnt a lot about basic CNC. I am controlling the machine with the xPRO CNC v2 controller board from Spark Concepts, which integrates four stepper drivers. I am using Fusion 360 as CAD-CAM; not only is this now effectively free and, but, although it takes a bit more time than other programs to get to grips with, the effort is paid back in learning experience, as I find the CAM module amazingly detailed. I use Universal G-Code Sender to send the code generated by Fusion to the actual machine.

I have recently started renting a workshop where I plan to develop lamps for children of my own design (mainly woodwork, but I foresee adding some metal parts, too). Whilst I'll be using my current machine for the time being (I am using my existing DeWalt 611 router on it, again not the best option ...), I am seriously thinking of building my own. I could design my new machine from scratch, and have now had a look at the very many building ideas in this forum, but I feel that I could do with some general advice on initial building choices for a strong, steel-framed (or better aluminium?) design that could be used as the basis for designing an industrial-quality DIY machine?

I am looking at a machine in the size range 1000mm x 1500mm, capable of managing an entire plywood sheet 1200x600, and the budget would be in the range £1,000-£2,000. I would re-use my existing controller and possibly my existing NEMA 23 steppers. Eventually, I would also like to add an engraving laser head (max 3W) aside the spindle (perhaps a liquid-cooled Chinese one?).

This could hopefully be my spare-time project this year. Is there any 'consolidated' knowledge on DIY CNC design, such as this is better than that, do this, don't do that? Or the point (and fun) of it all is that there is not such a thing?

It's a fascinating subject, and I can see CNC DIY-type machine are growing in popularity. They are more complex to manage than 3D printers or laser CNCs, but the ability to mill 'real' materials has no comparison!

Thank you all !!!

Ciao // Enrico