Solsylva 10x9 Gantry CNC
10 x 9 x 4 Fixed Gantry Machine
Ordered plans
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Simple, Solid and Inexpensive
- Sturdy
- Easy to build
- Low cost
- Built with basic tools
- Made of stock materials
This fixed gantry machine uses bearings that ride steel rails. Bearings also support the leadscrews. These features give a solid machine that can use a trim router to cut aluminum.
The photo below is of a piece of 3/8 x 6 inch aluminum flat bar that was milled with a 10x9 machine.
Construction
Only basic tools are required to build this machine. Tool list (on FAQ page) The machine’s body is made of 1x4 and 1x6 boards that are cut to length and drilled. These boards are stiffer than MDF. Materials.pdf
Most cuts are cross-cuts, and all wood cuts can be made with a power-miter or hand saw. A table saw is neither needed nor missed.
The rails are black iron pipe, rigid conduit, or galvanized plumbing pipe, which can be cut with a hacksaw. There are no threads to tap, and the steel rails are not drilled.
The table is sized so it can use half (18 inches) of a standard three foot Acme leadscrew on the X and Y axes. This simplifies upgrades.
Steppers and Speeds
NEMA 23 steppers move each axis. This is a standard size that is available in many stepper and drive packages. The prototypes used the HobbyCNC 200 oz.in. system. HobbyCNC also sells a 305 oz.in. system. Its extra power is noticeable, but was not missed in machining the aluminum with this 10x9 machine. Other stepper packages can be used.
The 5/16-18 threaded rod leadscrews gave rapids above 50 inches per minute. The precision Acme leadscrews permitted rapids over 250 ipm with the 200 oz.in. steppers.
The machine uses a trim router. Its power is compatible with the wooden construction and the popular steppers and drives.
aluminum Milled with the 10x9
3/8 inch aluminum Milled with the 10x9
The milled stock is 6061 T6511 extruded aluminum bare rectangle (flat bar).
The edge cut shown on the 10x9 page used 3/8-8 four start precision Acme leadscrews with anti-backlash leadnuts on the X and Y axes. This was the only upgrade, and it added ~$140 to the price of the machine.
The proprietary stepper to leadscrew couplers, leadnuts and collar clamps add up quickly.
Hold Downs and Spoil Board
Precision Acme Leadscrew Upgrade
The edge cut shown on the 10x9 page used 3/8-8 four start precision Acme leadscrews with anti-backlash leadnuts on the X and Y axes. This was the only upgrade, and it added ~$140 to the price of the machine.
The proprietary stepper to leadscrew couplers, leadnuts and collar clamps add up quickly.
The rails and bearings remained pipe and skate bearings, and the machine’s frame was stock spruce-pine-fir 1x4 and 1x6 boards.
Electronics
Synthetos TinyG controller
Smothieboard
Stepper drivers
- 3 to 5 Allegro A4982 stepper drivers.
- Each capable of driving bipolar steppers up to 35V and 2A.
- 1/16 microstepping.
- TSSOP package allows for much better thermal handling than commonly used A4983/8.
- Digital control of the current setting for each driver instead of trimpot manual control.
Microcontroller
- NXP LPC 1768/9 32-bits Cortex-M3 MCU, running at 96 to 120Mhz. 512kB Flash, 64kB RAM.
- Drag and drop flashing : simply drop a new firmware file to the smoothieboard to update.
- USB2 Composite device : shows to the computer as both a Serial device, and a Mass Storage device ( exposing the SD-card ), à-la mbed.
- Ethernet
- microSD card file storage.
tridimake.com/2017/05 Replacing LinuxCNC with a Smoothieboard for CNC milling. Not as easy as for 3D printing!
SmoothieBoard vs. TinyG for CNC milling
Arthur from the Smoothie project discusses.
