brianhaynes
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Hi everybody, my wife bought me a cnc router about a year ago. I still have not figured out all the ins and outs of useing it. Any suggestions ?
cnc router help
- Thread starter brianhaynes
- Start date
Sounds familiar
I have a friend in Florida with a MAXNC MaxPath42 that had the same problem. The machine had been sitting in his garage under a sheet for almost a year. When I told him I used to program NC machines for a living, his eyes lit up. When I was in Florida last winter, I helped him get started with his CAD/CAM program (BobCAD) and worked with him to cut the first few inlays he designed.
What type of machine do you have? Do you have any machining and/or programming experience? It's easier helping "hands-on", but I'll try to help remotely.
Here are a few links for you to check out.
http://www.cuttingedgecnc.com/cncmain.htm
http://www.desktopcnc.com/links.htm
http://www.timgoldstein.com/cad_cam/Cad_CAMLinks.asp
http://www.cncsimulator.com/index.shtml
brianhaynes said:
I have a friend in Florida with a MAXNC MaxPath42 that had the same problem. The machine had been sitting in his garage under a sheet for almost a year. When I told him I used to program NC machines for a living, his eyes lit up. When I was in Florida last winter, I helped him get started with his CAD/CAM program (BobCAD) and worked with him to cut the first few inlays he designed.
What type of machine do you have? Do you have any machining and/or programming experience? It's easier helping "hands-on", but I'll try to help remotely.
Here are a few links for you to check out.
http://www.cuttingedgecnc.com/cncmain.htm
http://www.desktopcnc.com/links.htm
http://www.timgoldstein.com/cad_cam/Cad_CAMLinks.asp
http://www.cncsimulator.com/index.shtml
brianhaynes
Registered
hopefully inlay work on cues when I learn all about using it.
brianhaynes
Registered
not sure
I'm not sure what kind it is. I would have to measure to see exactly what the specs are. I have seen it work before we bought it. I have always worked in industrial maint. and I am familiar with conventional machining. I am somewhat good with computers but have no experience with CNC operation and programming. Thanks, Brian
I'm not sure what kind it is. I would have to measure to see exactly what the specs are. I have seen it work before we bought it. I have always worked in industrial maint. and I am familiar with conventional machining. I am somewhat good with computers but have no experience with CNC operation and programming. Thanks, Brian
another good link
Tons of info here, good links, good guys on the forums too. I am in the same boat you are, a CNC router sitting under a sheet and no time to mess with it. I'm building a new shop starting Monday. Once it is finished in about a month I'll plug everything in and see what I have.
I do know it is running or was when I bought it, and I scored the software and laptop with the machine so hopefully I can figure it out. I am a former CAD operator which should help some I hope.
Hu
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/
Tons of info here, good links, good guys on the forums too. I am in the same boat you are, a CNC router sitting under a sheet and no time to mess with it. I'm building a new shop starting Monday. Once it is finished in about a month I'll plug everything in and see what I have.
I do know it is running or was when I bought it, and I scored the software and laptop with the machine so hopefully I can figure it out. I am a former CAD operator which should help some I hope.
Hu
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/
ShootingArts said:
That is a good site. I've spent some time on there in the past trying to educate myself more about the controls & software before attempting to build one, as I am very weak in that area, and It was full of good info from actual operations down to building the whole unit from scratch. Tons of resources also. I wish I had one sitting in My shop right now, you guys are lucky there. Can't wait to see what you end up turning out on them in the future. best of luck
Greg
Greg, I was in the same boat
Greg,
I was in the same boat trying to figure out how to build one. I figured that I would find myself spending more money than this used machine cost trying to put one together. I know this one works and it has some extra capabilities that I plan to get some use out of besides just cue making. I own thousands of wildlife images and I can make bas relief carvings from my images with some of the software. Might make a few bucks and the router runs while I am doing other things.
Hu
Greg,
I was in the same boat trying to figure out how to build one. I figured that I would find myself spending more money than this used machine cost trying to put one together. I know this one works and it has some extra capabilities that I plan to get some use out of besides just cue making. I own thousands of wildlife images and I can make bas relief carvings from my images with some of the software. Might make a few bucks and the router runs while I am doing other things.
