Steel Gantry Machine 1500x750x200

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Originally Posted by eurikain

What an awesome build ! I'd be interested to make the same one along the way ! Not sure if I did this right but I send you a PM ;) I'd be interested to make drawings from your model :)

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Hi Eurikain,
Thanks for kind words! But actually all credit should go to users in this forum. Since all i have done is been reading and copying other build logs. I might as well could use Boyan Silyavski
1st build model ;) But I find it helps me better to truly understand my machine if I have at least drawn it from ground up.

Details from Fred arrived yesterday.
Excellent packing, fast shipping and all according to requested dimensions.
http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15704&stc=1

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15705&stc=1

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15706&stc=1

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15707&stc=1

Ohhhhh boy that looks sweeeeeeeeet !!! Really nice packaging !

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Originally Posted by toomast

Hi Eurikain,
Thanks for kind words! But actually all credit should go to users in this forum. Since all i have done is been reading and copying other build logs. I might as well could use Boyan Silyavski
1st build model ;) But I find it helps me better to truly understand my machine if I have at least drawn it from ground up.

Details from Fred arrived yesterday.
Excellent packing, fast shipping and all according to requested dimensions.
http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15704&stc=1

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15705&stc=1

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15706&stc=1

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15707&stc=1

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Hi toomast,

I look forward to seeing more about your build and some more photos. I was just thinking about a build I hope to start but the talk of a whipping blonde has distracted me!

Best of luck with it

Suesi

Small update which marks the real start of my build :D
http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15858&stc=1http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15859&stc=1
Laser-cut parts will be ready tomorrow. Sadly I have one "after work hobby funding project steel staircase" to finish next week so I doubt I can get any progress soon...

Managed to weld up the gantry today :D

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=15914&stc=1

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Originally Posted by toomast

Managed to weld up the gantry today :D

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It seemed quite funny while photographing...tough crowd :D

So I'm all welded up and cleaned for painting. First plan was to weld it all together but ditched that wonderful idea. So now the frame consist of 5 pieces. Connections M10 bolts. Plenty of adjustments.
Next step is paint and then epoxy and assembly.

Attachment 16397 Attachment 16398 Attachment 16399 Attachment 16400

So now I should think about buying electronics...I have not done any research on this so please recommend! I will go with MACH3, DIY PSU, gantry squaring, home and limit switches. What BOB? Or even motion card? Drivers?

Thanks for listening!

What a beautiful work ! Seems like you've done this your whole life :)

I am not an expert but everyone seems to fit these kind of machines (steel based, roughly the weights you mentioned) with AM882 drivers (60-80V) (check out AliExpress for those, they are about 68 Euros free shipping with DHL, make sure to buy max 2 at a time or you will have to pay for shipping) with 3.1Nm Nema 23 motors from CNC4YOU (I tried finding them on AliExpress but 8 lead 3.1Nm 4.2A low inductance motors are hard to find elsewhere than on sites like CNC4YOU, Zapp Automation...). PSU I can't tell you yet as I am in the process of making one (helped by JAZZCNC). Ask the gurus and they will help you :D. For the BOB, I use a cheap chinese $10 one. Works good for what I need (5 axis, spindle on/off, spindle speed, limit switches, e-stop). That's even more than I need. Other people here will most likely tell you not to go with that and use a fancy BOB. I don't know much about BOBs so I stick with the basic cheap I've got :)

Looking forward to read other members' recommendations :)

Agreed, your work on this looks super sweet, should be a nice solid machine frame, nice one Toomast!

.Me

As I have invested a lot of time and money into this project I don't want to create unnecessary problems with cheap components. I know that lot of people use them and are happy but I don't want to waste any hour or even days for troubleshooting - just to find out the fault was the dirt cheap BOB ;)
Any other recommendations for BOB?

CSMIO all the way if you want a good one...

What you guys think http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-126 ?
Special offer at the moment together with Mach4.

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Originally Posted by toomast

What you guys think http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-126 ?
Special offer at the moment together with Mach4.

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These are excellent tried and tested solid boards

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Originally Posted by toomast

What you guys think http://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-126 ?
Special offer at the moment together with Mach4.

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They are without doubt the best BOB on the market. Steve stallings at PMDX is great bloke to deal with and will answer any questions or troubles you have.

Just to make you aware regards Mach4. Mach4 is Plug-in based so any hardware you connect needs to have a plug-in written for it by the Manufacturer.
Even the parallel port is a Plug-in which you purchase separate. This mostly affects motion controllers and there are small handful who have written a plug-in for them and then they are at differant stages of development. This means some are better than others and at the moment None of them are at level of stabilty I consider good enough for users with lower level of experience.

