My steel framed router

[pavlo]

I never got round to introducing myself when I joined this site many months ago. I just lurked in the background, reading as much as possible and working out what I would need to build a router with a working area of 600mm x 500mm.

So now I'll say Hi:wave:

I have always been interested in computers and interfacing so a cnc router seemed like the ideal project to have a go at.

I looked on cnczone at all the kits and plans but nothing really caught my eye. I decided to build my own design after ordering a ball screw and linear rail set from China via Ebay.






I now had something to base a design around and I came up with this.


The base was to be made from 50 x 100 box section with 40 x 40 intermediate supports.

The gantry was to be made from 50 x 50 box section.

I had all these bits laying around as left overs, so I got welding.





A bit of drilling, tapping and painting later and the frame was done.



I had wanted to make the z-axis out of aluminium but I dont really have equipment necessary to machine aluminium to any high degree of accuracy. I am builder by trade so my toolkit is jigsaws, grinders, pistol drills etc. I had to choose between making it out of MDF, making it out of steel or getting someone with the right equipment to make it.

A good friend whos owns a cnc factory owed me a favour, so I drew up some dxf files of what I wanted and waited a couple of months until he got round to making them. It was well worth the wait.





They are made from aircraft grade aluminium and have been anodised a lovely black colour to avoid corrosion.

Now I could get cracking again.