Serge E. published a new build:

Read more about this build...

 

Me too ... It looks solid enough, but I can see the parallel 20x60 have a bit of gap towards the centre. Some flexing might come in play once router is mounted. It looks like the gap is allowing some twisting - Z-axis movement back and front, no router mounted. Precision work will be affected.

I'm already thinking of different configurations for the X-axis beam. It will need different Y gantry plates. While making the two parallel V-slot act like one there would also be value to make the X-axis carriage wider as well to reduce 'twisting'.

Although affecting the choice of routers, maybe placing it between the beam will allow for a firmer build ? The Z-axis assembly would then sit straddled between double 20x80. I'll have to play with SketchUp as a picture is worth 1000 words.

First, let me get the base myOX running as I will need it to make new plates.

 

I was thinking about that approach as well. But wanting to get a bit more travel on Z-axis I am looking at ways to make it firmer as well. The Y gantry need to be taller for X-axis to clear taler work pieces and allow for more Z above the spoil board.

The single M5 keeps cost way down. So definiteely a viable approach.

Ideally, for working the molds I am thinking of doing I need minimum 6" height of work piece unless I can rotate the work piece without loosing alignement. Unless I work on 3" or so slices of the mold to later stack and glue into final mold.

For now, I need to get back home and finish myOX in its current physical config ... rest will follow as needed and time/budget alows.

 

I could not resist, I bought a MasterCraft 12A plunge digital router with display. It is similar to Dewalt's DWP611 and DW618 or similar... It was 50% off (!!!) at local Canadian Tire store, minus some 30$ of their coupon money. So I got it for about 70$ instead of 200$. Difficult to ignore the opportunity ...

It might be a tad heavy. But, with its on board microprocessor, beginner me can simply key in tool type and size, material type being worked on and the router will adjust rotation speed on it's own while allowing for over riding the suggestion. It also has soft start. Good deal, eh?

Picture will follow once I get back home ...

The "Dremel" I have from my dad is actually a two speed MasterCraft unit with a flex shaft. It runs at either 20k or 30k rpm, even with flex shaft ... The resulting "tool" end is basically a thick pen format. This could be nice for working deep in work piece with little worry of interference due to router size.

 

Depending on the day, yes. At times, although rarely, it's like 75$ real money. Canadian Tire also has its own money (instead of points 1 or 2% of purchases at store and with their Visa card) ... It paid for the tapping set I needed for this project.

It's 1/4" and 1/2" out of box, should be able to go down to 1/8" with proper adapter, as found on the bigger "dremel" I already have... I'll eventually find out. I was thinking of trying the flex adapter on the router to move the router out of way of work piece area. It would be nice to end up with basically just the "pen" toward the work piece. Time will tell.

 

I'm back !

It's summer and I should have plenty of time to get things back on track with myOX.

I'll need to get a few t-nuts to make the work surface nice and solid, but other parts of the project can move ahead without them. Everything else is in, just needed to clear a few unexpected last minute projects: like a section of fence to take down, since the neighbour wanted a different style, and recycling pile of wood into a sweet pool shed to store all the floats and such.

As I told the wife, wait until I get myOX going ... we'll get really nice carvings to decorate the sheds, yard, ... Buttered a bit by adding that most of the hard work will be done while I'm in the pool with her. Can the emergency switch be remote enough, waterproof and with a video feed to keep an eye on myOX at work ?!? Maybe I should of made that new pool side shed a bit larger so myOX could also enjoy the pool... hmmmm , there might be enough wood left over to build an extension to the shed !

 

Don't forget 1500mm is actually nearly 5'.

MyOX actually has a working area of (a bit) more than 2' x 4' ... depending mostly on the spindle/router used. The Y axis is infinity, instead of 2', if work piece slides through as it is worked on in 2' or so sections.

Taking quick measurements off myOX there is about 3.5" from centre of Z-axis to either full X-axis position with nearly 5' plate to plate. That leaves at least 4' work area with a big spindle or router mounted and a bit of room to

I'll know better once I mount the router/tool.

Not certain I would go to NEMA17s all around, unless you find some strong ones.

Don't cut corners on the tool, just the work piece

 

The router, out of the box is about 4.2kg. This includes the standard router base which I will obviously remove. Stripped, I'm thinking about 3.5kg but mount to be added. Which brings me to figure a good solid mount. I find my Z-axis a bit loose, sideways with no way to tighten it. Top wheels seem to be the problem ...

I've been busy with the wife's to do finishing the bar (ceramic counter top), modifying the deck, ... I've mentioned "if I had the myOX ..." enough that she's getting curious.

 

Protodrake was fine, but all the V-slot and such seem to go faster than it is produced. It took a while to get all the parts together.

If you don't mind ordering from the States, try also Luthier (http://www.opensourceluthiersupply.com/), I had a fair bit come from them in addition to ProtoDrake and OpenBuilds. Had some stuff from China like the Arduino, the steppers and some bling. They came in at about the right time as well.

 

This simple looks interesting. However, if I read correctly, the speed can't really be controlled with the Arduino/gShield setup because of the "need" for a relay to handle the higher voltage ... I'm not one to confirm either way (at this time).

There will always be something to tweak, don't worry too much about getting it spot on the first time ...

 

Sweet ! I was thinking of doing something similar, but this will be much easier ... once I get my Micro 3D Printer (hoping it does the small 'plastic' parts properly ... at 300$, during KickStarter, it could be a risky gamble). Like Sage, the author, says, it needs to be a tight fit anyways to do the work properly.

I can see myself taking myOX apart more than a few times as it gets tweaked and used. There could be a baby myOX or two for Christmas ...

 

Well, I think I finally caught up to the wife's ever growing to do list and, best of all, I recently received the CNC xPRO controller board (populated) and all of the remaining 'necessary' hardware bits to complet my myOX.

After playing around with the Arduino with CNC shield (3.0) for a bit with no steppers stepping, I plugged in the xPRO, right out of the box, too eager to hear the sound of stepping steppers, and ... tada ... all is well even with just the 12V 33A power supply.

This is getting just to easy ...

I'm looking at a pile of wood my wife wanted me to throw out or burn and I see soon to be work of arts !