I have been wanting to build one of these for so long,...

[cvriv.charles]

At one point I actually bought and received the laser /bent parts needed. I didnt go through with it because I lost the space I was going to use to build and operate the machine. That was well more than a year ago. Almost years maybe.

For awhile there I was fine but now the itch is back:( I still dont have the space required to build and operate the machine. But,... if I REALLY REALLY wanted to,... I could probably do what I had to do to get this done. But that would mean taking a huge chance. I would definitely borrow all the money I need to build the machine plus maybe some extra. I would probably have to rent some kind of space to build and operate the machine.

The thing is I have never built and operated one of these. I don't doubt my ability to build the machine. That would technically be the easy part. Learning to use the machine in decent amount of time,... kind of nervous. Its all new to me and like everything new to me,... it makes me nervous.

Once I borrow the money and rent space,... everyday that machine is making money, I'm losing money. Have any of you been in this situation? Can you give some advice? Tell me about your story? Thanks.

Right now I making some Kydex belt loop things for these universal mag pouches. Going to sell each for $10. I am making them by had right at my computer desk. By hand I am just about done making 56 of them. Took me a couple of days. If I had one of these routers,..... I would have hundreds of them done by now! This is driving me nuts. Thanks.

[WTI]

I think you should make a trip to one of the Shopbot jamborees and see how they work, see how the software works.

http://www.shopbottools.com/mProducts/beforeyoubuy.htm this is a little worksheet to predict the length of time it will take you to start using your mechmate AFTER you are done building it.

[cvriv.charles]

I was thing about maybe purchasing a very small desktop router and using that to learn how to use all the software involved. Good idea bad idea? Just something to use as a learning tool. Something prebuilt or at the least a kit or something. This way i will know how to use the mechmate soon after its built. What do you think?

[WTI]

For the price of one of those desktop routers you would be 3/4 of the way to a real Mechmate...

[cvriv.charles]

Really? I didnt research the small desktop routers. Didnt think they were that expensive:(

[WTI]

http://www.k2cnc.com/shop/products.asp?cat=26

It's not cheap.

[cvriv.charles]

Lol. Why would anyone pay that much for such a machine?!?! Well,... how does one go about learning to how to use one of these besides attending a shopbot jamboree? This is so frustrating. I really dont think it would take me long to learn. Im just uncertain of exactly how long. Thats what scares me. It the time that it will take to build, learn, and then find work that scares me. I can assume i wont be making money right away which is normal for the starting of most businesses.

[KenC]

After you have the machine running, you will still be spending (tooling, rental... etc) while learning how to run your MM. Also, you will still need time to build the business which may take more than a year or 2 to see meaningful income.

[cvriv.charles]

What exactly do you mean by tooling? Im wouldnt be to worried about business growth and making good profits right after the build. The only thing id be worried about is making enough to cover the absolute minimum. Rent for the space, the loan payments, materials, bits, etc. As long as i made enough to keep the operation running so that i could keep spending time with it to learn and get better. I know that if i could do that i would only meet with success. But its that initial choice i have to make,... do i try and do i not? You know? Im wondering if anyone in my situation had made the choice and had a good outcome.

[KenC]

In that case... The only person qualified to answer your question is yourself. :D

Tooling as in cutting bits for various type of works, collets, hold-down, consumables... etc etc...

[Gerald D]

You don't have to spend any money (or sweat and time) on building the machine before you start learning how to use it. Get the CAD/CAM software of your choice now and see if you can get your head around that first.

[cvriv.charles]

Well i already have cad software that i use. I dont know if you remember but i modeled the entire machine using Inventor. So im fine with cad and im pretty sure ill do fine with cam as well. Its just that i never really done anything like this before. I just modeled stuff using cad. Im pretty sure its very much different when you have to actually model something to be cut out right?

I was talking to my woman about all this and she's very willing to lend me all the money needed to build the machine. That would be a huge help because she wont except repayment until im making money. I guess she had faith in me. I was going to just pull a loan but if she will lend i think i will take it because that means deferred payments. I would only have to worry about space then.

[WTI]

If you are proficient in Inventor, you have the "head" for CAD/CAM.

The CAM software has plenty of simulation modes where you can watch your parts being made, without actually having a machine.

BTW: Sounds like you have got a good woman there - don't mess it up.

[cvriv.charles]

Thanks. Doesnt mean im going to borrow money from her though. I just want to weigh everything out first and see what happens.

[WTI]

Download the trial of Mach3:

http://www.machsupport.com/downloads.php

and the trial of SheetCAM:

http://www.sheetcam.com/downloads.shtml


This way you can run everything before you invest a dime. Your confidence will rise, and you will be charged up to build your Mech.

