[papasombre]

Hello, guys.
In December 2015 I made Version 1 of a milling machine for wood. It was very useful to mill some stocks in X and Y directions but It was also limited on Z-axis.
Recently I finished several modifications that include a mobile table for the milling machine since the previous one was used on my RT.
Version 2 has a different router, not the trimmer that I used in V1 which was very hot during the milling operations. Some mods are not the original ones that I thought. For instance, the Z-axis is very heavy so I installed the gantry in a horizontal position to avoid the tipping of all the structure.
This option lent to a high reduction of the working área, less than 40% of the space available. Fortunately, the jobs executed with this versión have been processed with no problems.
I am happy with my V2 machine but a brainstorm is in my mind to make it more efficient.

 

[papasombre]

Some pictures are attached.

 

[TenGees]

By looking at the pictures I can't really tell how this works. It looks like the router would be to the right of the third photo. If that's the case, I think it would be better between the bars. Then it wouldn't be as tippy. Maybe you could rotate the 'sled' part?

 

[papasombre]

Hi, Paul.
The movements on axis x and Y are manually controlled. Several homemade stop blocks are used to set the distances on each one axis. In axis Z, the thickness for each pass is controlled by a full threaded 8M bar which allows cutting 1,25mm for each turn of the handle. Two aluminum pieces are also used as stop blocks.
Regarding your suggestion to place the router in between the bars, I took it into consideration during the assembling process but this placement makes difficult visual control during the milling operation.
Thank you for your comments.