Difference between revisions of "4x8 CNC Machine"

Revision as of 17:34, 15 April 2013

See Also:

• Project Log

Overview

This is the project page of a CNC capable of milling 4' x 8' plywood sheets. Update: I have ordered a 52" x 104" (area) Plasma cutting table from eagleplasma. Updates to follow below:

CNC Control Software

I'm using Mach3 to feed GCode to the controller, it seems to work well. Future experiments in the pipeline include upgrading the computer and experimenting with CNCLinux. CAM Software has been a problem for us recently:

• LazyCam(we have a license) - does ok for most dxf features but can't handle curves. has good tool diameter compensation.
• InkScape(open) - has a plugin to export GCode, I haven't had much luck configuring the tool diameter preferences.
• PyCam (open) - I haven't had much luck configuring the tool diameter preferences.
• CamBam (free version) - Tyler's been experimenting with it, the experiments look promising.

Status

• 10or11 May 12: Ordered CNC Kit from eagleplasma.com
• 16 May 12: Kit arrived in 3 boxes (145#, 145#, 95#) - I like to call them Huey, Duey, and Louie
• 17 May 12: Uncrated the contents. (see below for pictures)
• 18 May 12: ASSEMBLY
• 28 May 12: Built Spindle Mount
• 30 May 12: Calibration
• 13 Jun 12: First cut: X-Axis had trouble with belt jamming; upped the Amperage to 100%-->20%; Need to play around with one of the pulleys to see if i can keep it from pinching the belt. Opinion: This would not be a problem if I were plasma cutting. The router is adding resistance that the stepper is having trouble adapting to. Worst case scenario: I replace the current NEMA23 stepper with a spare NEMA34 that was used in the old cnc..
• 27 Dec 12: After a couple of months of not really understanding what was going on, I decided to replace the belts with #25 chain. The Blackfoot CNC uses this system for their systems. It seems to have solved the problems for the x.
• Middle of Jan 13: Replaced Y axis belt with chain. Hardware seems to be good.
• 13 Apr 13: Replaced cog on the X axis motor due to the tightening screw hole being stripped out resulting in slippage. Everything working beautifully again.

Links to Cuttable Pattern Resources

• Shelter 2.0
• Open Design Furniture
• More Open Design Furniture
• Necessary Thingiverse link
• mashup for routers
• Neat CNC chair
• Necessary link to cnczone
• single sheet canoe
• single sheet stairs
• single sheet canoe
• WikiHouse
• AtFab (sexy furniture)
• Via onesheetofplywood
  • 2 Tables from 1 sheet of plywood
  • Remaking a portable stool
  • 90d
  • Ugly is the new Hot?
    • Plywood chair bonanza
  • PGM Sculptures - Mathematical Furniture
• single sheet chair
• single sheet DIY book scanner from diybookscanner.org
  • video assembly manual

Links to CNC Machine Resources

• A small company building hobby plasma cncs
• Contraptor
• flexible manufacturing system
• Build Your CNC (a distant relative of the 2x4 CNC Machine) *closed source
• Mechmate *closed source
• neo7 cnc
• 80/20 Ebay store

Assembly Pics

Crate Contents

The crates arrived! the vertical one weighed 95lbs, and the two horizontal ones were 140lbs!	The Gantry box without its cardboard. see the dalek in the background?	The contents of the gantry crate.	The cnc table crate, marked 'bottom'
The cnc table crate contents, marked 'bottom'	The cnc table crate, marked 'top'	The cnc table crate contents, marked 'top'

Concerns

Of concern: The ground is not connected	Of concern: The power wires seem a bit thin...
Fixed ground. Other wires seem ok.

Assembly Day

The table parts out of their plastic

More to follow once I've resized them.

Bill of Materials

This may be put on hold...