Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: ebarlow99 on May 23, 2013, 12:28:11 pm
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just purchased a 4' x 8' CNC kit...let the fun begin!!!!
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What kit did you buy?
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http://buildyourcnc.com/blackFoot48v40.aspx (http://buildyourcnc.com/blackFoot48v40.aspx)
also got the spindle with inverter liquid cooled!!
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Nice! Should be fun.
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I am envious! Can that CNC handle hardwoods like cherry and walnut?
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Whoa, that's kind of expensive for a wood version. Did you ever look at MechMate stuff?
That's a super duper lot of work but I'm excited for ya! Take lots of pictures and be soft with tightening of the bolts!
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I am envious! Can that CNC handle hardwoods like cherry and walnut?
yes can cut steel!
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Whoa, that's kind of expensive for a wood version. Did you ever look at MechMate stuff?
That's a super duper lot of work but I'm excited for ya! Take lots of pictures and be soft with tightening of the bolts!
nope...I know a few people that own one and they swear by it! I took the plunge....little expensive but hey I got half of it paid off already and don't even have it yet :)
yes a lot of work setting it up but what better way to get to know your machine by putting in every single piece...lol
I will document my build.......thinking of replicating all the wood pcs on the laser I have access too.....have a spare part for every piece :)
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Got some parts on Wednesday...more parts today!!!! ;D
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I am envious! Can that CNC handle hardwoods like cherry and walnut?
yes can cut steel!
Not with that spindle...
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well thank god im not cutting steel!!
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well thank god im not cutting steel!!
As any good CNC runner knows, it's only a matter of time :) Once you start, you'll soon realize wood isn't enough. . .
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true!!!
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I am envious! Can that CNC handle hardwoods like cherry and walnut?
yes can cut steel!
Just so that someone reading this doesn't come to poor conclusions about a machine like this being able to "cut steel", I'll throw in my two cents.
A machine like this one is a great, lower cost way to get into large format CNC routing, albeit at an additional cost of much assembly, high maintenance and slow operation. From what I have seen from the build methodology, and user experiences, it has a difficult enough time cutting wood, let alone steel, or even aluminum, due to inherent deflection and myriad other weak points. It appears that folks using these types of machines are taking 6-7 passes on a through cut of 3/4" MDF, and 4-5 on 1/2". And even at those rates, there seems to be enough deflection or positioning error to produce visible "waterlines" at each pass. Everything on the stock machine is riding stainless v-groove rollers on one edge of 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum "L" extrusions. Aside from the deflection in lateral directions with this type of arrangement, Z-axis uniformity will start to become an issue as the rails start to inevitably wear. How quickly the wear becomes an issue will depend on the accuracy of the build, gantry weight and how often the machine is used.
A high power spindle, without making numerous improvements to the machine, will likely not yield much improvement. The primary advantages with powerful spindles are sound levels, constant torque, and fine speed control. Unfortunately, the water-cooled Chinese spindles aren't much quieter in operation than a good router body, so sound level reduction is questionable. The constant torque and speed control aspects usually are of most benefit when hogging into material at deep passes, and managing chip size. When taking such small cuts at low speed to manage deflection, these concerns will likely never be an issue. However, if the machine is running hours on end (which it probably will be in any production capacity, given the increased time to make cuts) the water cooled spindle will definitely be a plus, over a router body, just for longevity concerns.
This isn't to say that these issues can't be addressed, but getting them under control, and keeping them that way, is going to be a fairly long and bumpy road. It will also require additional expense and a lot of mechanical ability. It may even require replacing a number of the components outright, so one really has to look at the expectations one has in the end to decide whether the added expense of a kit of this nature is worth it, or whether one would be best served buying the basic CNC components (steppers, rails, electronics, etc...) and designing a solution which meets the final goal at the best price point possible. Given the cost of the kit and what is included for the price (essentially off the shelf extrusions, motors, electronics and about $60 worth of CNC'd MDO), it seems kind of high. But I imagine that half of the price+ is based on support requirements, documentation and investments in R&D, which have high associated costs.
In any event, it looks like you have an adventure ahead of you and it should be fun, educational and maybe a bit frustrating (it's par for the course) all at the same time. Now get to work on that table while you're waiting for the parts :cheers:
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I guess I will see for myself once I get it up and running....I pretty much new going in I would probably have to modify the crap out of it....thank god I have 2 friends that have actual cnc machines and one with a laser so im sure they will be helpful...... and I really couldn't complain (yet) I got this kit as a gift pretty much. I know there will be a learning curve for this thing for sure. I will post pics and vids once it up and running.
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(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n91/ebarlow99/My%20CNC/cnc3.jpg) (http://s110.photobucket.com/user/ebarlow99/media/My%20CNC/cnc3.jpg.html)
started on torsion box
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What's happening in here ebarlow?
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been super busy but managed to cut a sign for the little Minecraft freak that is my son!
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some pics....
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been super busy but managed to cut a sign for the little Minecraft freak that is my son!
I say we all pitch in and send one of those to PBJ when he gets found.