[voltsandbolts]

Well I got the chain drive all put together and… didn’t like it. So I have taken it off and am looking into Acme threaded rod for my next try. I want to experiment with a home brew rotating nut. So many things to try.

[PaulRowntree]

What didn't you like about it?

[voltsandbolts]

Mostly the wife complaining about getting grease on her pants every time she walked by it. :-) I think the chain would be great for a plasma cutter project.
I also pulled most of the acrylic parts off to, It looked good but under constant pressure it started to deform.

[voltsandbolts]

It has been a long while but I have been working on the router as time is available and that hasn’t been much. But I have some pics to show the changes it has and is going through.

I completely changed the gantry sides and have gone with an 8020 upright to support the gantry cross beams. I really like the modularity and ease of use of the 8020. I bought the 1530 for the uprights and the 1515 was donated by a friend.

[voltsandbolts]

I decided that the ½-13 and home made AB nuts I was trying, weren’t what I really wanted, so off with them and on with ½-10 5 start ACME and AB nuts from DumpsterCNC. I think I’ll like this much better.

I need to come up with better bearing blocks too but that will probably wait until I have it running.

[voltsandbolts]

With the gantry sort of set for now I moved on to the “Z” axis,

I decided to go with a carriage assembly similar to the one on the KRMX01.
I made it from 2”x2”x1/8” angle, It’s not complete but I needed to install it to see were and how I need to attach the “X” axis AB nut and how much head room I need to mount the “Z” Stepper.

I am also considering running the machine from a G540 not sure what size motors to go with yet.

[jckstrthmghty]

Very cool build. I see the JGRO in the background.

[voltsandbolts]

Thanks for the compliment.

Yep the old JGRO has been fun and functional but when (if) I finish this build, I have a friend that is interested in it and I will probably pass her on to him. She is bone stock right down to the ¼-20 allthread for leadscrews, it will be nice to go from cutting at a max of 20 IPM to 100 IPM.

Rob.

[dodger889]

Very cool build. I see the JGRO in the background.

I think that is the first gantry sitting back there.

[jckstrthmghty]

it will be nice to go from cutting at a max of 20 IPM to 100 IPM.

The great thing, 100ipm is a very conservative number for ½-10 5. The g540 with 381oz 3a motors are a great combo.

[voltsandbolts]

@ dodger889 It really is my old JGRO the old gantry is "Disassembled"

@ jckstrthmghty Really! How conservative? I plan to run a YYXZ setup. 4 steppers with a 48v supply.

[jckstrthmghty]

with 1/2-10 5 start I get around 180ipm jogging on my not so straight longest axis leadscrew with a super crap laptop powering mach3. On my shorter axis that has no leadscrew whip issues I get 300ipm jogging. I cut at 120ipm on long cuts reliably. I'm sure if I had a better computer and I put some anti leadscrew whip device I could greatly improve my performance but I have found 80-120ipm adequate for my needs. Oh I use a g540 with 381oz 3a steppers with a 48v 7a powersupply.

[voltsandbolts]

Thanks, good to know. If I can cut at 100~120ipm I will be happy. That means a file that took 30 min to cut on my JGRO will cut in 6 min (or less) on the new machine. Do you use the same 1/2-10,5s on "Z" as well?

[Wackamazoo]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a question. What settings are you using for LinuxCNC to drive your motors on the JGRO? I am building my first machine, also using all thread rod for a lead screw (5/16-18). If I set the MAx velocity to more than 0.2 the motor stalls with nothing attached after about 1/2 rotation.
C10 BOB,
KL-6050 @ 24v
KL 425 Oz motor

[jckstrthmghty]

no I did not use 1/2-10 5 on my z. I know some machines can use the speed but on my hobby setup 30ipm is all I need. Gives me some room for error when I make z height errors. Has happened a few times but no catastrophic damage yet. I think my z is 3/8-13 single start.. something like that.

[voltsandbolts]

@ Wackamazoo Sorry but I am not using LinuxCNC, I starting on TurboCNC running on DOS and then fiddled with EMC2 and Mach3. I went with Mach3, however LinuxCNC is a great alternative and the price can’t be beat. I still have it on the laptop and my regular controller and at some point down the road I may give it a try again. If you look in the “Controller Software” area of the form I’m sure someone can help you out. http://www.cnczone.com/forums/linuxcnc_formerly_emc2/

@ jckstrthmghty If I have enough length left after I cut off the “Y” screws I will try it on my “Z” I do have some ½-10 single start Acme as a fall back if I have issues… and who doesn’t have issues.

[louieatienza]

no I did not use 1/2-10 5 on my z. I know some machines can use the speed but on my hobby setup 30ipm is all I need. Gives me some room for error when I make z height errors. Has happened a few times but no catastrophic damage yet. I think my z is 3/8-13 single start.. something like that.

Probably either 3/8-16 or 1/2-13...

[louieatienza]

@ dodger889 It really is my old JGRO the old gantry is "Disassembled"

@ jckstrthmghty Really! How conservative? I plan to run a YYXZ setup. 4 steppers with a 48v supply.

Depending on stepper size, you should get up to 300-400ipm rapids. With a USB controller you can get more... Build is looking good!

[Khalid]

You can not scale down cutting time by comparing higher IPM with your lower IPM machine. It depends upon other factors too.. Acceleration/deceleration etc. For example if your one part takes 20minutes at 30IPM machine then it will not necessarly take 10minutes on 60IPM machine. Definetly, you will save some time say 5minutes but not half of the time.

[voltsandbolts]

I made a new gantry bearing block. This one will mount to the gantry up right support and protrude out between the gantry beams, should give me more clearance on the front of the gantry cross beams (the current BB’s mount to the front and back of the cross beams), that will let me pick up a few more inches of travel on the outer edges. Also trying to decide to go with the 380 or 320 oz motors from CRP.

Sorry the last pis is more than a little fuzzy.