CNC Router V1.0 (For Cutting Multiple Materials)

[biketrialsdave]

It certainly is like Christmas in my house at the moment...the girlfriend isn't too impressed with the number of boxes and smell of machine oil in my office though!

I am starting to get a little worried that my machine is going to be incredibly heavy. The parts for the Z-axis assembly alone weigh a ton! (Not literally, I am going to weigh them later). I just hope my 3Nm steppers are up to the job...yes, I know I should of done the calculations beforehand but I got carried away with buying shiny things!

[JoeHarris]

It certainly is like Christmas in my house at the moment...the girlfriend isn't too impressed with the number of boxes and smell of machine oil in my office though!

I am starting to get a little worried that my machine is going to be incredibly heavy. The parts for the Z-axis assembly alone weigh a ton! (Not literally, I am going to weigh them later). I just hope my 3Nm steppers are up to the job...yes, I know I should of done the calculations beforehand but I got carried away with buying shiny things!

Haha know the feeling. There have been some pretty beasty machines on here powered with those motors so I'd have thought they will be fine.. Looking forward to the pictures

[njhussey]

It certainly is like Christmas in my house at the moment...the girlfriend isn't too impressed with the number of boxes and smell of machine oil in my office though!

I am starting to get a little worried that my machine is going to be incredibly heavy. The parts for the Z-axis assembly alone weigh a ton! (Not literally, I am going to weigh them later). I just hope my 3Nm steppers are up to the job...yes, I know I should of done the calculations beforehand but I got carried away with buying shiny things!

I've got a sodding great big 40mm front plate that my 2.2kw spindle hangs off and my 3Nm stepper whizzes it up and down no problem so you'll be fine!

[biketrialsdave]

I've got a sodding great big 40mm front plate that my 2.2kw spindle hangs off and my 3Nm stepper whizzes it up and down no problem so you'll be fine!

That's re-assuring. I've just done some quick calcs and it looks like the steppers will be more than up to the job. Of course, it was an educated guess!

[biketrialsdave]

More big steps today...cleared a big space in the shed and measured up ready to build my workbench/stand!

On a side note, what method does everyone recommend for finishing aluminium parts? Some of the larger parts I had machined for my router are not milled on both sides and so are dull and have the original "stock" finish (some have lettering etc). I want a finish which is durable and ideally helps oxidising. Anodising would be ideal but I think that's going to be a little price and not something I can do myself? So this leaves me with: Polishing (if so, what's the best way and will the finish oxidise over time?), spray painting, powder coating, other plating??

Thanks in advance!

[JAZZCNC]

It's bloody tool not a Pimp My Ride.!. . . . . . . . . Which is bit rich coming from a Bloke who's spent quarter the day Plastic coating parts for sexy little router he's finishing off. . .

[biketrialsdave]

It's bloody tool not a Pimp My Ride.!. . . . . . . . . Which is bit rich coming from a Bloke who's spent quarter the day Plastic coating parts for sexy little router he's finishing off. . .

Pimp my CNC!

I think I'll use some 1000grit sandpaper then see if I can replace the grinding wheel on my cheap Aldi bench grinder with a polishing one.

[Wobblycogs]

I've polished a few bits of aluminium by starting with about 220 grit and a random orbit sander then going up the grits as high as possible before finishing by hand. I don't really think it's worth it though as aluminium is so soft it scratches again in five minutes. I suppose you could spray a lacquer on it maybe.