Steve Stallings is quite involved with Mach4 development and his plug-in's for the products he sells that need them are probably one of the best but Mach4 is constantly changing which causes troubles for him and every other manufacturer. To be honest it shouldn't have been released IMO because it's still very buggy and tempramental. Effectively users are being used has beta testers so if you want to just install and go then I'd seriosly suggest you Don't buy Mach4 yet.
It's getting better and the Mk2 update and following updates have really ironed out some of the bugs but it's still too itchy scratchy for me so I'd avoid using it.!! . . . . Lets put it this way I've had it since day one and used it with CSlabs, ESS, Pokeys plug-in's and other than for testing it I won't trust it to run my machine unattended.

PS you don't need a Plug-in to use the PMDX126 it's just a BOB.

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Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

... To be honest it shouldn't have been released IMO because it's still very buggy and tempramental. Effectively users are being used has beta testers so if you want to just install and go then I'd seriosly suggest you Don't buy Mach4 yet.
It's getting better and the Mk2 update and following updates have really ironed out some of the bugs but it's still too itchy scratchy for me so I'd avoid using it.!! . . . . Lets put it this way I've had it since day one and used it with CSlabs, ESS, Pokeys plug-in's and other than for testing it I won't trust it to run my machine unattended.

PS you don't need a Plug-in to use the PMDX126 it's just a BOB.

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Thanks for heads up! They do market MACH4 as ready goods... I will keep away from it for now.

Hi guys,

Is 156.-EUR reasonable price for:
WEST SYSTEM EPOXY 105 - 5kgHARDENER 206 - 1kg?

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Originally Posted by toomast

Hi guys,

Is 156.-EUR reasonable price for:
WEST SYSTEM EPOXY 105 - 5kgHARDENER 206 - 1kg?

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Yes ok price for 5lt but really you want 209 hardner not 206. you need very slow cure time to allow plenty of time for epoxy to level.
I have used 206 before but you get much better results with 209 and not so rushed.

Dean, good that you spotted that number cause it could have made one pull of his hair, if ordered and mixed the wrong hardener :sorrow:

Thanks guys.
Temperature in my workshop is about 5-10c. Should I still go with 209? My supplier does not have 209 in stock...
Or I just keep my pants on until normal temperature arrive?

Are you in a rush? I'm waiting till summer for my pour!

I totally understand the rush, can't wait to have it built :) How about you heat up your workshop for two or three days ? You can just rent a propane or electric heater.

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Originally Posted by toomast

Thanks guys. Temperature in my workshop is about 5-10c. Should I still go with 209? My supplier does not have 209 in stock...

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Thats to cold you must get it up around 20c and keep it there for 3 days.

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Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

Thats to cold you must get it up around 20c and keep it there for 3 days.

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Then I will wait and go with 209.
Feeling quite awful for the slow progress...
Attachment 17641
Attachment 17642

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Originally Posted by toomast

Then I will wait and go with 209.
Feeling quite awful for the slow progress...

Sent from my LG-D605 using Tapatalk

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I'd still go with the 206, if it's not in stock the wait for them to order it with their next stock order won't be a problem.

Your progress isn't as slow as mine, it took me 5 years to build mine....and its still not finished!

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Originally Posted by njhussey

I'd still go with the 206, if it's not in stock the wait for them to order it with their next stock order won't be a problem.

Your progress isn't as slow as mine, it took me 5 years to build mine....and its still not finished!

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NO don't do it you will regret it if you go with 206.!!!!!

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Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

NO don't do it you will regret it if you go with 206.!!!!!

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Oops....sorry, got my knickers in a twist, thought the 206 was the extra slow setting hardner [emoji17] teach me to not stop and think....listen to Dean, I'm talking boll###s.....

My workshop was 5-10C when i poured the epoxy. It took 4h instead of 1h to harden a bit and not be liquid, then 24h to harden more or less, and a couple of days to harden truly. Dont be in a rush.

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Originally Posted by toomast

Then I will wait and go with 209.
Feeling quite awful for the slow progress...
Attachment 17641
Attachment 17642

Sent from my LG-D605 using Tapatalk

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Build is looking very good and stout! What route are you going to take for the machine bed? Didn't see that discussed anywhere.

Read this: http://westsystemcom1.site.mobi/site...g/?smallView=1

Having problems getting hardener 209 in my country.
Do you think I can get away with using 207 (Extra clear fabric applicationand clear coating)? It has slightly longer working and cure time.
If I preheat epoxy, hardener and workshop and super-quickly mix the epoxy and make tha pour? By heating I mean getting it more liquid and better flowing-leveling. But heating also shortens the working time. So the question is to heat or not to heat? How long is the rough time-window for the EPOXY to be able to self-level?

