Desktop 1000 mm x 600 mm Gantry Router

[Soyb]

Finished Z axis and done a dry assembly, using a standard Stepcraft dust shoe, next job is machining the gantry plates

[Clive S]

Very nice, keep up witht he good work

[Soyb]

Cut gantry sides, I had to use 10 mm cast plate as it is the maximum thickness I can cut with any reasonable accuracy. Very happy with fit, Ball screw support nuts and HGR15 carriages fitted in to 1.5 mm pockets in gantry plates and x axis cross beams 'sat' in their pockets with just a very small amount of play, about 0.8 mm. The gap can be closed with light finger pressure. I am going to thread the holes and tighten up x axis cross members and loosen off the ball screw support nuts and it there is still a gap I will make some shims.

[Soyb]

Attachment 30225Attachment 30226Attachment 30227Attachment 30228

Latest stage, 'dry' assembled all the mechanics and have wired up the main electronics, they are going to be installed upside down under the bed supported by 8 anti vibration mounts. I have moved all the axis and they are all very solid (its only a 1kw kress spindle so the forces will be low compared to most of the machines on this forum), the axis are very quiet and smooth running very pleased so far. Next stage is to 3d print drag chain mounts for x axis and route all the cables and fix main drag chain under the table to link Z/X to electronics.

(no idea why the pictures are upside down, cannot seem to sort it out)

[Kitwn]

It's looking very smart.

(no idea why the pictures are upside down, cannot seem to sort it out)

That's funny, they're the right way up down here in Tasmania

[Soyb]

Finally worked out how to get the photos up the right way! the website doesn't read the photo orientation meta data so I have to open them in good old fashion paint in windows 10, rotate to the correct way and then save and upload, sorry to the antipodean forum members but they should be up the right way from now on!

[Soyb]

Latest up date, just finished the electronics, tested limit switches, working on feed rates.Will have it the right way up tomorrow.

[Soyb]

Finished (albeit a bit of fettling). Waiting for a optilaser to clear cutoms, need to re cut the rear panel for power connectors, need to decide if I am going to use the AXBB-E to power spindle, need to to replace 1 proximity sensor on the Y axis after a issue homing with two sensors. I have now set it up to use use the same sensor to home the Y axis and slave C axis and manually square the Y axis. I have closed loop steppers so there should not be an issue with alignment. I have added the USCB so I can add a 4th axis if required.

I think the machine has cost approximately £2000, and for that I have a CNC machine that is capable of cutting all the materials I use with an accuracy / reliability far greater than my Stepcraft. Compared to most machines on this forum it is in toy category but it is ideal for what I want it to do, I can use a laser attachment, vinyl cutter etc.

Thanks to the forum for all the help, now to actually start doing some cutting!

[Clive S]

It looks like a nice clean machine, well done.

If you can I would put a WC spindle with vfd on it.

[Tom J]

I am making similar machine 610x1220mm working area (1/4 of full size board, but with wide gantry so half size board can be supported by bed.
I like your design - got very similar on 30x60 IR profiles from KJN
Wonder if your side gates gives enough stiffness/rigidity?