[WOODKNACK]

Here are a few pictures of a machine I built by just looking at a site. I built this by what I saw. No other info was given to help. I just want people to no that anybody can make a machine!

[WOODKNACK]

more pictures of the machine above doing a test run.

[WOODKNACK]

The Test Done.

[WOODKNACK]

Yet another test try.

[WOODKNACK]

Here Is the first engraver I built. ( the front side). I was inspired to build this one after seeing one on the net like it.

[WOODKNACK]

Back side with all the electonics. Used Stepperworlds SP-3/HT system.

[cncadmin]

Here is mine-

[WOODKNACK]

What is the cutting area of that? That is what I want to build next. A gantry style machine. I have my new controller card all ready to go. It is a xylotex board. I am spinning my motors at 46 IPM right now. Here is a picture of everything in a box. I put a outlet in the back with a switch on the front to turn the outlet on the back on. The outlet is for the computer and the router. Also put another switch on the front to turn on the controller card. Can't turn that on unless the first switch is on! ( a good feature). Also used serial connecters for the stepper motors.

[DICKEYBIRD]

Hey WOODKNACK, mine looks like yours!

[WOODKNACK]

Yours is the one I built mine around! I think a friend of yours sent me a picture of yours last winter or maybe it was the winter before. LOL. I cant even rember when I built the dam thing. LOL. I think I got it from somebody on a Yahoo group. I could'nt get the table from stopping to lift up and down while it was moving! All in all it was a good learning experience!

[DICKEYBIRD]

Wow, small world eh? Yup, the drawer slides allow the work table to move up & down too much. I guess I'll build another one someday but so far I have only been cutting out sheet balsa & ply model airplane parts and I can live with it's faults.

The basic design came from Dan Mauch's article "Cimple CNC Circuit Board Driller" from Dec. '94 Nuts & Volts mag. Hobby CNC has come a long way since then!

[WOODKNACK]

I think if you mount the slides on there side it would be better. I dont think they are designed to be put on the backs. I have some Bottom draw slides that I am playing with now. going to try them out and see how they do. I had a bid in on some linear slides on ebay. But some one wanted them a whole lot worse then me! To much money for a hobbie. If these slides dont work im going to try drill rod and oillite bushings.
Oh did I mention that I built the machine in post 1 this summer while I was cooped up. I broke my pelvis in 3 places in 4 wheeler accident. I made the morph alittle at a time. Hard to wobble around on cruches while carry ing MDF board! LOL

[balsaman]

Hey,

Nice machines guys.

Don't get me started here too! You know I have a lot of pictures!



Eric

[kong]

Get posting Balsaman! I'm getting plenty of ideas from these so far, nice work! Any chance of some detail of z-axis setups? i get the linear slide idea, but are there others?
edit - ok, looked again, ball bearing drawer slides on the z-axis? Just wondering, if this is the case, surely I would need a fairly hefty stepper to drive the leadscrew?

[balsaman]

Hi,

I used linear rail all around. I happened to get it free out of the scrap bin where I work. I had about 16 trucks, I found 8 good ones in the lot. Tossed the rest. The rail was a bit beat up, but a file took the little nicks and "outies" off. It's working perfect now.

Eric

[balsaman]

z-axis.

I used a 100 oz stepper. My z axis is heavy. It's about 40 % slower than my other axis'. So what it only needs to move an inch or two.

[balsaman]

nutter

[kong]

Thanks very much Balsaman, the photos are very helpful

[cbcnc]

Here is a picture of my progress so far. The x axis is complete. Black pipe rails, skate bearings, 1/2" acme leadscrew. Working on the z axis now. Y axis is next.

Chris

[balsaman]

Very nice! Keep at it. It's worth it in the end!

Eric