CNC Router! (Drawing Ukulele Components)

[Malc2098]

Well wrapped for its journey, and I only ordered it on the 18th!

 

[Mike G]

What are you going to do with that, Malc?

 

[fezman]

Which one Malc, I keep toying with the idea myself. Have a conflict on ambitions and space.

Be nice for a WIP build and first cut

 

[AndyP]

Good on yer Malc!

I have an incline as to what it will be used for. Can't wait to see the results.

 

[Woodbloke]

This looks good; very interested to see what you're going to do with it - Rob

 

[novocaine]

I see neck carving and perfect fingerboards in your future. :lol:

Not to mention jigs a plenty.

 

[Malc2098]

What are you going to do with that, Malc?

A good question, Mike, I'd say if I were sat on the stage at a conference!

First I've got to assemble it, which also means wiring all the controls, drivers, motors and switches, even before I start bolting all the extrusions and linear bearings together and fitting the stepper motors and spindle.

As far as I am aware, both the hardware and software are Open Source, so while the supplier will support any issues with the hardware, the software is supported on the net through open source users. That will be a challenge for me, so I won't rush it.

Initially I would like to make the jigs that support my guitar and ukulele construction.

Eventually I hope to be able to shape the components of the instruments I make so that I have consistently accurate parts. Ultimately, I would like to shape the whole of an acoustic guitar neck, including its headstock and heel.

I also intend to cut the inlays from maybe mother of pearl, and their sockets.

Along the way, while I'm learning, maybe I can cut a few Zigidy Men and perhaps Xmas tree decorations, the little hanging sort, or whatever comes to mind that helps me learn the trickier stuff.

 

[Malc2098]

Which one Malc, I keep toying with the idea myself. Have a conflict on ambitions and space.

Be nice for a WIP build and first cut

Go for it, Ian!

You can go down to 500mm x 500mm or up to 1500 x1500. I've gone for 750 x 1000 to suit my footprint and the size of workpieces I hope to make.

Bulkman 3D QueenBee Pro.

 

[Malc2098]

Oh, and I've got to find an old Laptop with Windows to use for the CadCam application which only runs on Windows.

Still clearing out M-i-Ls flat who died in September, and found hers. Mission Control and her brother and sister have kindly said I can have that.

 

[novocaine]

Use freecad for the design part.
You could get fusion for free at one point. Now im not so sure.
I can talk you through freecad if you need help.

 

[DaveL]

Well done, that's an upgraded version my workbee!
Fusion 360 is still free for hobby use, but they have removed some of the more advanced features.

 

[Malc2098]

Use freecad for the design part.
You could get fusion for free at one point. Now im not so sure.
I can talk you through freecad if you need help.

Thanks, but I think I will go with one of Vectric's products, not sure which yet, but because it also manages the toolpaths and gcode.

 

[Dr.Al]

What model is it? I'll look forward to seeing this come together and what you produce with it. I'd love one given the space, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I bought a 3D printer a few weeks ago and I'm quite enjoying playing with that at the mo. I'm sure I'm going to be feeling very jealous as you post various pictures of what you make with it!

Oh, for design, Onshape is very very good and free for personal use.

 

[Malc2098]

What model is it? I'll look forward to seeing this come together and what you produce with it. I'd love one given the space, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I bought a 3D printer a few weeks ago and I'm quite enjoying playing with that at the mo. I'm sure I'm going to be feeling very jealous as you post various pictures of what you make with it!

Oh, for design, Onshape is very very good and free for personal use.

It's the Bulkman 3D Queenbee Pro.

 

[Malc2098]

I have researched the marketplace and have looked at British, Austrian, German, Portuguese, American, Canadian, Australian and Far Eastern suppliers. Some of them only supplied their machines as fixed sizes and a completed machine delivered on a pallet. I almost bought and identical version of this one from Australia, but the price and shipping were much more than the Chinese supplier I decided to go with.

I entered into a discussion with the Chinese supplier before I decided to buy and they answered all my questions promptly and clearly. I had my Far Eastern in-laws check the company which turned out to be fine.

I then chose one of the sizes that this company offered to match my footprint of the table saw, its home on top of which when it's operating, and for the length of components I planned to shape. (I've yet to work out a way of storing the CNC when it's not operating, but I'll find a way. )

I also ordered a few more bits of hardware which online users of the machine advised, and the company added them to the order without any further shipping charges.

I'm not entirely sure but I think this company supplies the others with the hardware for this Open Source design.

I only ordered this on the 18th, and it's here already. Royal Mail have lost two of our parcels to family over a longer period this month.

 

[Malc2098]

So here goes.

