Author Topic: Tiny CNC router (Read 56436 times)

j45on · « **Reply #75 on:** April 29, 2011, 05:52:11 PM »

Quote from: John Swift on April 29, 2011, 04:29:59 PM

are you fitting your laser to this one or a router?

This will get my dremel

to start with and maybe a better spindle later on
I suppose i could also attach the laser pointer as well but I have a proper laser cutter on my next to build list , this one http://www.buildlog.net/blog/2011/02/buildlog-net-2-x-laser/

John Stevenson · « **Reply #76 on:** April 29, 2011, 05:55:11 PM »

MEW 108 and 109

Bluechip · « **Reply #77 on:** April 29, 2011, 06:04:27 PM »

Thanks John & John

We are

a lot

Dave BC

j45on · « **Reply #78 on:** May 01, 2011, 03:30:18 PM »

It's getting there slowly

You might notice the design feature which is the back panel

( I damaged the first one and then cut a new one to short

The bed will have another ( sacrificial ) layer of MDF on top

I'm waiting for some Z axis linear slides I need two more
I need to make some more anti backlash nuts
Fit limit switches
Bolt frame to base
Make some bearing retainers ( the self tapping screw I used on the last one is not good enough for this )
Find some MDF sealer ( I don't want to paint it just protect it )

j45on · « **Reply #79 on:** May 07, 2011, 03:47:27 PM »

A few more piccys it's nearly finished (maybe tomorrow

)

For the lead screw bearings I went with three in the end as they are the same thickness as the wood

these are clamped tight with tow bar washers on either side using 3mm pan head screws

John Swift · « **Reply #80 on:** May 07, 2011, 04:21:12 PM »

Hi Jason ,

its looking good
by this time next week , you will be having fun using it

John

John Stevenson · « **Reply #81 on:** May 07, 2011, 04:23:56 PM »

Jason,
I like the idea of the shaped sides, easy to cover in and fit an extractor, Must do something with my Techno Isel, it spends a lot of time routing out tufnol brush rings for electric motors and the damn dust goes everywhere.

Full marks for neatness, I like it.

John S.

dickda1 · « **Reply #82 on:** May 07, 2011, 08:27:21 PM »

I really like your decision to use MDF. It gives you much more flexibility in testing the design than if it was done in aluminum. The delrin nuts are nice too. I have some ball screws and nuts from a lab I closed down. They are so expensive that I have been staring at them on a shelf for years looking for just the right project - so nothing gets done. You really have shown a cheap way to get started. Thanks.

-Dick

j45on · « **Reply #83 on:** May 10, 2011, 02:25:47 PM »

If anybody is considering building a mini/desk top router you may be interested in this linear bearings system

http://www.makerslide.com/

And the kickstarter project http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/93832939/makerslide-open-source-linear-bearing-system

If bart can secure funding to produce the linear bearing extrusion his first open source project with it will be for smallish fully enclosed CNC router

Quote from his website
"My first new open source project with the MakeSlide will be a smallish, fully enclosed CNC router. It will have a very quiet spindle and an integral dust collection system. The dust collection will be a shop vacuum. Some are very, very quiet like the Festool vac. The spindle will be a small (0.8kW-ish) 3 phase air or water cooled spindle. The enclosure may have some noise dampening panels to it. The only noise will come from the material being cut. If you cut foam or are milling a PCB, you could have a conversation next to it.

I want it to have killer curb appeal too, because I love a sweet looking design. I think the 2.x was a big step in that direction over the original laser. I want this to take an equal step that way."

If this shameless plug is against forum rules please let me know and I shall remove it

dsquire · « **Reply #84 on:** May 10, 2011, 03:23:40 PM »

Jason

I looked at that link as well. If he can get that project off the ground with the initial run of extruded aluminum with the V rail built in then he will have a winner. It will certainly help to bring the costs down. I will be watching it to see what happens.