Hu
Cue Crazy said:That is a good site. I've spent some time on there in the past trying to educate myself more about the controls & software before attempting to build one, as I am very weak in that area, and It was full of good info from actual operations down to building the whole unit from scratch. Tons of resources also. I wish I had one sitting in My shop right now, you guys are lucky there. Can't wait to see what you end up turning out on them in the future. best of luck
What are your axes travel distances? drive screw pitch? controller? driver?
Full or micro-stepping? servo? what resolution encoders?
I built my own machines from aluminium, surplus linear bearings/rails and 269 oz/in stepper motors. Currently, it's computer controlled 4 axis with a manual 2 until I finish wiring the full 6-axis controller. Mach2/3 6-axis controller works great for me.
Full or micro-stepping? servo? what resolution encoders?
I built my own machines from aluminium, surplus linear bearings/rails and 269 oz/in stepper motors. Currently, it's computer controlled 4 axis with a manual 2 until I finish wiring the full 6-axis controller. Mach2/3 6-axis controller works great for me.
Thanks Hu,
Yes I know, and do aggree, guess I just have to do everything the hard way I built My own panto, with mostly parts I scraped up, and a little help on some others. Linear slides, alluminum stock, and that sort of thing made a great carraige for it. By the time I was done I could have probably bought one out right. I have some more of that stuff for another project, but I am caught between starting a cnc, or just simply using them to build a taper machine.
The carraige I feel I could handle building, but as I mentioned I am weak when It comes to the controller setup, so that has me shying away somewhat unless I can educate Myself enough on it to build My confidense up some.
The first setup I would want, would just be a simple three axis, and I would'nt even mind if I had to index manually. To be honest the panto just takes to long and is hard on My back. If I could just automate that part, it would be a big help. Ofcoarse I would like to eventually have one that will do more, but for now that would get me by.
Another reason, I want to learn to build My own is sort of for the reason you mentioned, I also have some outside interests, and when I have the extra room, I hope to have a different setup for that, so It runs It'self, and is seperate from the cuework portion. It's alot to learn from scratch I know, and I have actually considered buying something cheaper like a taig to familiarize Myself better, and educate Myself on actual running operations, before attempting to get in too deep. I've gathered some knowledge, but have alot to learn still yet.
I had considered automating My panto, after all It does run on linear motion, but the carraige deminsions Might not be best suited for it.
Thanks Greg
Yes I know, and do aggree, guess I just have to do everything the hard way
I built My own panto, with mostly parts I scraped up, and a little help on some others. Linear slides, alluminum stock, and that sort of thing made a great carraige for it. By the time I was done I could have probably bought one out right. I have some more of that stuff for another project, but I am caught between starting a cnc, or just simply using them to build a taper machine.The carraige I feel I could handle building, but as I mentioned I am weak when It comes to the controller setup, so that has me shying away somewhat unless I can educate Myself enough on it to build My confidense up some.
The first setup I would want, would just be a simple three axis, and I would'nt even mind if I had to index manually. To be honest the panto just takes to long and is hard on My back. If I could just automate that part, it would be a big help. Ofcoarse I would like to eventually have one that will do more, but for now that would get me by.
Another reason, I want to learn to build My own is sort of for the reason you mentioned, I also have some outside interests, and when I have the extra room, I hope to have a different setup for that, so It runs It'self, and is seperate from the cuework portion. It's alot to learn from scratch I know, and I have actually considered buying something cheaper like a taig to familiarize Myself better, and educate Myself on actual running operations, before attempting to get in too deep. I've gathered some knowledge, but have alot to learn still yet.
I had considered automating My panto, after all It does run on linear motion, but the carraige deminsions Might not be best suited for it.
Thanks Greg
bandido said:
I also built my own 4-axis 36x36" gantry system from aluminum cut-offs I purchased at a scrap yard. NKG linear bearings and rails, 1" Thompson radial ball screws, 1000 inch/oz. motors and a power supply/driver system I built myself using compumotor industrial drivers and using AHHA operating software. I mounted a Precise variable speed 0-75,000rpm grinder that supposedly has no measureable runout at 100,000ths. I just kept reading tutorials on CNC on the internet and bought surplus items on e-bay and built around them. I already had the 4th axis and AHHA software from another machine so I have about an additional 3,000.00 invested in a machine that is extremely accurite and can run up to 300 inch per minute if so desired.
One of the great things of building your own equipment is the need to understand what occurs to enable a machine to accomplish something. In doing so, when something goes wrong, you are more apt to finding where the problem is and correcting it than someone who only purchases a turn-key machine. Having some one come in to work on CNC equipment can get pretty exspensive and time consuming.
