What software you gonna use?
HJ
HJ
2nd Build (first) - CNC Router
Building my 2nd CNC first, I hope. I have been researching for over a year, read a thousand threads and articles, and am hopefully building my 'second machine' for my first. There is still a ton to learn and that process will probably never stop. Of this I am certain, I will be in new territory for a while. For over 40 years I have been building things, doing hydraulics, pneumatics, and electronics builds and troubleshooting along with a lot of woodworking but have never used or built a CNC machine. This is going to be fun!!
The machine is a new model by Nate at Fine Line Automation. It's a 'pro' series he calls Saturn and it is very heavy. Shipping weight was 525 lbs. for this 2'x4' model. Take away the OxBox and pallet and it's probably still 475 lbs. The frame is welded and stress relieved steel, powder coated Pantone 305. It has THK style linear bearings, rack and pinion drive, and the components are anodized black 6061 aluminum. I have a 3 Kw water cooled spindle and NEMA 34 stepper motors ready to mount. I'll be using the Hitachi WJ200-022SF VFD to drive the spindle. The actual cutting area is 28”x52” with 10” Z travel.
The first order of business, now that it's here, was clearing out enough space in our shop for two CNC machines (our shop is the attached two-car garage). It has to set in one place while I build the stand where it will actually reside, so space for two in an already crowded shop. I'll be building a frame with 2x4's and maybe a couple of 2x6's. Then I need about 5 large friends to help me carry the CNC over to the stand.
Picked up from FedEx and barely fit on a friend's trailer -
![Transport Vehicle Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Trailer]()
OxBox container removed and setting on the pallet until I get the stand built -
![Machine Wood Machine tool Tool Metal]()
A few close-ups –
![Machine Machine tool Tool Table saw]()
![Machine Machine tool Wood Metal Art]()
![Machine tool Tool Machine Tool accessory Milling]()
Next step will be a trip to Lowe's for 2x4's and then make some sawdust.
Hope you enjoy the ride with me!
David
The machine is a new model by Nate at Fine Line Automation. It's a 'pro' series he calls Saturn and it is very heavy. Shipping weight was 525 lbs. for this 2'x4' model. Take away the OxBox and pallet and it's probably still 475 lbs. The frame is welded and stress relieved steel, powder coated Pantone 305. It has THK style linear bearings, rack and pinion drive, and the components are anodized black 6061 aluminum. I have a 3 Kw water cooled spindle and NEMA 34 stepper motors ready to mount. I'll be using the Hitachi WJ200-022SF VFD to drive the spindle. The actual cutting area is 28”x52” with 10” Z travel.
The first order of business, now that it's here, was clearing out enough space in our shop for two CNC machines (our shop is the attached two-car garage). It has to set in one place while I build the stand where it will actually reside, so space for two in an already crowded shop. I'll be building a frame with 2x4's and maybe a couple of 2x6's. Then I need about 5 large friends to help me carry the CNC over to the stand.
Picked up from FedEx and barely fit on a friend's trailer -
OxBox container removed and setting on the pallet until I get the stand built -
A few close-ups –
Next step will be a trip to Lowe's for 2x4's and then make some sawdust.
Hope you enjoy the ride with me!
David
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Fusion 360 for CAD/CAM along with CorelDRAW X8 and leaning heavily toward Mach 4 for the controller. I may also use FreeCAD and SketchUp to some extent.
I have a whole lot to learn but I have a long history with 'old arn' and I like some heft to my equipment. My preference is to have equipment I can lean on without it moving.I don't know a lot yet regarding CNC's , but that gantry looks rock solid heavy duty to me
And you are correct about the gantry; it weighs 125 lbs. by itself. I have the option of filling the frame with sand if I need additional weight or if there are any harmonics or resonance issues. Adding additional weight isn't something I'll need to do, if I were to take a guess... :no:
Finished the stand today. I know I'm thorough but this took me about 20 hours to build and I have no idea if that's slow or fast or about average. It's actually fast for me and I managed to do it in two sessions - 8 hours yesterday and 12 today.
All the pieces that will contact the CNC frame are jointed to ensure they're flat and straight and each hole was drilled with 1/8" for threads, 3/16" for the barrel, countersunk for the head, and securely tightened, so about 4 operations for each of the hundred or so fasteners. Each joint is square and tight and then the entire stand was sanded. I may come back later and put some Shellac on it but not today.
A friend is coming over tomorrow and bringing his engine hoist so we can lift the frame onto the stand. More later!!
David
![Wood Table Furniture Tool Plywood]()
![Wood Table Furniture Hardwood Plywood]()
All the pieces that will contact the CNC frame are jointed to ensure they're flat and straight and each hole was drilled with 1/8" for threads, 3/16" for the barrel, countersunk for the head, and securely tightened, so about 4 operations for each of the hundred or so fasteners. Each joint is square and tight and then the entire stand was sanded. I may come back later and put some Shellac on it but not today.
A friend is coming over tomorrow and bringing his engine hoist so we can lift the frame onto the stand. More later!!
David
We managed to get the CNC frame lifted over the table saw extension and on to the stand. The stand worked perfectly, so that's a good feeling. Nothing creaked or moved and it is dead level with the additional nearly 500 lbs. of weight just as it was without the frame weighing it down.
My friend Adam, also a good woodworker, brought his engine hoist over and we managed to maneuver the CNC over the obstacles and set onto the stand and only had to move my air compressor to make room. That's not a bad feat given how tight this was.
![Toolroom Workshop Wood Machine Tool]()
CNC frame on the stand -
![Machine Toolroom Tool Workbench Machine tool]()
My friend Adam, also a good woodworker, brought his engine hoist over and we managed to maneuver the CNC over the obstacles and set onto the stand and only had to move my air compressor to make room. That's not a bad feat given how tight this was.
CNC frame on the stand -
Here's a good shot of the CNC in our shop. There's some clutter from moving things around to make room for this but I'll get that organized and cleaned up soon. You can see the spindle, steppers, and other components on the bench so hopefully I'll get a chance to start mounting those over the next few days.
![Toolroom Machine Machine tool Tool Workshop]()
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