[cvriv.charles]

Ok. I will do that. Thanks.

[rischoof]

Charles,
If you don't have the space yet, you can consider the way I go. I made a smaller one. the footprint is 1.6 times 1.3 meter. I build it up in the glas house. finaly it has to come in the basement. this is a space 4x3 meter. I modified the good design of the machine so it suits my situation. If I get the space in the future, I will extend my x axis from the machine from 80 cm to 250 cm. If you are not in a hurry to build you machine, look on scrap yards for used material that you can use. It must be able to find used materials to build a table, change the design so you can use the material you have. If you look in the building logs you can see that a lot of people do it this way.
If you look on ebay you can also find a lot of used material. It is realy not necessary to buy a new frequency controller there are plenty of used ones on ebay. this saves money, but wil cost more time to collect your materials.
I spent a lot of time looking on the forum how other people have build there machine and what kind of changes they made on the machine before I realy know what I wanted and started with my plans and material list.
Good luck with making your decision

[cvriv.charles]

I think just going to wait:( i think it will be better this way. Ill just go to school(engineering) and hopefully ill land a good job paying more money so that i can get my own place with space for a full size mm. This way i can start as a hobby and discover my absolute abilities with it. I pretty much know already that i would be amazing with it because of the stuff i made in the past all by hand. If i tried now i would definitely end up rushing with it because time is money. All the stress involved during and even after if i should fail to keep it going. Ill just play it safe. Thanks guys.

[rischoof]

Charles,
I am 43 now, I bought my first shepach combination woodworking machine when I was 16 from money I earned working evenings in the suppermarked. I payed 200 euro for it, I didnt earn a 1 euro an hour that time. this machine stayed in my parents shed until I was 29 Then I could place it in my own garage. but I praticed a lot with this machine and I was able to make my own furniture for my appartment I start renting when I was 23. When I was 17 I bought my turning lath. that one had to stay in my bedroom and later it moved to my living room from my appartment. After I graduated It was down turn and when I applied for a Job, there where 400 other people who where applying for that same job, they wanted my because I had practical experiance.
I looked for a couple of years to buy a used shopbot, but moving a shopbot to europe is expensive. then I found the mechmate site. this was for me the only way to affort and get an cnc routing machine I wanted for years. It take's me 2 years to build one. but I have something what I wanted for years. and when I look at my machine (daily) I am proud on it

[cvriv.charles]

So jealous. I hope that when im done with school I'll be able to get a job:( It's just that right now all I have is a bedroom. Technically I have it good right now because im living with my mother. Very soon I will be moving out into JUST a bedroom. I already have various simple machines and tools I keep in my bedroom. I also have a dog that lives with me. I try to keep the room as open as possible for her. I have no where to store anything really. I would love to slowly build a MM but I have no where for it. I think I just nee to go to school and do the best I can in hopes that I can even get a job when done. If I go I'm shooting for two BA's too. A BA in electronic engineering and one in mechanical. Even if I couldn't get a job,... I'll have enough know how to do whatever I want. I'll borrow money and start something on my own. On my own is how I want it to be in the end anyways. I probably wont be able to afford all the extras of owning a MM. Thats why I was hoping that maybe if I had it built that I could get it to support itself. If I failed I would be back in a world of hurt. Right now I pretty much have all my old debt paid off. Been waiting for this moment for so long. I just dont want to make a wrong decision and get set back with nothing to show for it again. I mean if I got set back again at least I'd have the MM because theres no way in hell I'd sell it. It would be dismantled in stored but you know what I mean. I just dont know. Going to school seems to be the right thing to do. Because I really would like to be a REAL engineer and because everyone else go to school. But,... engineering school is expensive as hell! I dont even know if I could afford that! I might get to that point and realize I cant afford school and my best option might be to start my own router business. So much to weigh out here:( The day I have a MM,.. I will be just like you. Staring at it everyday all proud. to be honest I'll be on it doing 25 hours runs. Just liek the good ole days when I was making everything by hand. I just got done making 144 of the kydex belt adapter things for these HSGI universal mag pouches all by hands. Been doing it for days now. Just about done. Fingers all burnt and blistered from heat and friction. This is how I roll. Pain aint a damn thing to me when im enjoying myself while making something. Im hoping to sell each clip for like 12 each. Use the money towards paying off this last loan of mine.