Dick
Exactamundo! Aside from the aggraviation just thinking about what messed-up can really waste a lot of time.rhncue said:
Well brianhaynes, it looks like you have a few here that can help you with what you need to know about cnc from machine design to operation.
I am building / built my own CNC from scratch. It has a stationary gantry and a moving table. Very stable this way. More room needed though for the table to pass under the cutter. The working envelope is smaller too so you do lose some travel. But the real pro is the rigidity. It has a 22" x 46" table.
Right now I have (2) lathe stations and a rotary 4-axis station all on one table. Only one cutter so the cutter travels from one lathe to the other.
I hope to stack the lathes so I can cut 4 shafts/ handles with one pass.
Still working on the CNC part though...you know...programming.
Speed and power are not so important...who cares how slow the cutter travels if you don't have to stand over it to make sure it's not reading the paper! (open to interpretation!) LOL!
What a process it has been and it is VERY helpful to know a local machinist who can build parts for you / it. I supply the "beverages" and he supplies his knowledge and the parts! LOL!!
If it works I may market it..who knows? Starting from a FLAT and LEVEL SURFACE is a major part of the hassle! Anyone priced a 4' x 5' surface plate lately? I'll buy and suplly the bevs- if you move it!
IT'S FRIDAY!
Chris
Right now I have (2) lathe stations and a rotary 4-axis station all on one table. Only one cutter so the cutter travels from one lathe to the other.
I hope to stack the lathes so I can cut 4 shafts/ handles with one pass.
Still working on the CNC part though...you know...programming.
Speed and power are not so important...who cares how slow the cutter travels if you don't have to stand over it to make sure it's not reading the paper! (open to interpretation!) LOL!
What a process it has been and it is VERY helpful to know a local machinist who can build parts for you / it. I supply the "beverages" and he supplies his knowledge and the parts! LOL!!
If it works I may market it..who knows? Starting from a FLAT and LEVEL SURFACE is a major part of the hassle! Anyone priced a 4' x 5' surface plate lately? I'll buy and suplly the bevs- if you move it!
IT'S FRIDAY!
Chris
brianhaynes
Registered
Thanks Greg and the rest of you guys. Your replies will be a great help!Cue Crazy said:That is a good site. I've spent some time on there in the past trying to educate myself more about the controls & software before attempting to build one, as I am very weak in that area, and It was full of good info from actual operations down to building the whole unit from scratch. Tons of resources also. I wish I had one sitting in My shop right now, you guys are lucky there. Can't wait to see what you end up turning out on them in the future. best of luck
not sure if you are asking me . . .
My axis travel is 25x39 times I believe five, all measurements in inches. To be honest I would have to check everything else and the router is in storage since I lost the space I planned to put it in and am having to build a new shop. The frame and gantry are factory build and adequately accurate for what I want to do with them.
I do plan to build my own machinery probably a fixed gantry and very possibly a wall mounted unit but since I couldn't get the details I sought to build one I decided to buy and reverse engineer when I go to build another. I also want to work with servo's instead of stepper motors since I intend to convert a J size mill and a 13 or 14 by 40 lathe eventually.
Hu
My axis travel is 25x39 times I believe five, all measurements in inches. To be honest I would have to check everything else and the router is in storage since I lost the space I planned to put it in and am having to build a new shop. The frame and gantry are factory build and adequately accurate for what I want to do with them.
I do plan to build my own machinery probably a fixed gantry and very possibly a wall mounted unit but since I couldn't get the details I sought to build one I decided to buy and reverse engineer when I go to build another. I also want to work with servo's instead of stepper motors since I intend to convert a J size mill and a 13 or 14 by 40 lathe eventually.
Hu
bandido said:
brianhaynes
Registered
Thanks Greg (cuecrazy) If and when I get it all figured out, I'll post pics of the outcome. Thanks to all who reply!
brianhaynes said:
Good luck with it Brian, please do post those pics, love to see them. Your very welcome, altough not sure how much help I was, as I am the one that will probably be coming to you for advice in the future when I actually get to making automated wood chips.
. Right now when it comes to CNC, I just take notes like I have in the past, from guys that have been there and done that like Dicky and Edwin here, and try to scan the cnc forums when I have the time. Greg