My CNC build

[flye]

Hi people,

Here's the progress of my CNC build.

Lets share some pointers for building our own CNC machines.

Collecting my parts

Slides



Stepper motors

[flye]

Wiring my breakout card.



My control box (24V power supply on top)



inside of the box, very messy.

i need a bigger box

[flye]

made my motor mount for my Y axis



another one for the Z axis

[flye]

mounted my motor to the Z axis.

[flye]

at the same time i've done up my gantry too.

[flye]

Next i started on the base of the machine.

it's a desktop size machine.



Couldn't find a piece of alu that suits my size. So i decided to use 2 separate pieces.

[flye]

fixed up the crossbars.

[flye]

my gantry is suppose to sit like this, but i haven't drill holes to mount it yet.

[flye]

next is to find a top plate so my workpiece sit on top.

Found a source for aluminum profiles.

http://www.lme.com.sg/automation.htm

i think this profile makes a good sitting top for the workpiece.

you could slot a nut below and tighten the workpiece to the top while cutting.

was quoted $14 for 460mm from them. I'll go and look for them next week.

[pilot_bear]

looking good.

[Wongster]

Did you have the motor mount standoff's fabricated or purchased off the rack? I couln't seem to find it around SLT. I'm using 5mm cap screws at the moment. Not very nice looking...

[Wongster]

Sorry, forgot to ask. Did you drill those holes yourself or the shop did it for you? If they did, how do they charge?

[flye]

Did you have the motor mount standoff's fabricated or purchased off the rack? I couln't seem to find it around SLT. I'm using 5mm cap screws at the moment. Not very nice looking...

i made it myself, couldn't find a standoff high enough for my coupling.

i just got a alu rod and center lathe at both ends + tap to screw in the motor and bracket.


or alternatively you could get a alu tube and cut to length then use a M5 screw and screw straight thru.



source around kelantan lane, these tubes should be easy to find.

[flye]

Sorry, forgot to ask. Did you drill those holes yourself or the shop did it for you? If they did, how do they charge?

it's expensive if you're going to utilize the services of a machine shop

unless you wanna spend that kind of money, it's better to invest in a desktop drill press that mounts an electric hand held drill.

.

and also get a set of titanium coated drill bits, they have a lower coefficient of friction than HSS bits so they last longer and transfer heat away faster as alu tends to welds to the bits at high temperature.

also invest in a bottle of alu cutting fluid, this will make drilling aluminum a breeze.

[pilot_bear]

desktop drill press coupled with an adjustable variable speed and locking function power drill will be good.