Box 1

Drag chains
Power supply
Stepper motors
Collets for ER11 Chuck
Transport end plates
Linear bearings
Nuts and bolts and stuff



Box 2

Cabling
Dust shoe
Switches
More nuts and bolts and stuff
Control box
VFD inverter for spindle speed control (Variable Frequency Driver)
Cutters



Box 3
Bearing rails




Box 4
Extrusions and lead screws




Tomorrow, I'll check everything against the order.

 

[Robert]

Yes OK I'm jealous!

I've had a shortcut to the Workbee site on my desktop for over a year now. Puzzling over where I could fit it in and failing is the main reason for not ordering. Not done any research on other sources.

I'm going to need all the details of where and how much etc once i see this built.

 

[Malc2098]

I unwrapped it today and have gone through the inventory.

The cardboard boxes it came in were double corrugated and had plastic straps around two axes and sellotaped around all three axes..

All the aluminium extrusions had polythene sheet stuck on them and they were packed with polystyrene between every piece. The steel rails and lead screws were also packed separately with an oil preservative that will have to be cleaned off for assembly.

Every single one of these metal parts was individually wrapped, so no one part touched another or the inside of the box.


Then it was on to the other two boxes. All the tiny bags of screws etc were labelled, making checking against the inventory so much easier.



Nothing appeared damaged but there were some missing parts. Three limit switches, 16 M3 12mm button head screws were missing and 120 M4 16mm socket head screws had been supplied instead of 120 M4 button 16mm head screws.

The linear bearings had a different model number than those on the inventory and the DC cable from the inverter to the spindle was allegedly supposed to be welded (soldered), but was just bare both ends. All other wiring was labeled and was either tinned at both ends of had mini spade terminals.

But that was it. I've messaged the supplier through the messaging service of AliExpress on my account, and I'm pretty sure they will reply overnight. I get the impression they are so intent of me, the client, giving them 5 stars on AliExpress, that they will resolve the issues quickly.

 

[AndyP]

Wow, and I used to make do with Meccano.

Good luck with the set up.

 

[Robert]

I was a bit confused seeing all those linear bearing rails but just found the machines on ali-ex and all is clear now. double rails each side. The metal punching CNCs that i used to use only had single rails but 2 bearings spaced apart on each rail brought rigidity. Can't see one bearing just above another being as rigid but has to be a lot better than the roller wheels in grooves I was looking at before.

So what happened with tax on the purchase? site says not included.

looking forward to seeing how you incorporate it into your workshop. I'm looking at the 1500 x 1000 and wondering if I could find a place for it!

 

[Malc2098]

I was a bit confused seeing all those linear bearing rails but just found the machines on ali-ex and all is clear now. double rails each side. The metal punching CNCs that i used to use only had single rails but 2 bearings spaced apart on each rail brought rigidity. Can't see one bearing just above another being as rigid but has to be a lot better than the roller wheels in grooves I was looking at before.

So what happened with tax on the purchase? site says not included.

looking forward to seeing how you incorporate it into your workshop. I'm looking at the 1500 x 1000 and wondering if I could find a place for it!

I'll PM you.

 

[Phil]

Nice one Malc!

Looking forward to see what you make.

 

[MY63]

Nice :lol: Looking forward to watching.

 

[RogerM]

I've only just spotted this thread. Looks like a cracking project Malc. I'm looking forward to seeing this one progress.

Like others here, I'd love one but have been put off by the footprint and also whether I have the programming skills to actually make it do what I want. I never did get proficient at SketchUp! However, the footprint issue may be resolved for some of you with this project I spotted on Youtube.

[youtubessl]_2cu49CA6po[/youtubessl]

 

[Robert]

However, the footprint issue may be resolved for some of you with this project I spotted on Youtube.

I don't have room for more benches so it doesn't help me.

I've been daydreaming about some kind of pulley system to drag it vertical up a wall when not in use. That would mean cupboards currently full of stuff having to go. Still thinking..

 

[Malc2098]

The seller is sending me three limit which were missing from the pack

They advise me some head style of screws have changed, so the overall number of screws in the pack is correct. So, I'm just waiting for the limit switches.

Quite a bit of family stuff going on, so I haven't started yet, but getting stuff ready in the background as well as trying to get my head round the various software.

I hear some of you saying you haven't got the space for one. Me, too. But, I've chosen the size that will fit on my table saw, and that becomes its bench. I'm thinking of a pulley system to hoist the machine upwards when I need the table saw.

 

[AndyP]

With apologies to Rory Schieder, you’re gonna need a bigger workshop.

 

[Malc2098]

With apologies to Rory Schieder, you’re gonna need a bigger workshop.

:lol:

We all do! So what's new?!!

 

[AndyP]

With apologies to Rory Schieder, you’re gonna need a bigger workshop.

:lol:

We all do! So what's new?!!

Ahhh, that is so true.

