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Sea-OX

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Steven Bloom, May 29, 2015.

Sea-OX

Sea-OX

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Steven Bloom, May 29, 2015.

This is my first CNC build. The Sea-OX is a machine built out of three 1000mm C-Beams. I plan to have a Y length of 1000mm and a X length of 650mm. The Z should have the ability to move approximately 100mm.

CNC
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  1. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Well all of you have some great idea. And the entire idea of "Open Source" is to use what makes sense and make improvements to things that can help you out. Yesterday, we rebuffed all the stainless steel plates to get out all the marks left by the water jet. I just have to drill out 4 holes that were made slightly off by the water jet as soon as the 23/32 bit comes in on Thursday. This weekend I need to buy some 2 X 4's and work on the workbench for all this stuff. The Acacia butch block top comes in for the workbench next Wednesday. I scored big on the top. It was on sale for $240 over the weekend. Its normally a lot more money.

    Williamsburg Butcher Block Co. - 1-1/2 x 36 x 6 LFT Acacia Island Top

    Once I get the bench built I'll send out a picture. I just cant work on the Sea-Ox until I get the bench together because the plastic table that its on is going to snap if I introduce 40lbs of Stainless Steel.
     
    #61 Steven Bloom, Oct 21, 2015
  2. Mark Roberts

    Mark Roberts New
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    I absolutely agree. I think this a fantastic build and the reason I added to my reply that it is more for planning into future builds.

    There is another implication to considering putting the center of the spindle within the footprint of the wheels. That is, gravitational torsional deflection transmitted through the Z-carriage then into the Y-carriage and then through the gantry into the X-wheels. Any wood router is a pretty heavy object. Mine is a Bosch 1617 and weighs 6 Lbs. That kind of weight can produce a fair amount of downward rotational torque if the center of gravity is out ahead of the front wheels. Whereas deflection will be much less, or almost nonexistent, if it is centered between front and rear wheels. Just an engineering consideration. Good comments you guys. I can't wait to start my build. I'm still in the design phase and I can't believe the amount of detail there is to consider. My obsessive compulsive disorder probably doesn't help much.

    Mark

    Siempre sea mejor que ayer y peor que manana!
     
    #62 Mark Roberts, Oct 21, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2015
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  3. MartinTurner

    MartinTurner New
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    This is fantastic.
    You've just solved many of the problems I have been thinking about.

    I am currently designing an improved ox based on Cbeam. Will post pics when i've got something sensible.

    Would you say the Cbeam is rigid enough along its length to be unsupported in the middle ?
     
    #63 MartinTurner, Nov 10, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2015
  4. Mark Roberts

    Mark Roberts New
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    If you mean the C beam is being used as the gantry carriage then it all depends on the length of it. All beams deflect depending on load and length. The 8020 Extrusion folks have a deflection calculator which I suppose could be used to approximate a V slot extrusion. You would have to down load the calculator ( just Google "8020 Inc Tech Toolkit" for the link) and then look through their extrusions for a similar extrusion to our open builds C-beam. It won't be exact but you can come close.
     
    #64 Mark Roberts, Nov 10, 2015
  5. MartinTurner

    MartinTurner New
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    Here is my version of the Sea Ox after spending 20 hrs yesterday in Sketchup...

    I am a little stuck now, because i really want to have a 1000mm cut on my long axis.
    With 1m C Beams, i only get 750mm. I have been told that 8mm ACME threads whip if they are any longer.
    So i am looking at 12mm ACME thread, which seems like a better idea, but have yet to work out how to support it, or what nut I could use that would fit inside the Cbeam.
    What you see here is coming out at about £700 so far. Excluding router.

    The question is whether to rape my existing OX for parts or buy new, and then sell the OX.
    Anyone got any idea of what a nicely built 1000mm / 500mm OX is worth second hand ?

    progress1.png
     
    #65 MartinTurner, Nov 11, 2015
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  6. Ronald van Arkel

    Ronald van Arkel Veteran
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    Hello Martin,

    20 Hour run, wow, I do 14 hour runs for 4 days a week and know how that feels.

    I don't see why it would be second hand, you build it, tested it, tuned it and it's now ready for sale. I have no idea what to ask for a machine like that but I saw that they go very quickly over the counter when put up on eBay ;). But, why not use it as it is, play with it, use it, try to get the money that you invested back from it. And then, when you recovered, building a new one taking your time to design it. Most people are talking about a rack and pinion and I believe that's the way you should go.

    -Ronald
     
    #66 Ronald van Arkel, Nov 11, 2015
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  7. Mark Roberts

    Mark Roberts New
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    Martin,

    Nicely designed Y-Plate! Your spindle center is within the X-Wheel's footprint so you will max your X's cutting distance and minimize downward rotational torque.

    I'm looking at your model and I estimate your Y-Plate is approximately 120 mm long at the bottom. This should mean you'll only lose ~120 mm off your spindle's X travel compared to the length of any C-Beam you use. If you are using a 1000 mm X-axis C-beam you should be able to get ~880 mm of X travel at the spindle center.

