Scrap Heap Challenge

[TrickyCNC]

ooh ... it seems I can paste a bit in the reply :)

Basicaly, about a year ago I started learning how to make a CNC machine.One day I went to visit my dad, and asked him if he had any pipe I could use for the rails. (he had a metal fab business ). "Come and have a look see - " he said, and started rummaging through a pile of junk ...










I thought for free, I'd take them !

VERY rusty, bearing balls missing ...Screw threads corroded etc etc... but at least I could start 'learning' how it all goes to gether.

Anyway... long story short (for now)

this is how it looks since it started working for me early this year.
It was only rigged up to test it, but it worked so well, it's been like this ever since. Cutting at least 2 or 3 hours every day !

\/ \/ \/ CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW, TO PLAY VID \/ \/ \/




It's still not finished. I plan to add a 4th axis over the end for a lathe attachment.

Cutting area is 25.5" x 24.5". I can get a 2x4 1/4 sheet on the bed with room to spare.

Construction is torsion box 12mm MDF

The most 'slop' in the build, is from those worn out hiwin type bearings on the X :(
But is works perfectly for what it was designed to do. I
t cuts at approx 150IPM at 1/8" passes. cant go faster at the mo, as my old router bearings are on the way out and squeel a bit !
But it's plenty fast enough for now.

I'll add some more details over time, and feel free to ask any questions.

Rich