[cvriv.charles]

Uhhh. I just had a talk with my mother. Here's the deal. I dont get a long all that well with my mother do to a lot of crap that has happened and is happening. Its the reason I havent asked her about building and running the machine here for at least long enough to learn, figure out my starting point and establish some clientele. Enough that the router can support itself if and when I move it into a rented spot. I assumed she would say no.

The main reason she would say no is because it's her house. Here's the deal though,... she's losing the house. Foreclosure. She lost her job and she's losing the house. Definite. But there are so many foreclosures thats its going to be a long time till we have to move out. 1 - 3 years the lawyer said. The previous owner put up a wall in the garage and turned the larger portion into a living room. The actual garage is small as hell. She doesnt use this converted living room for ANYTHING. Just sits there and does nothing.

I actually brought up the whole idea with her. The whole scenario. I can go to school or I can start this router business. I have a good feeling about both. There are pro's and con's about both. I told her I wanted to start this router business or really,... a hobby that pays me well. And then go to school while doing that and working part time at the hospital where I work. To maintain benefits and I even get some tuition reimbursement etc. So I have to stay at the hospital. But the router would be a second income and I have a feeling Im going to be very good with it. Then I told her I would have to teat that wall down and put up a door to block out noise. She for a second was like hell no. but I gave her the what do you need that room for! It's doesnt do anything! I could make money in there. Put that room to use! Your not even going to be able to keep the house! Why do you care! I understand her position that being her house. But seriously,.... she cant keep the house. she knows shes going to lose it. SO! After all that,.... she will think about it. I was pitching that idea to her hard as hell. I think she will actually say yes. LOL.

So,.... if she does say yes,.... I'm scared to death even thinking about it. To actually go through this?!?!? What a chance I would be taking. to pay off all my debt just to pull out another loan. Wow. BUT! The loan would be taking from a credit union which means I wont get raped with a massive apr. Also,... I keep telling myself,.... get the money. Build the machine as fast as you can. Learn it as fast as you can. At least make enough money to pay the loan off for the machine. At least that! This way the machine is paid for. I like the sound of that. Im very sure I can do that pretty quick. Having all the money I need up front,... I can build that machine quick. Worse case scenario after that,... I have to dismantle the machine and put it in storage. I can do that no problem.

So,... I have to get that yes. Then I will finish paying off that small loan I have. If shes says yes,... time to start planning, build a invoice of everything needed, costs, where to buy, what tools and machines I'll need to rent or buy. At the same time figure out what I'll focus on making to get this machine paid for. I might not even have to tear that wall down. If she says no,... I go to school and forget about the mm.

[MetalHead]

I think you should consider a smaller platform to start with and come back to the MechMate once you are established with funds and a location. I would love to see you build a machine, but I also want you to succeed first and formost. I think for you a turn key tabletop machine would be a more viable solution for you and allow you to get started quickly.

Some that come to mind are

Camaster
ShopBot Desktop
Carvewright

I will also send you a PM.

[TechGladiator]

Charles.

Where abouts in NJ? I am also in NJ and just about to start making some dust.. Probably a week or two from that.

[Richards]

Having a CNC router is no guarantee of a successful business. I know many people who bought another brand of CNC router with the hope of quiting their jobs and using that router to make a living. So far, NONE of them have been successful enough to quit their jobs. Only one is making a decent part-time income.

That's not a slur on the CNC router owners; but, it is a warning that starting a business might take more time and more resources than most people think.

Run a break-even analysis on a spreadsheet. (I use Open Office, which you can download at no charge.) Find out exactly how many widgets you need to make per day to pay all expenses. Don't forget to pay yourself, and don't forget to add in a substantial "rent" so that your mother can keep her house.

If the numbers look good, and if you can pre-sell your services to people who will delivers the orders, then go ahead; however, if the numbers show a slim chance of making a profit, then work on your business model first and then wait to buy a machine until the numbers show that you will have a profitable business.

(In my business, I always pre-sell my services before I do any work. Most of my customers pay me before I do anything for them. Because my work is customized for each company, it would be impossible to sell the finished work to someone other than the original customer. So, they pay in advance. Right now, I'm finishing up a computer system that a customer paid for yesterday.)

[cvriv.charles]

Charles.

Where abouts in NJ? I am also in NJ and just about to start making some dust.. Probably a week or two from that.

Really?!?! I live in south jersey right now. Burlington county. Would you mind if I stopped by to watch? Show me a thing or two? I would really appreciate it:\ I work in New Brunswick.