shop.uberclock.com - smoothieboard-3x - $110
Thomas Sanladerer - review: The Smoothieboard
Your guide to installing Smoothieboard in a CNC Milling Machine
store.hackaday.com smoothieboard5xc
24V power supply
Meanwell Power Supply - $46 - 24V 14.6A
Mouser.com MeanWell Power Supply
NEMA23 stepper motors
NEMA23 425oz/in 2.8A Stepper Motor ¼” Dual shaft (KL23H286-20-8B)
Automation Technologies NEMA23 3x$32
GRBL Arduino with shield
Arduino CNC Shield V3.10 – GRBL v0.9 compatible (PWM Spindle + Soft limits)
Protoneer CNC shield - GRBL compatible
Protoneer GRBL shield built by Elecrow
Features
- GRBL 0.8c compatible. (Open source firmware that runs on an Arduino UNO that turns G-code commands into stepper signals https://github.com/grbl/grbl)
- 4-Axis support (X, Y, Z , A-Can duplicate X,Y,Z or do a full 4th axis with custom firmware using pins D12 and D13)
- 2 x End stops for each axis (6 in total)
- Spindle enable and direction
- Coolant enable
- Uses removable Pololu A4988 compatible stepper drivers. (A4988, DRV8825 and others)
- Jumpers to set the Micro-Stepping for the stepper drivers. (Some drivers like the DRV8825 can do up to 1/32 micro-stepping )
- Compact design.
- Stepper Motors can be connected with 4 pin molex connectors.
- Runs on 12-36V DC. (At the moment only the Pololu DRV8825 drivers can handle up to 36V so please consider the operation voltage when powering the board.)
GeckoDrive G540
$299 - G540 4-Axis Digital Step Drive
Spark Concepts - CNC xPRO Controller V2
CNC xPRO Controller V2 - $129.00
Take your CNC router to the next level with Spark Concepts’ original CNC xPRO driver. Runs 4 DRV8825 motor drivers; allowing for dual motor configurations on the X,Y, or Z axis. The CNC xPRO is printed on 2oz copper to handle heavy current and improve thermal management of the motor drivers. Version 2 of the CNC xPRO ships with the latest GRBL.
Polulu DRV8825 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier, High Current
NEMA 23 Stepper
Automation Technolory - $26 270 oz/in
Acme Precision Lead Screws
3/8-8 four start precision lead screws
The edge cut shown on the 10x9 page used 3/8-8 four start precision Acme leadscrews with anti-backlash leadnuts on the X and Y axes. This was the only upgrade, and it added ~$140 to the price of the machine.
The proprietary stepper to leadscrew couplers, leadnuts and collar clamps add up quickly.
proprietary fittings
- stepper to leadscrew couplers
- leadnuts
- collar clamps
CNC Router Source ACME Lead Screw Page
lead screw suppliers
Roton
- Product Line: Hi-Lead®
- Major Diameter: 3/8” (in.)
- Threads Per Inch: 10 2/3 (Threads/in.)
- Number of Starts: 4
- Lead: .375 (in./rev.)
- Effective Threads Per Inch: 2 2/3 (Effective TPI)
- Hand: Right Hand
$18 / ft.
dumpster CNC
http://www.dumpstercnc.com/
- ACME 3/8-8, 4 Start Components (2 Turns Per Inch)
- For screws measuring 3/8” diameter with 8 TPI and a 4 start acme thread form.
-
Screws available at: McMaster-Carr [part# 98940A607]
- Anti-backlash leadnuts
- threaded couplers
- thread clamps
- flange nuts
part# 98940A607 3 foot - $34.15 6 foot - $68.30
4140 Alloy Steel Precision ACME Threaded Rod, 3/8”-8 Size, 1/2” Travel/Turn, 3’ Long, Right-Hand Thread, 4 Starts
cncrouterparts.com/acme-drive-parts
cncrouterparts - Acme Drive Parts
louieatienza from cnczone - BTW Ahren at CNCRP has a really nice aluminum housing/mount that incorporates DumpsterCNC nuts, worth a look for a build.
Sidewinder CNC FAQ
cnczone.com forum - ACME Leadscrew question
Forum: DIY CNC Router Table Machines
Newbie- Introduction and 10x9 planning
Router Research
CNCRouterParts
$99 - Bosch 1617 Router Mount
As part of our new line of router mounts, CNC Router Parts is pleased to offer a mount for the Bosch 1617, a popular handheld router. Machined from solid 2” thick aluminum, these mounts offer excellent rigidity and strength.
The mount comes with our router base adapter plate to connect to 15 series or 40mm series extrusion, and offers easy adjustability to tram your router – just shim behind the locating pins on the base adapter plate. Also includes t-nuts and mounting hardware. The Dewalt DW618 is also compatible with this mount.
