CNC router build

   

CNC Mill Release status: experimental [box doku]
Description
Author(s)	Tarwin
Last Version	v0.1

We want to use the big-ass CNC portal Thomas rescued from the trash to build a CNC router.

Goals

• Mill Aluminium!
• route PCBs
• be open for extensions, easy tool change

Hardware

Motor System

X & Y Motors

• Berger-Lahr VRDM3913 50LNBOO

Z Motor

• Berger-Lahr VRDM368 50LNBOB

Motor controllers

• 3x JMC 3M860

Endstops

X & Y

• ??

Z

• ??

Software

Workflow

• Lists of software tools
  • http://www.freebyte.com/cad/cadcam.htm#cadcamsystems
  • http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAM

Generating G-Code

• • F-Engrave - DXF to GCode, single pass only
  • gcodetools for Inkscape (not tested yet)
  • dxf2gcode (not tested yet)
  • image2gcode online, not tested yet
• PyCAM (not tested)
  • http://pepijndevos.nl/2012/04/23/fast-pycam-on-mac-using-homebrew.html
• http://simplegcoder.com/ (not tested)
• https://sites.google.com/site/heekscad/home/Details (not tested)

ToDos

• Put portal together, replace belt
• Test / identifiy endstops
• Build portal frame

• Evaluate Controller Software
• Find matching controller Hardware (like this or that.)
• Try Z axis brake

Sub-projects

Frame and table

• The X Axis is raised, the linear bearing runs far above the tool head. This implies a high center of gravity.
• Frame needs to be very stable
• Maybe use old routing table placed inside the frame to have a stable and level working surface
  • Build / reuse old routing table (should be movable by itself, maybe use old manual router)

Tool head

• needs to be powerful (Aluminium) and precise (pcbs)
  • Find matching Spindle with driver and cooling (maybe that)

Software & Controller

• What will tell the drivers what to do? PC/parallel port, Mikrokontroller, old CNC hardware, ...
• Hardware? What do we need?

Pictures

Last picture of the portal before it ware put apart and brought to the space