I'd like to say that I think this idea is brilliant and just what I needed.

I was just about to start a new thread about a newbie being in a difficult position - especially one with practically no machining experience, no previous knowledge of G-code or CNC, no machine-filled workshop and very little money to spend etc.. I include the contents here so you can see where I'm coming from.

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"I've designed a machine and think it should do what I want (machining hard-wood). It's a moving gantry type and will have a working area of X=610mm Y=900mm Z=200mm.

I don't have a workshop so I either have to pay people to make the parts for me or buy a ready-made machine or a kit.

The prices of new ready-mades are high (money is another problem of course) and none that I've seen have the Z-axis travel that I need. In short, I need a machine to make my machine.

I'd welcome any suggestions about this as I'm sure others have this problem. Would anyone want to make parts for me, does anyone have a machine for sale or know where I can get one (or a kit) at a reasonable cost?"

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I've reached pensionable age without a half-decent pension so I'm doing this because I need to earn money. I plan to make wood items and (hopefully) sell them at craft fairs around the Berwick upon Tweed area where I now live. (I'm from Nottingham so I know many of the places mentioned in posts).

The machine I want to build will eventually have to make long parts and this is why I want a large size although I could start with one smaller and then, maybe, scale it up.

My thoughts are that 1 Nm motors will be too small (for my sized machine) but I accept that using larger size 3Nm will increase the cost.

I was also thinking of using Roys drivers and BOB because they seem to be reliable and the last thing I want as a newbie is an unreliable driver problem to sort out. There are too many problems for a novice like me and I need to reduce the potential for problems. Personally I would want a driver system that would control the larger 3Nm motors.

In answer to HiltonSteve's question, I think £350 is a reasonable price to pay for something (electronics) that will probably work and not give problems but I know other people might find that price too high.

Like Wobblybootie I want something I can afford and that works.

I'm not sure about using threaded-rod for leadscrews though as I think this would produce too many accuracy problems.

I hope me throwing my 3pennorth in helps. If you want to ask anything please do. I'm filling up with enthusiasm and hope again - after getting despondent about all the complexities of this project.

I use Ubuntu GNU-Linux and also EMC2 (both free of cost) and it seems to work very well in simulation mode. I use QCAD and recommend this as a cheap yet execellent 2D package (the book that came with it was essential for a novice like me). I don't use MSWindows so any expensive Windows-only software is out.

It's good when someone with experience offers his knowledge and help to people like me with very little experience but a definite need and a lot of enthusiasm - and I appreciate this.


Sorry if this is a bit rambling. I'm normally a bit more logical than this but it is a long, exciting thread - and I think it's got wings.

Regards,


Keith.