New Build, Aluminium Frame Router/Mill

[Davek0974]

Bit more...

Z Axis front plate...

Yes, that is a boo-boo in the bottom right corner of the pocket, what happens when you grab the Z axis handle on the mill instead of the Y axis, D'oh!

Its only about 0.5mm deep so will not affect anything.

Z axis motor mount plate...


Coming along nicely :)

[Davek0974]

Also building a fog-buster style coolant unit, seems the best choice, not sure what to fill it up with though???

[Davek0974]

Little more progress, started getting parts ready to assemble the Z axis...



All the motion parts arrived today, along with the spindle and VFD :)

[sinnsvak]

Looking great so far! In this last picture, will that stick out be for the X-axis movement?

If i may ask a question about the Z-frontplate, that cutout for the Z-axis nut, how thin can the wall be in that area before one can notice any weakness?

I dont have a fog buster, but a simple mister from aliexpress, and alcohol works great for my projects. No cleanup needed afterwards, but if you need more lubrication to handle i.e. gummy alu, you gonna want something oily.

[Davek0974]

Yes, thats the plan, it protrudes enough to get me over the screw so i can fit a drop bracket for the nut. The cutout clears the Z axis motor body.

The Z front plate and the very front plate where the tool mounts are 20mm thick and needed 7.5mm taken out of each to align the rails and screw. I don't feel that will make any difference at all to strength - the tool mount plate is also reinforced by having the linear rails bolted to the back of it. The rear Z plate is has the Z axis linear carriages aligned directly with the support plates (shown in the pic) for the X axis linear carriages - the forces are transferred directly from Z to X.

Having built two plasma tables out 3mm steel which were still very sturdy, this thing is being built like a mini battleship!

[sinnsvak]

Yes, thats the plan, it protrudes enough to get me over the screw so i can fit a drop bracket for the nut. The cutout clears the Z axis motor body.

The Z front plate and the very front plate where the tool mounts are 20mm thick and needed 7.5mm taken out of each to align the rails and screw. I don't feel that will make any difference at all to strength - the tool mount plate is also reinforced by having the linear rails bolted to the back of it. The rear Z plate is has the Z axis linear carriages aligned directly with the support plates (shown in the pic) for the X axis linear carriages - the forces are transferred directly from Z to X.

Having built two plasma tables out 3mm steel which were still very sturdy, this thing is being built like a mini battleship!

Thanks, I also think the forces are pretty much directly transferred from Z-carriages to X-carriages. One important task the z-plate also does is keeping the rotational forces at bay, and I agree, 7,5mm less wont make a speck of difference.

I will look over my own drawing and see if I cant do the same.

[njhussey]

.......this thing is being built like a mini battleship!

I know that one, my Z front plate is 40mm thick...think I only took a similar amount out of that, overkill??!!

[Davek0974]

Better over than under ;)