Looking for feedback on plan for CNC router out of welded steel tubing

[Ign]

Hi there,

I'm currently in the process of planing & building a budget table-top CNC router and came across this amazingly useful forum. Short introduction of myself: I live in Germany and have experience with all kind of DIY stuff, including welding (MIG, MMA), brazing, building cargo bikes, sewing, electronics, etc. :)

I'm building a budget machine from MIG welded steel tubing around one of the cheap kits that include supported SB20 rails and 1605 ball screws. I would like to get some feedback to my current plans.

I would like to process any type of wood and maybe aluminium.

As a spindle I will start with a 600 Watt router with a 43 mm Euro mount.

x axis: 1000 mm
y axis: 600 mm
z axis: 300 mm

All steel tubing is rectangular hot rolled 50x30x3. Z-axis plates are Aluminium, 15mm thick.

X axis will be driven on both sides. The gantry is hanging, as it seems to me that this way it is easier to make everything sturdy.

The y axis has both linear rails on the front, as I then will be able to use epoxy to level the two surfaces (at the same time) where the linear rails will be mounted.

I'm missing motor mounts and want to use steel tubing for x and y similar to this machine: http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/1541-...0158#post10158
For the z axis I'm not sure but something like Aluminium plate bolted to the back plate.

I'm also missing mounts for the ball screw. Can I make them from steel, similar to the motor mount? How to make them adjustable?

After reading through this forum I've come to the conclusion that levelling is necessary. Is it? Am I missing any budget options for levelling? Did this build
skip levelling: http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/1541-...router?p=10158 Can I use any low viscosity slow curing epoxy?

I'm looking for feedback particularly on my plan for bed and y axis gantry.


Best regards
Daniel