$100 - Makita RF1101 Router Mount
CNC Router Parts is pleased to offer a mount for the popular Makita RF1101, a quiet and powerful variable speed router. Machined from solid 2” thick aluminum, these mounts offer excellent rigidity and strength.
The mount comes with our router base adapter plate to connect to 15 series or 40mm series extrusion, and offers easy adjustability to tram your router – just shim behind the locating pins on the base adapter plate. Also includes t-nuts and mounting hardware.
PreciseBits Colt tooling
2Bits at cnczone.com PreciseBits Colt tooling
I don’t have the speed information you are looking for, but one thing I can recommend is going to PreciseBits (website) and get their precision collet. Best money spent, you will have runout with the factory collet, I now have a backup reconditioned Colt and have replaced the brushes twice now in the original unit. It’s been working well. PreciseBits website also has a lot of good information to help you with feeds and speeds. Precision Bosch-Colt Collet Kit
$150 - Bosch 16171 2 Horsepower Router Motor with 10-foot Cord
CNCRouterParts mount available
$150 - DEWALT DW618 2-1/4 HP Electronic Variable-Speed Fixed-Base Router
CNCRouterParts mount available
$110 - DEWALT DWP611 1.25 HP Max Torque Variable Speed Compact Router with LED’s
https://www.inventables.com/technologies/bosch-colt-spindle-mount
PreciseBits Collet Kit available
$140 - Dewalt DW618M 2-1/4
CNCRouterParts mount available
$125 - Hitachi M12VC 2-1/4-Horsepower Variable-Speed Router
CNCRouterParts mount available
$180 - Makita RF1101 2-1/4-Horsepower Variable Speed Router
CNCRouterParts mount available
$276 - PORTER-CABLE 75182 Variable Speed Router Motor
CNCRouterParts mount available
PreciseBits Collet Kit available
$144 - PORTER-CABLE 6902 1-3/4
$144 - PORTER-CABLE 6902 1-3/4
$127 - PORTER-CABLE 690LR 11-Amp Fixed-Base Router
PC 1-3/4 HP (Maximum Motor HP) Router 690LR
$130 - Amazon -PORTER-CABLE 690LR
- CNCRouterParts mount available
- PreciseBits Collet Kit available
- $155 super pid
ger21 - Re: cutting aluminum with a CNC router - I’ve run my porter cable 690 with SuperPID for 12 hours.
RicknBeachcrest
Re: Looking for a quieter replacement for my Porter Cable 75182 3 1/4 HP router
I’m using a Porter Cable 690 controlled by a Super PID. It works very well for my applications. I generally have the router spinning at about 10K. The noise level is very tolerable. Most of my runs are usually less than 15 minutes. What makes all the noise is the vac system and the actual cutting. But not really any more than most of the shop tools. Some days it seems I spend most of the day wearing the ear muffs. More comfortable than the respirator though.
To: SuperPID@VHiPe.com
Does Super-PID work work with my router
PORTER-CABLE 690LR 11-Amp Fixed-Base Router
http://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-690LR-11-Amp-Fixed-Base-Router/dp/B00005QEVQ/
Is this compatible?
Answer is yes.
Porter Cable 690LR Router thread
$170 Porter-Cable 892
CNCRouterParts mount available
Super-PID
http://www.vhipe.com/product-private/SuperPID-Home.htm
Notes
Forum - WoodWorking Machines - DIY CNC Router Table Machines
New builder - Solsylva 10x9 vs. OpenBuilds C-Beam vs ??
I am researching a DIY CNC router build. The two designs that
have caught my eye are the OpenBuilds C-Beam and the Solsylva
10x9. Some thoughts on what I'm interested in:
A small work area and machine size
Lower cost
Machine fabrication that I can accomplish
Produce pieces and design engraving for small wooden boxes.
Aluminum plate milling
Resin cast mold making
C-Beam Machine Specs:
X Axis Travel 350mm - (13.5")
Y Axis Travel 280mm - (11")
Z Axis Travel 160mm - (6") Actual working depth is 1.250"
Solsylva 10x9 has a cutting area of 10 x 9 inches with 4 inches of Z travel,
I would like to use the Smoothieboard controller:
<a href="http://smoothieware.org/smoothieboard" target="_blank">SmoothieBoard</a>
My current choice is the Solsylva 10x9 with Acme leadscrews.
I would like to hear from others to help guide my research and
eventual project choice.
<a href="" target="_blank"></a>