Okay, so I set off with intent to get things done and became really sick for a week. Finally and slowly getting back into everything... again.
All the limit switches are mounted and wired and I feel like it's all just very chaotic now. Trying to come up with some reasonably-simple little junction at the z-axis to terminate everything and try to control all the wiring.
Wow, been awhile; too much of a mess with other projects to deal with this. It's great to finally be finishing it up.
Had to rethink a lot to deal with the wiring I wanted. Moved the x limit switches onto the z-axis to consolidate them off one connector. Required making angled adapters.
Z-axis has an adjustable stop.
Spindle and z stepper have been terminated onto connectors. Need to make the panel that will join them with the longer cables, next. Then one for the x.
So, the hardest part of building a CNC machine by hand isn't:
- designing the machine
- marking and drilling
- cutting all the metal
- making it all move smoothly
- rebuilding it after a flood
No. The hardest part, apparently, is making stuff fit into a junction box. Day 105 of just trying to finish up "simple" wiring. I think I've lost it.
Maybe I'll just build another machine already in a box - much easier. In fact... why didn't I think of that earlier? IT'S GENIUS.
I want the cable runs isolated from components - to make them, or a bad cable, easy to swap. It also prevents flex/strain at the component side. This means lots of connections going in and out with proper strain relief.
I also want to be able to swap the spindle for a laser, so it needs a connector. Finding a good way to manage it all has been a pain.
Decided the hardest option is the one I want... So I'm going to make a custom metal enclosure.
Amazing update soon™...
This is how everyone makes their CNC machines, right?
This has been my process for all the metal plates, blocks, etc. Cut roughly, sand to spec, fine-tune as-needed.
These will be the sides of the gantry junction enclosure.
Some more techniques I use. I'm sure most of you are familiar with these tools, but perhaps someone out there isn't. They're two of my all-time favorites.
I use scribe rulers to get very accurate marks. I use them a lot for wood working as well. Have one in metric and one in 'merican. Need more.
I use an optical center punch for marking. It illuminates and magnifies the marks beautifully. Built half the CNC before I got one.
This is the enclosure base. 2.5mm bolts.
Funny thing about this project: All the work I've done has made me realize I really enjoy machining - as in, manual machining. I mean, I only use a bandsaw, drill press, and a sander. It's hardly a machinist's setup.
I have SO many projects I want to do, I've become very guarded to prevent myself from just doing them all; believe it or not. But for over a year now I've really been wanting to make a small manual mill.
Hand build a CNC machine, use that to make manual mill?
I do think I'd like to make a "manual" controller for the CNC as well. So I can move it by turning some knobs. Maybe try to incorporate some computer-assisted functionality as well.
But it still won't quite be the same.
The enclosure thus far. Plan today is to get the back cover plate finished.
I can't believe how long it's been since I last worked on this... things happened.
I finally put the junction box together. The paint job wasn't great and I wanted to redo it - months ago. By now I just don't care anymore.
The junction is wired! It's about as chaotic as I imagined it would be.
That leaves only a small junction and clamp on the side of the gantry before the mechanical side is completely done!
This has been almost 5 years in the making by now... This project has gone through so much.
It actually works!!!
With the spindle wired and secured I finally got to actually try it for the first time. Steppers still aren't controlled so I moved it by hand. This was really cool!
Feeding by hand and having a really loose clamp setup I didn't want to push it too far. Still, 1/8" and 1/4" bits in wood worked well. 1/8" in aluminum seemed promising if better clamped. I even tried out a badly unbalanced cheap Dremel saw with nice results.
Chad of Sketchy Abstractions