This project is to build a router based CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine.
There are several "Off the shelf" units available, but these run into serious money, and then the software is a small mortgage in itself ! After extensive research I have found a system which hopefully suits my needs and my wallet. The "X - Carve", and you can just buy the bits you need, other items I already have, such as a trim router, power supply, Arduino board, micro switches, etc, and the software to run it is web based and open source and the best bit... Free !
So a few things I have to do before the build...
1. More power outlets to the workshop... Done ✔
2. Internet cable or wireless booster... Done ✔ (Cable as wireless booster not strong enough signal)
3. Dust extraction... Done ✔ (see previous blog)
4. Work Station... Done ✔ (See previous blog)
Waste Board
The CNC will sit on an MDF waste board, plans for the board are on the companies web site, but basically its a sacrificial board that if an end mill goes in it will be soft enough not to damage the bit, MDF is ideal for this, also a series of holes within the board with threaded inserts will help mount material with the aid of clamps.
The waste board is 1000mm x 1000mm with the plans downloaded I purchased a half board of 18mm MDF, my local timber merchant even cut it to size for me, which saved me some time as he has a large jig for doing this kid of cutting.
Think the timber merchant must have put a new blade in his sheet material saw, the MDF had some serious sharp edges this time.
Had to "soften" all the edges with some 120 grit sandpaper, got a couple of cuts on my fingers getting it out of the car, also rounded off the corners with the jigsaw, just to make the waste board a little more "user friendly" Sorry, no photo's of this, a bit busy with plasters stopping blood from going everywhere !
Marked out the board for mounting holes and clamping holes
Lots of rather precise numbers ? (Image sample taken from Internet)
But as soon as I got the corner hole marked it was fairly easy as the holes were 75mm centres apart, so marking out was quick after that, then with a centre punch to help the drill bit drill accurately. (well as accurate as I could free hand ?) Holes drilled to 6mm ready for the threaded inserts, which are M5 x 10mm.
Sorry missed a couple of steps with the photos, got carried away drilling 144 holes !!!
After all holes where drilled, I then countersunk them all from the back, this will aid putting in the threaded inserts and also stop any potential "break-out" of the MDF while putting them in.
Tried the first insert with a 5mm hex wrench, worked well, but slow. So swapped over to my cordless drill, adjusted the torque settings to low and did the second one... a lot quicker than by hand, just need to adjust the torque setting to a medium setting just to give enough power to drive the insert 2mm lower than the surface, and tight against the bevel of the countersink profile. Now for the next 142 !
All done ! Phew.... time for a cuppa.
Next step to attach the bed rails.
Waste board bed rails
As part of the "Main components" package of the X-Carve are a set of rails which fit under the waste board, these add strength and rigidity to the waste board but also act as support and connections for the "Y" axis rails.
Construction was fairly straight forward as seen in the following photos...
The back and front bars overhang the waste board by 30mm, this is to allow the "Y" axis to be connected.
With the board now flipped over, the bed rails are tightened down to the waste board.
Summary
Time taken today... 8 hours.
Slower than other blogs/videos on you tube, however I have made my own waste board instead of purchasing one from America ! saving over £200, and that includes the shipping !
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