    If your goal is to have 1000 mm of X travel you'll need an X-axis C-beam 1120 mm in length (1000 mm + 120 mm dead length). I use the term "Dead Length" as the portion of the X travel that is not usable and is entirely dependent on the Y-Plate dimension in the X direction. Everybody's will be different depending on design.

    Great Job! Your build is exactly what I want to build. I'm curious what your desired Y-travel is. I want about 800 mm Y travel and, like you, about 1000 mm X-travel.

    Mark
     
    #67 Mark Roberts, Nov 11, 2015
  8. Tim N

    Tim N New
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    Nice progress Steve....can't wait to see the end result.
     
    #68 Tim N, Nov 23, 2015
  9. Indieflow

    Indieflow Journeyman
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    Mark, now that is what I call food for thought!

    I really like your idea of moving the spindle within the Y-Axis plate constraints to increase the bed usage but I had never considered the fact that the weight of the spindle so far forward from the X-Axis gantry beam would be effecting the pressure/weight on the wheels on the Y-Axis! I guess the hard part is finding the exact CoG for the gantry to balance the pressure/weight on the wheels!

    Martin, I can't see clearly from your current design (drawing angle), though have you positioned your spindle central to your Y-Axis wheels or have you worked out the CoG for the gantry and positioned the spindle slightly forward?

    Additionally looking at your design have you considered adding a brace beam in front of your spindle to stiffen up the gantry? I only ask as that is the way I am thinking of going with my design due to the support at the rear from the C-Beam though nothing at the front!
     
    #69 Indieflow, Nov 29, 2015
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  10. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Sorry I have not posted in quite a while, I have been trying to raise funds for the projects and my mother-in-law has been sick. So going up to NJ from VA has taken up a bunch of weekends. I have not gotten any further with the machine, because the table I had the machine on was not very strong. And I was afraid that if I attached another 40lbs of Stainless Steel plates , it would have broke. Anyway the solution was to build a new workbench. Now I can restart my project and take everything apart and hook up the new plates.

    2015-12-02 06.16.22.jpg
     
    #70 Steven Bloom, Dec 3, 2015
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  11. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Ok, Actually got some new work done tonight. I took apart the first part of the printer, the X/Z axis and put in all the stainless steel pieces. The X/Z axis now looks like this.


    2015-12-04 23.03.15.jpg

    2015-12-05 00.21.05.jpg
     
    #71 Steven Bloom, Dec 5, 2015
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  12. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Here is the start of the Y Carriage. Well I'm off to NJ !!! I'll do more work next week. Need to get this machine ready.

    2015-12-05 09.14.00.jpg
     
    #72 Steven Bloom, Dec 5, 2015
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  13. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Tonight was another productive night. When I originally put the X/Y/Z Gantry together, I put it together with MDF. Well my aluminum cuts did not have to be perfect but when I saw how bad they were, I needed to recut them. Anyway, I went over to my friend Tim. He had a nice little jig setup so as soon as we cut the first piece, all three would be exactly the same. At most I only lost about 1.5mm but those pieces needed to be perfect. I did not want them to bind. Anyway, tomorrow I will assemble the wheels and the outer Y Bracket with the 6 remaining corner braces.

    2015-12-07 22.24.10.jpg

    2015-12-07 22.44.10.jpg
     
    #73 Steven Bloom, Dec 7, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2015
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  14. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Tonight was another good night. After watching my daughters Christmas recital, I had time to come home and do some more work. I was able to finish up the 6 brackets that were missing and then remove the 32 wheels and spacers/screws from the old MDF boards and mount them on the new stainless steel Y axis plates. Tomorrow I will hopefully get to my friend Tim's house and we will recut the two C-Beams. They are only off by about 1/2 mm but I want everything to be perfectly square so nothing binds. Its really incredible how many of those wheels I used. 32 for the Y Axis, 12 for the X Axis and another 12 for the Z Axis. 56 wheels in all. This thing better be strong !!!! Time to go to bed

    2015-12-09 00.16.02.jpg
     
    #74 Steven Bloom, Dec 9, 2015
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  15. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    So tonight I was able to go to my friend Tim's house and we set up the magic jig that cuts nice and straight. I don't think we cut off more then 1mm on one C-Beam and about 1/2mm on the other one. Now they are perfectly even. So tonight I put on the 20x40's that hold everything up. Only one side has been tightened down. I need to run the machine up and down the rail manually tomorrow to see exactly where everything needs to be square to. Once that is done, I need to take off the two 20x40's and just trim them about 2mm so they will be perfectly aligned. Then I can put this monstrosity back on its new table and start assembling the rest of the pieces.

