Was about to get a toy- then I did some research...

[Juranovich]

Well not sure where your getting 1m/min from but giving specifics for sweet spots for things like 3D work isn't really possible because it's material and cutter dependant, plus 3D work requires a slightly different machine setup to get the best from it.

My bad, meant to say 10m/min... effects of nightly writing...

I also put onto isolation into the limit switch lines. I can’t remember the last time I had a spurious signal get through and trip the alarm.

Of what I can see online non-isolated wiring seems to be quite an issue. Luckily, the electronics part is still some time away as that is the part I'm the least competent in (or more accurately "incompetent") and will probably be the most frustrating bit :)

Moving on to great news (for me at least) I’m finally able to post pictures of my design which is heavily based on ideas stolen from this forum! I planned on doing it in the build log section, but seeing the attention this thread has got I figure I might just keep it here (please correct me if I’m doing this wrong!).

So the basics:

- Total dimensions of the frame is 1000x800mm and gantry height 650mm as measured from the bottom of the frame to the top of gantry beam.
- The Z carriage is roughly 450mm high (extending some 150mm above the top of the gantry beam) and 200mm wide with 150mm travel (bearing blocks 300mm apart in the Z and 200mm in the X direction)
- frame consists of 60x120 alu extrusions on the sides and 3pcs 60x60 extrusions across (easy mounting of 20mm round linear rails ;) )
- gantry beam also 60x120 extrusions in L shape
- gantry plates and Z axis made out of 20mm alu, the thinner end plates/stepper mounts are 5mm alu
- the bearing blocks on the gantry plates are 250mm apart
- as discussed above 1610 or 1616 ballscrews drive X and Y, while 1605 will suffice on Z
- NEMA 23 (perhaps 4nm) on all axis as well as 20mm round linear rails
- Haven't decided on the spindle just yet, but should be able to carry something like a 2.2kW spindle (i.e. 5kg or so)

NB! All mentioned dimensions are not precise to the mm, but gives a good indication of the general size. Neither is everything perfectly aligned. I’ll anyway sort out the details as I make the final drawings in fusion. Also- I’ll model the final (balanced) version of the gantry plates as the gantry beam/Z axis design is finalised. Also2- stepper mounting plates will require adjustable fastening slots.





So to the specific questions I have in mind, I'll leave out the ones already previously discussed:

- Frame; I quite like the 60x60 extrusions across the frame as they give me clearance below the table (eg for X axis steppers), but would it be too flimsy? Looking at it now, I have quite some weight on the gantry vs the frame. Maybe worth beefing up the frame with 60x120 instead, or at least the two furthest to the front, leaving clearance at the back for steppers...?

- Gantry/end plates; online consensus seems to dictate 20mm gantry plates, but what about Z mount? Is 20mm overkill and would 15mm do in a machine this size? The end plates/stepper mounts are 5mm (as commercial stepper mounts seem to be in that range). As they're not subject to any excessive forces in my design I suppose 5mm is enough. Essentially they're only carrying steppers and the odd limit switch as well as providing additional stability in the corner joints of the frame.

- Other comments/critique?