Ar last!!! Started my Gantry 3-Axis CNC Build

[JAZZCNC]

Nice little wood cutting machine. Don't forget the energy chains. You might just fit one under the X rail on a shelf bolted to the extrusion.
With the single ballscrew on X try to cut jobs on the centre line of the machine to reduce racking.

Nah there will be no problem cutting off centre in wood with this design at this size. I've built several know using almost identical design (probably because mikey copied most of my router design. . Lol) and they don't flex while cutting woods, even hard woods.

That said I wouldn't use single screw for cutting aluminium or really deep DOC cuts in hardwoods as then there is potential for some racking.

There is just enough room for energy chains between profiles but needs certain size. It also doesn't need a shelf as nearly half the chain can be supported or bolted to the profile and the remainder easily handles the weight of cables etc.

[MikeyC38]

Nah there will be no problem cutting off centre in wood with this design at this size. I've built several know using almost identical design (probably because mikey copied most of my router design. . Lol) and they don't flex while cutting woods, even hard woods. .

Hi Jazz - I merely took the good advice that you offered !!!

Once the machine is up and running (and doing some useful work) I will upgrade to twin belt-driven ball screws.

I admit that the energy chains location is a bit of an afterthought....

Thanks
Mike

[JAZZCNC]

Hi Jazz - I merely took the good advice that you offered !!!

So you saying you haven't copied anything from the L shape profile gantry Gantry or the offset drop Z axis Layout or the profile base with aluminium end plates I use.?. . . . .Ok.!!!!

If thats the case then sure you must have accounted for the gotcha's that I see and encountered.!!

[MikeyC38]

So you saying you haven't copied anything from the L shape profile gantry Gantry or the offset drop Z axis Layout or the profile base with aluminium end plates I use.?. . . . .Ok.!!!!

If thats the case then sure you must have accounted for the gotcha's that I see and encountered.!!

Hi Jazz

I have to ashamedly say "yes" but good design and good principles are always worth following!

regards
Mike

[JAZZCNC]

Hi Jazz

I have to ashamedly say "yes" but good design and good principles are always worth following!

regards
Mike

No problem and it's fine by me. If didn't like it copied I wouldn't let it out in the public domain.

[MikeyC38]

Hi Guys
Sorry to be so tardy with postings and updates but I have been working on this. One of the things you discover when building a CNC from extrustions is the amount of drilling and thread tapping you have to do! Thanks to my neighbour who is a retired tool maker, he advised that I use spiral taps and these are brilliant when used in an electric drill! My top tip of the day! Attached are some photos of progress. You can see how the L-shaped Y axis inspired by Jazz was done. I have recently completed the drilling of the "thickner plates" which are used to mount the round supported rails because the material in the extrusions is too thin to directly mount the rails. Also I now need to clear out my garage so that I have space to assemble and check the machine!

[MikeyC38]

Hi Guys
Making somewhat slow progress on this but the attached pics show the gantry trial assembled. Runs really nicely on the supported round rails and I detect no binding anywhere! However I have invested in a pack of steel shim material because I expect that stuff will need it to get everything square and nice! The biggest step now is to get the plate holding the z-axis stepper manufactured. Hoping that the local FE college will help here as I don't have a milling machine

Also does anybody have or make some clamps for the 80mm water cooled spindle? I thought Jonathan was making these at some stage but can't raise him via the forum?

Any tips on what lubricant to use on the supported round rails? I will be using Mobilux EP2 for the ball screws (via the ball nut)

Regards
Mike