Derek, thanks and I am glad you have enjoyed the pictures as much as I have building the pit and CNC.

Valisk, I couldnt agree more. It was EASY building the CNC table, but the learning curve for the software is a killer. I broke down and purchased Vectric's V-Carve Pro (bundled with Photocarve) and it has taken the headache out of to software issue. Thanks to Gene for recommending it to me. The price is steep (as much as you paid for your entire table!) but well worth it in my opinion.

David

The thing about CNC is that you could have a multi-million dollar machine and still produce junk because the tool paths aren't any good. VCarve Pro has a HUGE number of post-processors that allow you to produce code for just about any CNC machine on the planet.

The cool thing about Vectric is that not only is their documentation top notch, but you can download an evaluation copy that'll do everything except generate the CNC instructions. VCarve Pro has a "preview" mode that is so accurate that providing you don't make any mistakes setting up the machine, you'll end up with a part that matches the preview exactly.

g.

Anything to make life easier.

I was thinking of buying Vectric's Cut2D application - it seems very reasonably priced and judging by the information on the website, it should be able to generate the simple shapes I'm after.

Valisk, I would bet that you quickly grow out of Cut2D. V-Carve Pro has increadable versitility, including some 3D aspects that it is well worth purchasing. \

Gene, I 100% agree with the preview feature. It is spot on acurate, and shows the, in my case many, mistakes before you waste material.

David

WOW..all I can say really. I've just read your entire thread David,great stuff!!

I like the "generic" aspect a lot. The only question is, when you redo your panel, will you be shifting some of the switches down onto side walls, or are you leaving them on the MIP?

I can probably get you good pictures of an SE5a panel if you wanted to recreate that as well as the shape.


Anyway, VERY jealous of your woodworking skills.

cheers


Darryl

Ok Propnut and Gene big question here just so I will know for the future.

What has been your total investment in building your own CNC machine versus buying a used one for the sizes you are working with?

I am asking because I just bought a house with a huge basement and the wife is ok with me putting in a small wood/machine shop to do home projects and a few "side" jobs to help keep me sane when the real paycheck job gets me down.

Hi Reschke,

I believe Gene purchased a shopbot turn key setup (I looked into them, really really nice systems). I built mine (as you saw) for a total of 2294.69, this includes all the software (900.00 worth) electronics and MDF. My first setup was with hand cut parts (X Axis and Y Axis carriage parts) and MarkII with CNC cut Axis' (Mark I to make Mark II, lol). The second is much much more precise that the first. Everything else was just straight cut MDF parts that you can do on a table saw. Here is a list of my expenses:


Homemade CNC Router Expense List
by cncroutersource.com
Qn. CPU Total %
Structural Materials
Aluminum 6 $15.87 $95.22
Wood 1 $25.00 $25.00
Steel 0 $-
Misc. $-
Sub Total $120.22 5%
Fasteners
Bolts 1 $151.71 $151.71
Eye-bolts 1 $21.30 $21.30
Nails $-
Misc. $-
Sub Total $173.01 8%
Linear Bearing Assymbly
Linear Rails/Rods 0 $-
V-Groove Bearings 16 $10.26 $164.16
Rack and Pinion $-
Misc. $-
Sub Total $164.16 7%
Linear Drive Components
Leadscrew/Ballscrew 1 $36.81 $36.81
Drive chains 3 $16.48 $49.44
Flange bearings 2 $7.46 $14.92
Motor Shaft Coupler 1 $15.98 $15.98
Sprockets 3 $8.97 $26.91
Collars for sprockets 3 $8.62 $25.86
Idler Sprocket 3 $11.50 $34.50
shipping 1 $5.00 $5.00
Sub Total $209.42 9%
Spindle
Router Motor 1 $- $-
Motor clamp 1 $- $-
Speed Controller (if needed) 0 $-
Extra Collets (if needed) 0 $-
Misc. 0 $-
Sub Total $- 0%
Services
Machining Services 0 $-
Lathe Services 0 $-
Misc. 0 $-
Sub Total $- 0%
Electronics
Power supply 1 $50.00 $50.00
connectors $-
Limit Switches 8 $3.09 $24.72
Electrical Tape $-
Stepper Motors 4 $58.15 $232.60
Stepper motor wire 1 $25.40 $25.40
Misc. 1 $8.45 $8.45
Sub Total $341.17 15%
Controller
Gecko G540 1 $299.00 $299.00
Breackout Board (in needed) $-
Misc. $-
Sub Total $299.00 13%
Computer 1 $106.30 $106.30
Sub Total $106.30 5%
Software
Controller Software 1 $166.42 $166.42
CAM Software Vcarve Pro+Photocarve 1 $699.99 $699.99
Misc. $-
Sub Total $866.41 38%
User Interface/ Control Panel
MPG Weels 0 $-
Emergency Stop Buttons 1 $10.00 $10.00
Axis Select Buttons $-
Joystick 1 $5.00 $5.00
Misc. 0 $-
Sub Total $15.00 1%
Extras
0 $-
Coolant System 0 $-
Misc. 0 $-
Sub Total $- 0%
Total $2,294.69

My ShopBot was purchased in 2007 for roughly $17,500. That didn't include VCarve Pro or some of the other software I purchased with it. It's not aimed at the hobbyist market, but that's what I use it for.

If you buy a 'bot, get the 60" wide model. I ordered the PRT 96 Alpha which will take a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Had I known that most Baltic Birch plywood came in 60" x 60" sheets, I would have purchased the other machine.

g.

Here are more detailed pictures of my build:








You can see I added a 4" vacuum attachment. I saw a YouTube video for a similar setup and thought...are you really trying to sell these to people who build CNC machines? (give the company credit, their product is worth the money but why not make my own?)





I had to have a case to mount the electronics, etc so I thought a cabinet to hold the PC would be nice also. Not really happy with it as the ergonomics is not "just right" but I will work on MKII of the PC cabinet this winter.










I prettified the new parts up a bit with some graphics, considering MKI did the work and MKII is even better you can get a sense of how happy I am with the result. I can cut a 4x8 sheet up on the table with some room to spare. As Gene mentioned, if you get your baltic birch in 5x5 then a 60" cutting surface might be a good idea. I get my Baltic Birch in 4x8 sheets though(my wholesaler has both in stock and it is slightly cheaper in 4x8, didnt used to be though).


I would not in any way claim that my homebrew is better than a shopbot, I know better, but is hugely less expensive. If I could afford it, I would have bought a shopbot. I cannot but I am very happy with my MDF monster. As the insignia on the side indicates, I have a certain sense of Serenity when working in my shop

Thanks for the information. This new house we just bought needs to have some cabinets built for our new ovens and cooktop and I really think I want to make an attempt to build my wife a barn plank kitchen table. I was able to get for free an old barn/cotton storage house a few years ago off my grandparents property and every once in a while I sell a few pieces to fund a couple of new projects.