Project Beaver

[Nickhofen]

I read the whole thread at once, grate build and nice machine!!!
Have you make sawdust, or experiment with aluminum cut yet?

[OMLCNC]

I read the whole thread at once, grate build and nice machine!!!
Have you make sawdust, or experiment with aluminum cut yet?

Thanks Nickhofen, yes I have, but been very busy with other things so not had much time on the CNC. I made the dust cover for the machine Z axis in aluminium sheet on the machine but it did not cut great but scored well for folding. I think I should have scored it all out and then cut it with air shears as you get a cleaner cut on thin sheet.
I have also made cam clamps, jigs and fixtures for the machine and first paid commission job was the meat board with wooden spikes in English Walnut. I think it would have been very difficult to do the spikes conventionally with a router.
I've also done some dovetails which is what I built the machine for and will post some pictures when finished.

[Nr1madman]

I like the cutting board :) truly nice machine aswell!!

[Nickhofen]

Nice cutting boards!!!
I read and search in the forum to gather info for building my cnc that is why I ask.
Thanks for the reply. It looks like you nail the purpose you build the machine for, happy cncing!!!

[MikeyC38]

Thanks Nickhofen, yes I have, but been very busy with other things so not had much time on the CNC. I made the dust cover for the machine Z axis in aluminium sheet on the machine but it did not cut great but scored well for folding. I think I should have scored it all out and then cut it with air shears as you get a cleaner cut on thin sheet.
I have also made cam clamps, jigs and fixtures for the machine and first paid commission job was the meat board with wooden spikes in English Walnut. I think it would have been very difficult to do the spikes conventionally with a router.
I've also done some dovetails which is what I built the machine for and will post some pictures when finished.

I like the idea of the dust cover on the Z axis. Dust gets everywhere especially cutting wood. I've made a dusthood for mine which connects to my Cyclone filter - see here post #56 and it helps. What type of endmill, feeds and rpm did you use on the Walnut?

Thanks
Mike

[OMLCNC]

I like the idea of the dust cover on the Z axis. Dust gets everywhere especially cutting wood. I've made a dusthood for mine which connects to my Cyclone filter - see here post #56 and it helps. What type of endmill, feeds and rpm did you use on the Walnut?

Thanks
Mike

Dust Cover is a copy of Dean's, there's a picture of it somewhere on the forum. I did add a flat piece of sheet on the bottom of the Z axis to try and stop chips and dust going up inside as well.

The Walnut I used 3 router bits, 18mm end mill for surfacing and cutting the hand hold pockets and profiling the edge of the board (12000rpm 60mm/sec), a 19mm ball nose bit for the well, spot and gutters (12000rpm 40mmm/min), a 12mm v 90 degree bit for the spikes. (16000rpm 40mm/sec).
I'm still experimenting and getting lots of things wrong (you can see were I forgot to check the tool hight and it dived into the board near the well - I did a repair - and lots of swearing)
You need lots of scrap material - I have made about 8 of these boards before I got one acceptable. They take about 45 minutes start to finish with tool changing and 5 minutes of sanding to clean up.

I have made a couple of dust shoes and seen your cyclone set up (I have read your entire build).
I have a double bag dust extraction system 125mm dia pipe. The latest dust shoe is made out of a piece of drain pipe and works well even if it looks a dodge. I will take a picture for you to laugh at some time. I tend only to use it when I'm happy with the program, so I can see when the tool has broken or dived into the job!

[OMLCNC]

Dodge dust shoe to laugh at.

Question - I am thinking of adding 4th axis to make twisted lamps. Could be 200mm diameter and 1500mm long in the future. (Standard Lamp)

I am assuming you just buy another motor controler am882 (tyre lever into cabinet) and a 4th axis such as http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NO-VAT-CNC...IAAOSwCXxZp8JT?

Wire it all up, then set Mach 3 up and away you go?

Any thoughts appreciated.

[Desertboy]

Dodge dust shoe to laugh at.

The important thing is it works ;)

Do you need to work on 1.5m long pieces with the 4th axis?

[OMLCNC]

The important thing is it works ;)

Do you need to work on 1.5m long pieces with the 4th axis?

Eventualy yes. The idea is to get a 4th axis capable of working with 1.5m long pieces, experiment on this machine (1.2m y axis travel max) and then build new machine
to take full sheet (2240mm x 1220mm) and 4th axis and be vertical / horizontal is the long term plan.

Any advise ideas appreciated.