MDF and alu sandwich router

[Lee Roberts]

Humm, i thout i'd covered everyone.

ok try uploading them now.

[Tom]

Uploads are working today (thanks Lee)

Attached pics:
Initial sketch
Pile of MDF, with the base layed out dry
Base glued and screwed, with gantry MDF cut
Top surface of base, showing screwholes, and holes for later workholding (M8)


The only changes since I made the initial sketchup sketch is I've built the base from 25mm MDF, instead of 12mm. I saw the prices at Great Barr Sawmill and decided it was worth the extra £10. GBS also do a great service of ripping the sheet up to your dimensions free of charge (within reason) using a professional table saw. I got them to cut all the base pieces out, and I've cut all the gantry pieces myself. Fantastic service, and well worth the 1.5hr round trip.

Steel's all ordered tonight for collection tomorrow from Eggleston Bros, so I might have a weekend of pillar drilling and bit sharpening ahead of me....
Bearings are also on the way (ordered from ebay), so all the stage 1 ordering is done.

Just got to build it now ,,,,,,

[Smiler]

Hi Tom,

Looking good mate and welcome to the forum.

Regards, Jeff.

[Tom]

I finally got around to replacing the dodgy original MDF router mount with a shiny "John S" type. An evening with an alu block and a mini-lathe is all it took.

It has (obviously) massively improved the quality of cutting, and I can just just just cut aluminium now. Though 0.3mm depth of cut doesn't really count as cutting. Closer to vigorous polishing, but it's progress. Well chuffed.

Off to post a separate Q about dust extraction now....