I'm sure this has been covered and I'm sorry to create another thread. I have been searching on here, but can't seem to get an idea of a total cost break out for building an OX machine. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Robocutters.com or .co.uk will give you an idea on cost. You will Also need to factor in the cost of a stand. Hope this helps.
I really don't want to know, but a lot less that a pro built machine. When I get done (and it works) I'll add it and post it here.
Just click you way down the parts list and keep hitting add to cart, adjusting the quantities as necessary. That will add most of it up for you.
I second Robocutters. Colin is a top bloke. I wish I had ordered from them, now... having just gotten a 'we're sorry, we can't ship your order because we f*cked up' email from OpenBuilds...
When I added up the cost of all my parts for my Ox, and including shipping and taxes, it was cheaper by a third, to import from the States, than to by within my own UK. It shouldn't be, but unfortunately it was. Unless things have changed a great deal, I would still by direct from the States again. Gray
I think I'm going to try and start a build. I have a MendelMax 2 printer and the bed size is large enough to print the build plates...soooo I'm going to print the plates and then once the machine is up and running with the printed plates, mill some out of alumium and replace....depending on how long the project takes, I was thinking once I don't need the printed plates they can be sent to the next person for just shipping. Then they can pass them to the next and so on.
I would like to print the plates as thick as possible. How thick can I make them before I start to run into issues? I worked up a model with them at 10mm at first then changed it to 5mm because I didn't know , so I decided to do the unthinkable and ask for help
You would need to consult the designs of someone like Robert, but I think you would need to be a minimum of 10mm if not 15mm. I'm not aware of the flex in the material you are using, but we worry about the flex in 10mm aluminium, so if that gives you some idea of thickness. If you are too think you could design recesses in the plates to allow for bolts and spacers etc. Anyway, find Robert Hummels plans, and you should be able to work it out from there. Gray
Adding recesses shouldn't be to hard since I found the .dxf line drawings. I'm not really sure how PLA would compare to aluminum in terms deflection, but the nice thing about printing them is you can really make them any way your want. I don't think you would want to use them as a long term solution, but I think if one is willing to take it easy on feeds and speeds as well as cut depth...should certainly be able to get good results. I just ordered a role of PLA that should be here today and have all day off tomorrow...so I am going to print as many of the plates as I can tomorrow. I will post up pics if I can figure out how.
Here is the first plate. Took about 5 hours to print...not as nice of a print as I would like but im using new software and dont have it as fine tuned as I would like. It should work to get me up and running.
@Jimmybuckets, Looks good! How thick did you wind up going with the plate? And how is it with flexure?
I ran it with 0.35 layer height, 5 perimeters, 4 solid layers top and bottom with 50% infill. If I grab both sides and press in the middle with my thumbs I can get probably about a 1/4 inch of deflection. I assume that once the steppers and gantry cross member are bolted on there wont be much room for these to flex that much. Also, once the wheels are on and locked into the v rail it will be leave even less room for deflection. Overall its pretty ridged and I think will do the job long enough to cut some out of aluminum. Who knows how strong compared to aluminum. This could end up being one of those situations where I plan on making some out of aluminum but these work well enough that its more trouble than its worth.
Have you checked out Cris Anderson's thread. He is a little concerned with regard to heat and PLA. Gray
Maybe the steppers but I can't really see were else you might have an issue. I will check out the thread...thanks! I'm pretty sure that alumium plates would prob be one of the first things I would make
For your question, I would charge around 850$ CAD for the kit (with Nema 23 motors but without the other electronics, for a 1000mm x 1500mm OX). I didn't count precisely yet. www.fuzztech.ca
Fitting of electronics, like robot cables, dragchains etc stuff will addon easily extra +~200€, Machine feets are nice to have + ~40€ spindle approx 200-300€, blades etc... 100€?? Custom made parts etc.. 100€. Definition of true hobby is that it eats all your money, and other people consider you are crazy. gotta get my fix