[cvriv.charles]

Ok. Let's stop referring to it as a business and for now refer to it as a hobby that pays. I don't want to get ahead of myself here. Here's the deal. I have experience with making stuff. I have an understanding with working with different materials such as wood, plastics, steel, aluminum, brass, copper etc. I am familiar with grinding my own bits etc. I know a lot more about all this than most people. I know more about that than I do about running a business. Thats why its now a hobby that pays.

I would be EXTREMELY happy if I built the machine and did enough with it to at least cover the cost of the machine. If all should fail after that,... so what. I still have the machine. Worst case scenario I would have to break the machine down and store it. big deal. I never said anything about quitting my job. Maybe at the least I would cut down to part time to maintain my position there along with my benefits. Thats about it.

Now,... as to what I would focus on making to earn steady money. Probably furniture. because everyone needs or wants furniture. I think thats a good place to start. I would start off with simple and stylish. I have a guy at work who makes furniture by hand. I know he's really good at it because of the things he has said. I already contacted him to see if he would teach me a thing or two. In between jobs I could venture off and try other things. I have been making stuff relating to firearms lately. Stuff made from Kydex. I'm very good at it too. I use to make a ton of stuff for computers several years ago. I was extremely good at that as well. I had one company funding my operation at one point and another hounding me for ideas. I could easily email both of them and let them know that I'm back in business and this time I'm automated. They will absolutely love that. There are several thing I can do to make cash quick. If I had any doubt about it I would not be typing this all out right now.

If I get a yes for the space in my mothers home. I will probably go ahead and build a MM. Everything in life is a chance. Some make it and some dont. I have a very good feeling about this. The idea wont leave me alone.

If I get a yes I will then do all the math. See how much money I need to build and get the machine running. See what my operating costs are and figure out how much I need to make to keep the machine running and to at least cover the cost of the machine. Thats it. Once the machine is paid off,... I'll have a pretty good idea of how things will be after that. I dont want to jump to far ahead.

[darren salyer]

I won't try to discourage anyone from anything.
Having said that, building a machine that could take 6 months to build and get fully operational, while keeping your day job sounds great.
Doing it in a place that will be repossessed as early as a year from now....not so great.

What is the fall back plan if the lender steps up foreclosure proceedings?

[cvriv.charles]

6 months to build one of these? Even if one had all funds up front? What is the fastest someone has built one? I really dont think it will take me that long to build one. But,... shit happens. I will admit that. If the lender took back the house before I was done with the machine or even paying the machine off,... I would be kind of screwed. Maybe. No back up plan. Its a huge chance.

As long as I can build and have the machine paid for by then,... I will be fine. If I got the machine built and paid off at least some of it with the machine that would kind of be fine too. Because I'll most likely be using my regular salary to pay the machine off as well. It will be a close call, maybe. Again its a chance. As of right now im 90% sure I want to do it. I still have some things to do before I get started with all this so I still have time to think it all through and make my final decision. Yea.

[cvriv.charles]

Ok. My mother said I can use the space. She doesnt care. It time for the next step. Have to pay off this last loan of mine. I have to join my credit union and inquire about a loan. Most likely they will say yes because I have good credit and they automatically deduct from my paycheck. During this time I will do all the math. Figure out how much I need to get started and to keep in running etc.

[TechGladiator]

Charles;

I think he fastest somebody has built one is about 3-4 weeks. I would look at the build log on the forums.

In my opinion you have to be pretty darn good to get the machine done in 3-4 weeks. Other things that you need to consider is not just the materials but also the tools. I had a ton of home tools (Drills, table saws, etc etc etc) but you at least need a welder, drill press, metal saw and a grinder to name a few if you want to be able to tackle this project. I didn't have any of the items I am listing above and bellow is a rough breakdown of what I spend on each

Welder $600 (Plus Helmet $99, Gloves $15, Misc welder stuff $40)
8HP Drill Press $375
Metal Saw $249
Grinder $80 (Plus probably another $80-$100 of disks)

Things that I had and I felts saved me a ton of time

Clamps
Magnet Squares (Thanks to SurfCNC for posting pictures of his, this probably saved me 30% of the time welding)
Paint Gun
Compressor & Complete set of air tools (Drill, Brush, etc)

I don't know what your situation is with tools, but depending on the amount of tools you may or may not have you can find yourself spending a decent amount buying them.

That's of course my opinion and I am simply going based on my experience.

[smreish]

Charles,
The quickest builds have been actually 2 weeks. I think BradM and the Seattle Rep Theater hold the quickest records if memory serves me correctly.

Brad had a traditional machine with C - Channel sides, the Rep used 2x2 mechanical tubing.

