Hey all, I'm just new here and in search for a CNC machine. The OX looks great! But I've a comment to it. Many topics are about engineering a homebuild machine that can also be used for 3D-printing, lasercutting and CNC milling. If you want to use the OX for this the trouble starts after dismounting the CNC part. You'll never get this part back in the proper position, for you'll always have a small disposition the next time you mount, it compared to how it was mounted before. By using positioning pins and bushes, you'll make sure to get it back at the exact same position. This system is also used at my job, were we test many types of engines. We build these engines on pallets, instead of next to the AC Dyno. This makes our Test Facillities a plug-and-play game with only 4 hours work of changing engines instead of a few days. It might be a weird idea, but if you use positioning pins and bushes, you might be able to interchange a laser to the CNC part, or the 3D printer within a limited amount of time. It also makes sure that the interchangeable parts will always return to exactly the same position as were it was before. I don't know much about zeroing the software/hardware, for I'm not familiar with it. But it might become much easier also.
Just need come up with a mount that would accommodate all but be designed in such a way to where the tools can only be inserted one way. There is another OB member designed a laser mount so he could switch between router and laser on his Ox. http://www.openbuilds.com/builds/babe-the-big-blue-laser-ox-build.1125/ Now just design a mount for an extruder and hot end and we'll be good !! I always wanted to incorporate a laser mounted on the back of the X carriage, be able to do carving with some engraving without changing anytime other than an offset...
You're right, Babe is great! But it's weakness is that it's exclusively designed for his own specs (His Dewalt router, for example). If you have another shaped model that doesn't fit for it's too big or something, you get trouble. I've my own tools, my own specs. But the interchanging part is a question that is asked more than frequently. Please check the drawings. We use these kind of positioning bushes on our engine pallets. Quite easy to produce and even more easy to install. I did not get the authorisation to copy the sizes too, for it's an official drawing of our company. Still got authorisation of copying the drawing without the sizes. These bushes are made of brass, the pins are made of steel and are a solid part of the baseplate. In my opinion it is much more reliable if you use the X-carriage as a kind of baseplate with two solid pins on it. The bushes are mounted onto a second X-carriage, which contains also the setup of the lasercutter, 3Dprinter or CNC Router. Yes, it'll be a more expensive solution, but also a more reliable one.
