My new Inlay Machine

DanO

DanO

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'd like to say thanks to all the fine threads that are on here if you do some digging. I’d also like to give a big THANKS to Mc2, Tony Z., Dick N., & Jerry E. Without their advice I could never have taken this from concept to reality. Here’s a 30 second video on my website.

http://www.timocues.com/CNC/Inlay machine1.wmv
 

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Very nice machine Dano. What program is being used on the computer? I could not see clearly enough.
 
I'm using Bobcad 23 to make the program, and Mach3 to run the Gecko control.

Let me add by saying that since I'm a novice maker I don't have a lot to share with this forum. If any cue maker has a sketch they would like a cad file of, I will do it for no charge. I've been drawing in multiple cad programs for 26 years. I'm currently using a Ø.062 cutter for my patterns and a Ø.031 cutter for my pockets. Maybe I can help someone out plus get some fresh ideas rolling.
 
Very nice. What a sense of accomplishment it is when you have something that you've built yourself. I am a computer guy but I am not sure if I would have the skills to build something like that.
With that CNC you just opened a whole new can of worms and now possibilities are endless on cue making.
Looking forward to see some more cool stuff from you.
Happy Holidays!
 
Just under 31" between centers on my X travel. My spin indexes and flat stock tooling are all mounted to a 44" long dovetail. I can move them anywhere I want. I plan on adding a 4th axis rotary down the road. Anyone have one for sale?
 
DanO said:
Just under 31" between centers on my X travel. My spin indexes and flat stock tooling are all mounted to a 44" long dovetail. I can move them anywhere I want. I plan on adding a 4th axis rotary down the road. Anyone have one for sale?
Click to expand...

I believe you can get a spindle and control it with mach-3 in 360 degree steps. Mount a small 3 jaw to the shaft and VIOLA, you have the rotary.
 
hangemhigh said:
I believe you can get a spindle and control it with mach-3 in 360 degree steps. Mount a small 3 jaw to the shaft and VIOLA, you have the rotary.
Click to expand...

Or Taig lathe headstock then pulley it to a stepper motor.
Great setup Dan.
 
I'll probably end up with a sherline index with a 3-jaw once I jump.

My Y has 4.5" of travel. If I remove the end gussets that I added for support, my Y is 9". I'm not sure they were needed but it did really solid things up. Z is 4".
 
The spindle is a 12V Wolfgang. To power it I bought a Pyramid voltage supply that my monitor is sitting on top of. They are very popular to convert a car radio or CB to AC use. Kind of overkill for this but the directions with the Wolgang said I may see spikes of high amperage. The needle reads less than two amps though. You can find the voltage supply on fleebay for under $100.

I bought 3 dovetail clamps from Bassel Elshaar customcuelathes@yahoo.com. They are the same as Taig. I'm using two for the spin indexes and cut the third in half for my flat stock risers. The flat stock riser has a mill groove running left to right that is dead center with the dovetail. I don't have any home switches on my machine so I'm cheating my alignment. I can clamp my flat stock tooling on, align my spindle in the Y direction with the mill line, remove the flat stock tooling, and clamp the cue in the indexes. Without wasting a lot of time I know my cue is now inline with my spindle.

The air blast keeping my tool path clean is being powered by a salt water fish tank Aarator. Something else I read on here.
 
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Very Cool, Nice job. Nothing beats the satisfaction of building your own machine & seeing what you've done there is inspiring.

Greg
 
Very nice, i respect the fact that you put fourth the time, effort and research to do this yourself.

So i have to ask the question that hasnt been asked yet. How much $ u got in it so far?
 
Since I started this 3 months ago I have $1970 in the machine itself including the control box, motors, spin indexes, all tooling, and (20) precise bit cutters. I bought the dedicated computer used, and I bought a used legal seat of Bobcad for half price. With the Mach3 I have another $770 in the computer and software(s). The table was another $140. Total package = $2880. I didn't have to buy the linear slides so that saved me some money. And no I won't sell it for $2881. :D
 
DanO said:
Since I started this 3 months ago I have $1970 in the machine itself including the control box, motors, spin indexes, all tooling, and (20) precise bit cutters. I bought the dedicated computer used, and I bought a used legal seat of Bobcad for half price. With the Mach3 I have another $770 in the computer and software(s). The table was another $140. Total package = $2880. I didn't have to buy the linear slides so that saved me some money. And no I won't sell it for $2881. :D
Click to expand...

That was about what I expected the total package to cost. Nice machine.
 
DanO said:
Since I started this 3 months ago I have $1970 in the machine itself including the control box, motors, spin indexes, all tooling, and (20) precise bit cutters. I bought the dedicated computer used, and I bought a used legal seat of Bobcad for half price. With the Mach3 I have another $770 in the computer and software(s). The table was another $140. Total package = $2880. I didn't have to buy the linear slides so that saved me some money. And no I won't sell it for $2881. :D
Click to expand...

Gecko controller?
 
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