    2015-12-09 23.53.14.jpg
     
    #75 Steven Bloom, Dec 10, 2015
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  16. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    @Steven Bloom the Sea-OX is looking amazing! Can't wait to see this one come to life. Keep up the good work :thumbsup:
     
    #76 Mark Carew, Dec 10, 2015
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  17. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Got a little bit done tonight. Attached the X Axis Motor, all 4 sensors for X and Y movement. I also installed the drag chain shelf and drag chain for the Y Axis. I also installed those shiny new Sea-Ox stainless steel plates.

    2015-12-10 22.40.19.jpg

    2015-12-10 22.47.38.jpg
     
    #77 Steven Bloom, Dec 10, 2015
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  18. silopolis

    silopolis New
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    This is such a build @Steven Bloom ! As said on G+, clearly one of the top 5 most inspiring ones AFAIC :thumbsup: Thank you for sharing this build with world. Aggregating several good ideas and adding your personnal creativity... and the result is more than the sum of the parts. Open Source/Hardware rulez !!

    I'm planning a large size OX implementation and you'll surely find many things "familiar" in my build... oh, and you certainly won't be the only one btw ;-)

    One question about your last update, what are those limit switches your using ? Any specs and/or link to get more informations and/or buy ?

    On this subject, I've seen mecanical, proximity and optical limit switches. What are the advantages/trade offs of each types in the case of CNC ? I've mainly seen mechanical ones used, is this because they're the most common/less expensive or actually because they're the best suited for this use case ?

    Thank yall cut mastas for your answers
    Have a nice spinning week-end
     
    #78 silopolis, Dec 11, 2015
  19. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    These are the proximity switches. They are all pretty much the same. I use the mechanical ones on my 3d printer. But I figured I did not want any heavy metal parts banging into the little switches. The proximity switches are only like 8 dollars so they are inexpensive

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00542U3M4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

    I cant wait to see your build. This has been really fun to do. I hope it will be done soon so I can start cutting. I appreciate your kind words.
     
    #79 Steven Bloom, Dec 11, 2015
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  20. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Well that is cheaper but those can only see metal. The orange ones can see glass, metal and plastic
     
    #80 Steven Bloom, Dec 12, 2015
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  21. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Ok, in between the last set of pictures, the machine was actually taken apart and the 4 main pieces of aluminum were re-cut and we re-verified everything is at 90 degrees. Now my Sea-OX is super straight. Tonight it will be moved to its new work space and I will start to attach the last few extrusions. Then I have a lot of wiring to do. Here is a picture.

    2015-12-15 06.23.57.jpg
     
    #81 Steven Bloom, Dec 15, 2015
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  22. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Well the machine is on its bench and has started to have some motion. I still have to put the last piece of the frame in to support the cutting surface and I need to do a bunch of wiring. But here is a picture of the machine and the control panel that is not yet finished. Also a little video of my pal the Sea-Ox taking its first steps

    2015-12-16 22.14.49.jpg

    2015-12-16 22.15.10.jpg

     
    #82 Steven Bloom, Dec 16, 2015
  23. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    I put the last piece of the machine back together last night. It was basically the undercarriage that holds the scrap board to the machine and adds a little more rigidity. starting next week, I will wire up the X/Z motors and the 4 inductive X/Y sensors. Here is a pic.

    2015-12-19 07.35.53.jpg
     
    #83 Steven Bloom, Dec 19, 2015
  24. Traxxtar

    Traxxtar New
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    I think you're having more fun building your CNC than you will making the stuff for which it"s designed. ;)
     
    #84 Traxxtar, Dec 19, 2015
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  25. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    I put the large gantry plates inside to stop some of the dust frome coming out. It also makes it so the three x plates don't have to be as long
     
    #85 Steven Bloom, Dec 19, 2015
  26. Traxxtar

    Traxxtar New
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    @DazTheGas uses some wireless proximity switches in his build. I've sent him a message asking what he's using but haven't heard back.
     
    #86 Traxxtar, Dec 19, 2015
  27. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    I am having a lot of fun building. It is for a good cause and I hope to have some 3D carbon fiber hands in the next few months. But its great to experiment and build on something that is great and established like the OX. Its a journey !!!
     
    #87 Steven Bloom, Dec 20, 2015
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  28. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Well this will be my last update before Christmas. So my order of wire just came in from McMaster. I got some really nice flexible 22/4 for the motors and some really flexible 18/3 for the spindle. I just ran it thru the drag chains and it fits great. There even room for the wire for the proximity switches. No pics tonight since it is really not much to show. But when I get back on Sunday night I hope to set up the X/Z axis and the spindle power. Maybe I'll make a much clearer video.

    Anyway, have a Merry Christmas and hopefully some rest from time off.
     
    #88 Steven Bloom, Dec 23, 2015
  29. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Here is a much clearer video. Ordered a bunch of bits today. I will hopefully start cutting something within 2 weeks.

     
    #89 Steven Bloom, Dec 28, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2015
  30. Steven Bloom

    Steven Bloom Journeyman
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    Got the drill moving (Spindle) Its very loud and capable of 30,000 rpm.

     
    #90 Steven Bloom, Jan 3, 2016
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