A couple of beginner questions... Profile sizes and cutting area size.

[JAZZCNC]

1. What is the maximum cutting area I can expect to have if I don't want to have a Y axis that has dual steppers? I hope that's the correct way to phrase the question, from my basic understanding once you get past a certain size I thought the Y axis needs two linked/synced steppers?

For a router cutting mostly wood, plastics and the occasional bit of light aluminum work then wouldn't go past 700mm cutting width with a single screw. However, the gantry design comes into play as well and needs to be built a little stronger as you get wider.

2. What size profiles would I likely be looking at if I wanted to build a machine chassis to the above requirements... 4080, 4590, 5050 etc, etc.

I appreciate that the last question might be quantified by other design considerations, but again just wonder what people would consider the minimum sized profile to guarantee a decent base level of rigidity.

45x90 or 40x80 is a minimum I would use and again depends on the machine size and design. To give you some idea this machine design I build use's only 45x90 and it will happily cut everything up to aluminium.

The machine in the picture uses a single screw and as a cutting area of about 600 x 1000 if I recall correctly. However, I've built lots of machines with this design up to 700 x 1250 cutting area using single screws. If you wanted stronger machine at the same width/length say for cutting mostly aluminum or Hardwoods with heavy cuts then go with twin motors every time.

[NordicCnc]

The machine in the picture uses a single screw and as a cutting area of about 600 x 1000 if I recall correctly. However, I've built lots of machines with this design up to 700 x 1250 cutting area using single screws. If you wanted stronger machine at the same width/length say for cutting mostly aluminum or Hardwoods with heavy cuts then go with twin motors every time.

What about the raised gantry for the machine in the picture? It would become way stiffer with raised Y-axis, e.g. with profiles and then then X-axis would me mounted straight onto the frame. This would require 2 ballscrews on the Y-axis too.


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[JAZZCNC]

What about the raised gantry for the machine in the picture? It would become way stiffer with raised Y-axis, e.g. with profiles and then then X-axis would me mounted straight onto the frame. This would require 2 ballscrews on the Y-axis too.

Yes, your correct it would be stronger and I build that type of machine as well. If you look back far enough you'll find I was one, if not the first build a router in this way and with an adjustable height bed also. However, this machine was built with specific needs and to work within a confined space so raised sides and the extra size that comes with it did not suit. The machine in the picture was designed solely to cut woods but it easily handles light to medium aluminum work also.

End of the day it's horses for courses and if you want a machine to cut Aluminium and steel then you shouldn't be building a moving gantry-type machine unless it's built like a tank, and even then it will always be inferior to a fixed gantry-type machine.

[joe.ninety]

Hi Jazz,

I realise I have made what must be a schoolboy error and mixed up my axes.

I had assumed that Y axis is the largest one, running front to back if you were standing in front of the machine, but from what I can tell having read further and from your reply, this is in fact the X axis. I was further confused by the fact that Fusion360 comes set with the default of the the Y axis being 'up'.

So just for clarity... The axes are defined as if you were standing to the side of the machine and not the front and are... X for left right, Y for front to back, and Z for up and down? Is that correct? So on a rectangular machine the X would be the longest followed by the Y then the Z?

Cheers

[Voicecoil]

The machine in the picture uses a single screw and as a cutting area of about 600 x 1000 if I recall correctly. However, I've built lots of machines with this design up to 700 x 1250 cutting area using single screws. If you wanted stronger machine at the same width/length say for cutting mostly aluminum or Hardwoods with heavy cuts then go with twin motors every time.

Nifty little machine that, I do like the integral control panel - might make something similar for mine if I have the time.