 

[Malc2098]

The limit switches are on their way, so I've started looking at how to wire it. Being Open Source and some different boxes for multiple uses, there isn't really a definitive installation manual.

But there are several source of how others have done it, which I have viewed and read many times, so it's about time I got going.

Anyway, this is what is needed to be wired together (and some sources add even more things like contactors and breakers and….)

I've added the mains switch top left, the power supply C13 female and male. I've supplied the connector block so that I can have the ground wires all connected to one spot and I've also supplied the on off switch for the spindle. Everything else comes in the kit.

Oh, and I've also come across wiring ferrules for the first time and a dinky little crimper for them.

 

[Robert]

About time too!

Only kidding I'd take my time too. Can't be too much you can wire without attaching things to the mechanical parts can there?

Looking on Ali the price has dropped around 100 and the shipping gone up by similar amount to £430 and 30 - 65 days to arrive. Winter sale yeah right. I'll wait till you are up and running to decide.

Read somewhere the water cooled spindle/router is quieter than the air cooled. be interesting when you run yours to see what you think. Got to be much better than a normal router in any case.

 

[9fingers]

Read somewhere the water cooled spindle/router is quieter than the air cooled. be interesting when you run yours to see what you think. Got to be much better than a normal router in any case.

The downside to the water cooled ones apart from plumbing, tank, pump etc is that anti freeze is essential in unheated shops. Some years back a mate of mine managed to split a casting after freezing and it was quite a job to get is clamped back up and sealed again.
His was a 3 HP or 3kW spindle and I certainly would not class it as quiet. Yes it is an induction motor so no brush noise and no forced air cooling noise but its running on 400Hz 2 pole so doing about 24000 rpm plus the noise from the cutter. Add in X Y & Z stepper noise ( 5' x 10' bed) It was difficult to talk over the composite machine noise.

Bob

 

[RogerS]

......., there isn't really a definitive installation manual.

But there are several source of how others have done it, which I have viewed and read many times, so it's about time I got going.

....

:lol: Watching with interest, Malc

 

[Malc2098]

Robert,

Yeah, I'm not rushing. I've done one stepper motor and keep saying to myself, red, green, blue, yellow, which is fine till you get to the female plug on the motor itself, when you have turn that upside down to make sure the colours marry with the male plug on the cable.

Bob,

I chose a 1.5 air cooled because I didn't intend doing long jobs. But from what I've heard online, these are not only far quieter than my Makita, but are far more controllable, rotational direction, speed and on/off.

Roger,

Me, too! :lol:

 

[MattS]

Watching with interest, I really like the idea of a CNC but really not sure I’d get the use. Can’t afford one anyway so don’t need to worry about it :lol:

Will enjoy watching you build and set it up.

 

[Malc2098]

I said I wouldn't rush this, and I'm not.

The limit switches still haven't arrived. The tracking reckons they've been on the plane for a week!

And I'm still working with my electrician to come up with a safety circuit involving a contacter and momentary switches. Never heard of them before! But if there's a power cut, I don't want the motors all to fire up once it comes on again, and I need an emergency stop button so that the controller software can be held in a pause/hold condition while I resolve the issue.

Anyway, four stepper motors and the E-Stop switch wired so far.



I've been advised to connect the shielding each end of the cable to enable a bullet connector to carry an earth wire to ground. Only trouble is, there's two schools of thought online; one is earth it a both ends and the other is earth it at one end.

Hey ho.

 

[9fingers]

You might think you have never heard of contactor, momentary switches and machines not restarting after power is restored but I bet you have them on several of your machines such as table saw, planers etc
The are usually called NVR (No Voltage Release) switches and dead common!

Watching with interest!

Bob

 

[Robert]

It there is a power cut the currently running program would be lost. Power back on might (but probably won't) run the spindle but the axes will not be homed and can't move to any coordinates.

 

[Malc2098]

Limit switch cables and XYZ probe wired.



I sort of learned that about NVR switches. The safety circuit I'm trying to achieve here, is to cut the power to the VFD and hence the spindle (230v), but leave power to the controller (24vDC), so that I can reset the job.

There'll be another delay in electrical side of things while I wait for some parts. So I might start building the frame.

 

[Robert]

The safety circuit I'm trying to achieve here, is to cut the power to the VFD and hence the spindle (230v), but leave power to the controller (24vDC), so that I can reset the job.

Can you explain that a bit more please.

How does stopping the spindle help anything? If the axes are still moving a stopped cutter will do nearly as much damage to the workpiece as a moving one. Don't you need an emergency pause button?

On the metal punching CNC that meant pressing the single step button. Then you'd have to press start for every line of gcode to progress and could sort out a bent edge or whatever at leisure. E stop was for when the sheet of metal got screwed up and the program abandoned.