Cheers

Don

j45on · « **Reply #85 on:** May 14, 2011, 04:55:19 PM »

I have finally finished the router

( well nearly, I still have to add Z axis limit and home switches

)
Unfortunately I did not record the running video ( I thought I had

) so you will have to make do with a picture instead

I will try something a bit more adventurous tomorrow but I only have an engraving bit at the moment http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Engraving-Cutters

PS: the Makerslide I posted previously is now 181% funded

John Swift · « **Reply #86 on:** May 14, 2011, 05:34:23 PM »

Hi Jason ,

its good to see you are making progress

what diameter is the gear outline you have cut , It looks like you will be making clocks next

unless you are planning a third machine with the makerslide ,when its available here in the UK

a good result with the makerslide funding

John

j45on · « **Reply #87 on:** May 14, 2011, 05:41:59 PM »

Hi John
I think it was about 50mm and half a mm deep, I cut it with a 1/8" one of these it's all I have at the moment

John Swift · « **Reply #88 on:** May 14, 2011, 06:33:40 PM »

Hi Jason ,

the cutter looks simple enough to make your self
if you have the grind stones for carbide ( green grit stones ?)

although it will only worth it ,if the carbide blank is cheap enough

I expect they should be OK cutting the copper on PCB's

John

Bogstandard · « **Reply #89 on:** May 14, 2011, 07:45:34 PM »

John,

Those cutters are not a thing you could grind up by hand, just like the side flutes on a milling cutter. They are fed not only forwards, but sideways into the wheel at the same time, it is that which gives the cutter it's clearance at the back.
They really need to be done on a T&C grinder.

Jason,

I had a look at those ali extrusions and guide wheels. I used to work on a similar set up on Universal DIP inserting machines where they had a triangular shaped profile running in a bearing with a triangular cutout in them.

I can tell you now, they are not very easy to set up for correct clearance for smooth running. We would spend at least a couple of hours trying to align just four of the bearings, and they had a very fine cam system in the middle of the bearings to do the job. You only had to breathe on them and they would either tighten up or go slack.
Definitely not as simple as the designer of that system thinks, and unless the triangular edge is hard anodised, it will wear away and brinell in no time. Been there and got the t-shirt.

John

HS93 · « **Reply #90 on:** May 14, 2011, 08:08:52 PM »

How about the bottom wheels fixed and the top sprung pushing it down on to the bottom runners, it is not the type of machine that a lot of force will be used on the cutter's I would have thought and a Lazer would not have any, so once the bottom wheels are set the top would self ajust .

just a thought

Peter

John Swift · « **Reply #91 on:** May 15, 2011, 07:15:06 AM »

Hi John,

Yes john you are right ,I didn't mean free hand ,but with just one cutting edge it would be easier than attempting a multi fluted cutter

the process I had in mind is to first grind an eccentric cone ,with the tool held in a live spindle

then using a fixed jig(s) to remove half the cone ,then grind the clearance at the cutting edge

John

j45on · « **Reply #92 on:** May 15, 2011, 06:37:06 PM »

Well the first thing I did today was break the tip off of the cutter

I shall have to wait for the postman to bring me some more now.

j45on · « **Reply #93 on:** May 19, 2011, 06:25:59 PM »

Finally I have made something other than saw dust with this router

It's a small puzzle made from 3mm ply wood about 2" round

Terrible pics but I only had my phone to hand

John Swift · « **Reply #94 on:** May 19, 2011, 06:37:42 PM »

Hi Jason ,

thats great ,

no doubt you can use it to make parts for the next one , if your not to busy making other things

John

cfellows · « **Reply #95 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:55:34 PM »

That's a cool machine you've made there. I keep thinking I would like to get into CNC, but then again, not sure what I'd use it for and I hate to spend the money.

Chuck

j45on · « **Reply #96 on:** May 21, 2011, 09:44:37 AM »

Chuck I'm only doing it for fun I have no real use for it

But I'm sure I will find uses like isolation routing PCB's, cutting openings in project boxes
Making wooden puzzle boxes.
My sister makes silver jewelry and is already asking me if I can engrave items for her

This is today's experiment

saw · « **Reply #97 on:** May 21, 2011, 10:24:31 AM »

Nice I am shure that you will find some work for your router

j45on · « **Reply #98 on:** May 21, 2011, 02:09:24 PM »

Attempted to make a keyring,cut these from 4mm PVC
And tried to cut a window from a CD jewel case

but it melted my dremel is to fast

No1_sonuk · « **Reply #99 on:** May 21, 2011, 05:44:31 PM »

I have a vibrating fretsaw like that. You push the plastic into the blade, and when it comes out the other side, it's welded back together!

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Author Topic: Tiny CNC router (Read 56436 times)