Show must go on

Hi, I am thinking if there will be some interest in reading posts on that blog. But recently I started looking back at my workshop and making some small jobs in it. One of the tasks is to end all started machines. Like that CNC which has some elements from epoxy granite. So let's start! One of the things I made is a table for that machine. I used recycled aluminum profiles and plywood. I used some casters to make it movable. There is some place for electronics for CNC in it.

Another thing I made is to fill the bottom of the machine with more epoxy. Its purpose is to make it heavier and less vibrating. In future there will be aluminum table on it. Added also some PE boards to avoid chips and cooling flying around.

Some work on drives is also made

And the electronic board almost connected, some small corrections needed and it will be tested.

I am old school and it still will be driven by Mach3 over the LPT connector. I bought all the elements so long ago and there is no point to scrap them and buy new stuff.

Reuse

Hi,

Do you remember frame that I made from profiles and epoxy granite Lathe body - epoxy&profiles.
I thought to use it as lathe body, but it have dimensions ideal for my X axis. And I will use it.

All free spaces in this machine was planed to fill with epoxy granite. So I can use it as is. Less work for me ;)

Lucas

Come back - new CNC

Hi all,

If you thought that blog end you were wrong. Family eat almost all my free time, until now. I decided to go back to my workshop and build some thing new. First I have to end my old project that was stared about year ago. Second CNC for my workshop.
Table with one drawer and main frame are ready:

Workshop update

Hi,

Last time when I have visitors in workshop, they said that it is totally different from what they seen on blog. So small update of current layout (before some other things will be presented). Forgive me for the mess.

New/old CNC after some upgrade. Lot of epoxy granite used to reinforce construction. Wider X axis, ball screws installed on all axis, new enclosure. Still waiting for new spindle to rebuild Z axis.

 Drilling spot, rack with materials.

Assembly table with PC to draw all elements. Plan is to made it from 8020 profiles, but have no time ;)

Bigger CNC. It have dissembled Z axis, as cheap ball nut from China has lost all balls from nut. New one is waiting for installation during weekend. Some new "project" stuff is also visible, but I will write more about it in another post.

Manual lathe and rack with screw.

I hope I will stay in this place till next winter, but who knows.

Lucas

Epoxy granite CNC part

Hello,

I like to share some epoxy granite element that I made to my CNC. I decide to made small modernization of my smaller mill. But like always modernization goes to total rebuild of machine.
One of step was to add stiffness and weight to old frame made from aluminium profiles.
Easiest way was to pour out some epoxy granite. When Y and Z axis was easy, because frame was already done, than X axis I have to  build from scratch.
Here I will describe how I made it.

New dust foot

Hi,

Whit new machine I made much more Plywood, MDF and dust board cutting. There is a lot of dust and chips flying around. In whole room there was mess. So "dust foot" was a must have thing.
I had to remove Z axis from machine.

On the bottom of it I drilled 4 holes and taped them M4.

 From 4 mm Aluminum plate I cut holder and screw it to Z axis. This will be permanently installed on machine. Additional hole is for my vacuum hose.

Biggerc CNC - update

Hi all, 

It was long time as I was not posting here new stuff. But I had so much things to do, sweet life in countryside ;) Despite there was no publications I was doing some small things. 

But Fall came and I will have more time for my hobby. 

Modernization of my old CNC end with complete rebuild of everything. Only computer did not change Below some photos. 

 New driver with cooling fans.

Still missing: switch limits, E-stop button, LCD holder.  

CNC almost done

Hi,


Last days I do not have much time to work in workshop, but I try my best. So I am still doing modernization. I bought 2 ball screws and nut to gate (Y axis) move. I had to create mounting bearings and nut holder. I made it on my smaller CNC.

Modernization ?

Hi all,

While working on the current project I do not know whether it should be called "modernization". At the present moment the machine is completely rebuilt, and from old machine, I used the electronics and one propeller. Below the promised pictures.

 This is how it looks now.

Modernization - next steps

Hello,

I have problems with my camera and I can not show current status of the machine, but it is almost ended. Some old photos I found I will share now.

But in that moment I have only missing some belts and cables to get it work. I hope I can sent post more frequently in future. 

Lucas

Modernization - new progress

Hello,

I used some free time and opportunity that I have workshop at home and create some new parts. I need to do modernization of this CNC as fast as possible.

Main profiles to gate are assembled. There will be additional reinforcement added to back of it. On left side I made from 15 mm thick aluminium place for bearings for screw. You can not see it, but it have place to install stepper motor. On third photo is additional cover to bearings and nut holder. I used screw and nut  (Tr 14x4) from old machine. If I have free money I plan to install there ball screw.

Changes

Hi all,

After long period of silence finally I found time to create new post. As title says: changes. That is main thing that was happening during end of this year 2013 and will be in new 2014 year.
First of all I moved to a new place. Finally it is my own one. So I have to move all my things from home and my workshop. Renovating of the house was on the first place on the list to do. I need place to live and sleep.
Workshop is bigger problem. I have a garage where will be my permanent workshop. But roof of it has no isolation, winters in Poland are cold. So I can not move in there right now.
I made agreement with my fiancee and one of rooms will be my temporary workshop till Spring time.
(Sorry for poor quality of photos. I made those afternoon and light in my room/workshop is poor)

BIGCNC - small update

Hi all,

I made some small progress in building Z axis for new CNC. Sprocket on ball nut installed, holder for step motor installed.

Big CNC - first look

Hi,

Yesterday I made first try to try on big CNC in to one piece. It look awesome:

Only step motor is missing in Z axis.

Now it is time for X and Y axis.

Lucas

Big CNC - update

Hi,

I made some progress in building newest machine. Z axis is ready in 85% now.

New status

Hi there,

As I was better almost all previous week I was working in my workshop. I decide to do as much as I could in this time. So there is a lot of progress.

This is frame of new machine, it will be total 1850 x 983 big, and 700 mm high. It should be build like that, because I need someday to take it out of this room. And only 790 mm wide doors are available.

Ball nut and screw for Z axis

Hi there,

I am ill still and can not do anything in workshop. But I received one more thing to new CNC. Ball nut and screw for Z axis. This is 1605 screw, 200 mm thread long. Already prepared to install. But first I have to project and cut out parts for Z axis.

Only Z axis will have a screw. Rest of axis will be belt driven. I think I will use HTD 5 belt as a direct transmission for X and Y axis. I like to have a fast machine.

Lucas 

Frame of new CNC

Hi all,

So I start to work. I like aluminum profiles and where there was a possibility I try to buy used ones.

I take almost half year to collect all those profiles, but price for them was less than half of new ones.
Some time ago I bought miter saw and blade for aluminum profiles.

What now?

Hi all,

Last days I was ill and I spend some time in bed. I had a lot of time to thinking what to do next. I had a several ideas. But I could not decide what to chose.I could build several things that will be helpful for me, but decision was hard to make.
I thing the bigger CNC would be the best one. I have already all profiles and linear bearings and rails for all axis. I will start this build immediately.

Lucas

CNC - done

Hi,

I think I have ended building my latest CNC. There is some unfinished things like connecting end stops. But I can work without them. And I like to start to do new things as fast as possible. But some photos before: