The C-Beam is a little rich for my blood, but the design is very similar to my current design intent. I think I've FINALLY settled on a design. Nice to have that BOM to check against.

I take it this is the OB response to the sudden popularity of the X-Carve kit?

 

It's perfect, really- priced ideally for those with just a touch more technical ability and don't need absolutely everything plug-and-play. Looks like it should just come in around $1000 with some careful shopping, including a spindle, VFD, drivers and even one of the OTS controllers like the xPRO that you use. I'm aiming at around $500-600 all told, hence my lack of C-Beam and likely use of a 1HP compact router, but really in the current desktop CNC marketplace $1k is pretty solidly positioned to me.

The wave plate that you did and have in your av, is that cross-hatching the highest resolution the thing's capable of? Or was that more of a rough pass? Seems like machine threads plus low-level microstepping (to maintain torque through alu?) should be much more capable than that.

 

Loving the design mark, great to have a complete machine that takes advantage of C-Beam. I can see a lot of requests for this on our side of the water.

 

@Mark Carew Ah, ok. I saw a 3D-from-JPG option with a toolpathing program the other day, as it happens. I guess it's a thing. Not sure how useful it seems to me (except when I need to generate a normal texture from a diffuse texture, but that's a whole different flavour of 3D!), but it's a cool little trick, for sure.

Would be nice to see a full-res version with 8% stepover and a nice little 1/8" ballnose endmill or something, see what the machine's really capable of. Also, now that you have this thing... Does that mean OX plates on-demand from the OBPS? (Or even custom user-designed plates... Just sayin')

 

only thing i dont like is the exposed Screws.. all the alum shavings will fall in. and cause issues. these need some kind of cover to protect them.

 

very cool! nice work!

 

need to make a 24" x 24" version of this setup

 

OK Mark -- Now can you "PLEASE" do a video of operation with full 360 degree wraparound (run around the unit some) and a build video. Also in the build video can you show the parts not included but needed. Just the basics. And then step back as the variations that come out of this will just scare everyone.

OK my stupid.... You did the video of the build I just did not look far enough but I should remember that you always do a video on new things....

 

Mark,

You made a video on youtube about a x-y slide table for 3printer. Date on youtube Jan 27,2013

I was wondering if you have the parts list and also I want to add another Build Plate so I can have a cnc mill hand copier . What all do I need for the x y table but I want the top to be able to support some weight. In the picture I sent you can kind of have an idea what I am talking about.

Is it possible to respond back on my email?
[email protected]

thank you very much.

 

One thing I am looking at and not seeing is this -> Z Axis Travel 160mm - (6") I don't think that is correct because the true Z travel would be the distance of the bed to the bottom of Z's c-beam which looks pretty **** close to me and closer than 160mm for sure. No way could you squeeze a 160mm piece and have it work as the clearance looks pretty shallow to me of about 50mm but pictures can lie due to the one eyed monster effect cameras have always had.

So, what is the clearance from that base (the board) to the bottom of that Z c-beam? That is the real working area and having anything taller means Y travel would have to be severely limited.

 

What's your software toolchaing for various operations. I noticed references to Sketchucam and aspire, but haven't seen if you recommend software to go with the build.

 

OK Mark - I checked your build list. Great but (there's always a but) . You need to add the Bosch Colt as a not supplied item along with the 1/8" collet that is listed and I also did not find the tool holder in the parts list. Just saying you know. Otherwise GREAT.

Also I know you have the stuff. Please make a video of cutting out a Side Plate for an OX out of 1/4" aluminum. Just as proof that the machine will do what we all know it will do. You can even time warp the video so that it does not take all day in our timeline.

Also in your build video I saw you spin the unit around several times BUT you did not run around it at all and if you don't do that then I cannot explain to my wife that I watched the video and that caused my finger to slip on the order button. It just happened honest sweetee.....

 

I think the Colt is on the list as needed items. I'm really interested in this bundle. Seems like it could be a great way to get into the hobby for the uninitiated.

Thanks for a great Video Mark!

 

Have you tried the plate you cut in the video on the machine itself as the Y-Z mounting point? I like the basic machine setup and was looking at something very similar for my first build, the difference was going to be instead of the C beam section for the Z being fixed to the Y gantry plate, it was going to be the Z gantry plate fixed to the Y gantry plate, exactly the same principle as that plate you made. Are you going to be selling those btw? I'm wondering if you've tried that setup for Y-Z. I like that with the whole C beam section with the screw and router moving up and down (and out of the way) you get much greater Z build space with the same components. I'm also wondering if you will be selling the C-beam actuators with the anti-backlash nut block instead of the conventional one?

 

Awesome, just in time to. I just started working again "Thank the Lord" and one of things first on my list is to build me another router, you just made my choice real simple. Fantastic work Mark, not just this machine but the entire Openbuilds idea, thanks for your hard work brother!

 

hey Mark,
please cancel my order and refund my payment you charged me two days after I tried to cancel . I have sent several e-mails and this is my last resort to contact you and maybe get a response.
jim

 

Makes sense and I was off by 1/4" as I was figuring the actual distance to be about 1 inch. See, I look at your design and I am thinking 3d printer and instead of plunging Z would go up. The only thing on your design that needs to be changed for that is Z itself so raising it up to allow for taller prints. I like the design because I was laying out the C-Beam as a 3d printer. Rugged, sturdy, and using a 2mm acme threaded rod is better in X, and Y than a GT2 belt 16t gear and slightly worse in Z but when we are dealing in sub microns the difference doesn't matter (M5 0.8mm pitch = 0.00025mm layer height vs Acme 2mm pitch = 0.000625mm layer height both using 1/16 micro stepping).

 

Hello,
I've ordered C-Beam Machine Mechanical Bundle last week. I'll use one Smoothieboard but I don't know witch spindle motor to use ?
I want to mill wood, plastic, plexiglass and think aluminum (5 or 6 mm).