Well here goes... Aluminium frame router design

[njhussey]

How about your spindle? You'll also need a bit extra for cable tray, cables water tubes etc....

[CharlieRam]

How about your spindle? You'll also need a bit extra for cable tray, cables water tubes etc....

Doh! I completely forgot about the spindle, Won't do much without one will I

[CharlieRam]

Just had a look at spindle weight and it looks like 5.6kg, maybe another 1kg for cable and pipe so total weight comes in at 60.7kg

[Neale]

Quick answer to your question about "2 volt motors". Ignore motor voltage ratings. For all practical purposes, they are irrelevant. The control electronics are driving short pulses through the motor windings and include some clever controls on motor current, which is the important bit. The motors work using magnetic fields; the higher the current the stronger the field and the more torque you get out of the motor. However, the motor windings are coils of wire which have inductance. In this situation inductance is a bad thing because it slows down the rate of increase in current at the start of each pulse so you lose power. To get round this, you drive the coils with many times their rated voltage - maybe 60-70V for a nominal 2-3V motor - so the current builds more quickly. Then the current limiter in the driver reduces the applied voltage automatically during the pulse so the motor isn't over-driven. This all happens like magic and all you need to know about is the current limit setting in the driver module which should match the motor.

[Clive S]

Neale Very good explanation much better than I could have done it ..Clive

[CharlieRam]

Well, I've gone and done it, no turning back now....

Chester champion 20v milling machine ordered
steel for frame ordered
aluminium for gantry/frame ordered
welder borrowed
wife prepped

Bit lighter in the plastic pocket now but feel like it's something I need to do otherwise I will never get started!

I will get the frame and gantry started before I order the ballscrews and rails, I wont be making any fixings for them until I have them in hand just in case and once they are done I will then decide on the motors,drives and controller at which point I will need a lot of help :-)