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Originally Posted by toomast

Having problems getting hardener 209 in my country.
Do you think I can get away with using 207 (Extra clear fabric applicationand clear coating)? It has slightly longer working and cure time.
If I preheat epoxy, hardener and workshop and super-quickly mix the epoxy and make tha pour? By heating I mean getting it more liquid and better flowing-leveling. But heating also shortens the working time. So the question is to heat or not to heat? How long is the rough time-window for the EPOXY to be able to self-level?

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Have a read through this http://www.westsystem.com/ss/use-guides/
The 209 give you about 8-10 hours for it to level out. It won't level out in one hour.

If you can't do it with epoxy then you will have to use shims instead.

Hello. Im back!
So mechanical assembly is finished and electrical has been started.
What cable type would you guys advise for:
1. VFD
2. Steppers
3. Inductive sensors

Attachment 19855

Attachment 19856

Welcome back then

Post #9

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Originally Posted by toomast

This story is about Steel Gantry Machine with work-area 1500x750x200 for aluminium and wood.
First I was going for a fixed gantry machine but bigger work-area changed my mind. As long as I have to purchase expensive components the price difference for longer components is not so dramatic - but it gives nice advantage. :smug:

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.ph...id=14769&stc=1

Main frame welded steel 80x80x4mm.
Steel gantry consist of 2 pcs 100x100x3mm tubes welded together and some 8mm steel plates.
Z assembly is mostly 25mm aluminium with 2,2kw watercooled spindle.
Ballscrews X,Y=1610; Z=1605.
HIWIN 20mm rails all axes. Epoxy leveled.
Please feel free to comment my design. In case of positive feedback then next step would be to order rails and ballscrews. Measure them and then finalize design and start the build.

I have couple of questions for more experienced guys:

1. Can I use L (0,375" = 9,525mm) pitch pulleys with a 12,7mm wide belt from steppermotor to ballscrew? I can get those pulley for free. Together with 240L belt. But this belt is too long and pulley centre hole is 10mm, whish I cant use on Nema 23 anyway. So I have to buy half the pulleys and belts. May as well buy proper with belts and pulleys all around?
2. What ballscrew machining are you using when belt pulley will be attached?
3. Hole gantry with Z and everything will be close to 80 kg. Can I put my money on 2x Nema 23 3,1Nm together with a decent 70Vdc PSU?
4. What HIWIN blocks do most of you prefer: HGH or HGW? Sure it depends from design but I think I will go with HGH20CA from BST Automation.

Tanks for reading!

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Why gantry 100x100 is only 3mm thick? I would make at least 5mm - 1.2m long

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Originally Posted by Tom J

Why gantry 100x100 is only 3mm thick? I would make at least 5mm - 1.2m long

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Its ok. Its only 1 meter long. In the middle where 2 beams meet is 2x3mm so quite strong there, like an internal brace

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Originally Posted by Tom J

Why gantry 100x100 is only 3mm thick? I would make at least 5mm - 1.2m long

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Do it.

My router made its first moves on 1st 2017.
There are some issues that need solving:
1. The guy who bored my pulleys obviously did not know what he was doing - terrible runout on some of them.
2. VFD is causing my PC video card some troubles. While spindle is on my screen goes black for 1-2 seconds with an interval of 10 seconds. All cable shields are grounded and no other anomaly occur.
3. Spindle watercooling
4. Final bed design with side-covers
5. Dust extraction
6. Probe
7. 4th axis
...

I put on some temporary bed and made some chips :D

It is the coolest project ever! Thanks guys!

Attachment 20278

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Attachment 20277

Well done, looks great!! Always good to follow a build through to completion...though I do believe a video is needed of it cutting 😁

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Yes + one on the vid and a good pic of the control box. Well done. Now the leaning really starts:beer:

Great machine! Happy chipping

PS. and change that pulleys. If you dont know who and how, order them bored from Belting online. Their pulleys are perfect and so is the job done. Only once i did no buy from them and i had problems with pulley straightness.

Hi guys! Just needed to share, couse felt a little success moment today.
Not anything too special but...
It has been a deeeeeep learning curve last 3 months. Made some chips and broke some bits [emoji1]
Have tried different materials: wood, ply, pom,acrylic,alu. Its been great - lot of learning [emoji106]
So today I did aluminium. 2d adaptive, 6mm doc, 14300rpm, 785mm/min, 2flute carbide endmill, z fully extended, wd40. Best sound so far for alu! Honestly...it was quiet! I constantly thought that something is wrong and will screw up.
Finishing pass + chamfer. Though chamfer was a little bit disapoitment in radius section.
Did not wanted to make a video. Since few years back I promised myself that I will never going to manually apply wd40 and compressair, or hold a vaccuum hose next to spindle [emoji4].https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5dbadcf917.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b3526a79fe.jpg