[TechGladiator]

2 Weeks is an impressive time frame. Some good planning and certainly all materials have to be on site already to accomplish this. While I was building mine the people I was buying the stuff from told me on multiple occasions (oh, is you again?) :)

[cvriv.charles]

Well,... as long as I have everything I need to get the machine built I might be able to get it done in a months time. I definitely see myself taking a nice 3 week paid vacation when the time comes to build it. This way I can spend all of my time building it. I just dont see it taking much more longer than a months time. Maybe 2 months at the most. As long as I don't run into any major problems. DOA components etc.

About the things needed to build the machine. I use to have alot of what TechGladiator mentioned. I still have some of it. A ton of clamps, 24 inches up to 4 foot pipe clamps. I have an angle grinder. I have a lot of the small stuff already. I definitely see myself buying another large drill press. I had a nice 16.5" Delta before. I loved that thing. I had a small 110v welder also but hated it. I seriously think there was something wrong with it. It always kept tripping the circuit breaker. I could only weld for about 10 seconds at a time. I just rented one a little while ago to weld my old truck back together. It was a Miller. I had a Lincoln. Let me tell you,... that little Miller welder was awesome! It didnt trip the circuit breaker at all. I could weld and keep on welding with it. It was so much fun. I dont see myself buying one to build this machine. I think if I plan everything out well I could rent it again and weld the whole machine together in a day or two. That would save me a lot of money. If I think it will take more than a few days I might think about buying it because it wouldnt be worth it to rent more than it costs to buy it. obviously. But seriously I dont think it will take to long to get all the welding done. Im pretty sure I can rent a horizontal bandsaw as well to make all my cuts. I would really like to buy one of these too but seriously,... I dont really need it right now other than to cut all the steel.

I know I need to buy some tools and maybe even machines but I know I can rent to save some cash as well. I should probably invest in a table saw or a circular saw as well. Even though I had a nice one before I got rid of it. I was seriously down sizing my life:(

I am going to make up a master plan very soon. I will run it by with you guys. Maybe we can brainstorm things I need and dont need rent or buy where to get for free or cheap etc. so till then,...

[rischoof]

Charles,
A month.... yes i think that is possible by people who have all the tools, space and it is there second build from a mechmate, or they have at least experiance with building an simular machine. I finished, wel let I say, i have a workable machine after 2.5 years. and then I have to say that I spent allmost all my available time on it. thats beside a job and a familly and a social live
If you want to build it realy fast, you have to prepare everyting till in the smallest detail.
Make the design that way, you can disassemble it, and it fits through a normal door (in case you have to store it somewhere).
You have to know every single part in your machine. Nut, rivet, cable, connector, wire, cable chain,
you have to order all parts in advanced. Be aware that parts can have a delivery time.
You drawings must be complete, and specified to the size you are going to build.
Make a map where you put only the drawings you need, with the correct sizes
I should made a model in a drawing programm to look how everyting fits together.
I had to find out some dimmensions during the build.
mount every thing together in the model or on paper and write down what you need. If you miss parts and you have to go to the shop each time is costing you an ammazing ammount of time. If somebody els can shop for you when nescessary, it is saving you an ammazing ammount of time.
Try to buy as much as posible in one shop or web site, you can get discount, and it saves time
Make a planning what you are going to do, and make a time frame how much time you expect it is costing. monitor this during your bild.
split up the table, x axis, y axis , z axis and control box. prepare you material that way, that if you have to stop working on something for what kind of reason you can start working on the next one.
organize you material, make boxes for the different "modules" place all bold and nuts in boxes, mark you material.
make a tool list you need, and buy this tools. look If there are tools in the "familly" maybe you can lent some of the tools from them for a certain period.
all the big tools I have, exept the mechmate, I bought second hand. so your drill press....
I expect that a quick build is costing more money than a longer build because you don't have time looking for cheaper solutions
Arrange help from frends for deciplines you have less knowledge.
You can not allways do what you want. If you are planning to grind the guidings with the scate, and you want to do it outside, it must be dry, the temperature must be, that you can work outside, and it makes a lot of noise, so if you have naburs, you can't start at 7 o'clock or work untill.... same for painting, welding.
arranging a flat surface for my scating the guidings costed me allready a day.
painting every thing..... thats a secret
my electronics 5 days from 8 to 11 with 2 people, a dummy (me) and a specialist in electronics
Place everyting on the forum and let other people have a look if you are correct.

You are ambitious!! I like that
may we know your age?

[cvriv.charles]

I know i have to plan all this out very well to be efficient. If i planned everything out well enough and ordered everything all at once, it would probably take me a month or two to build. The electronics is what scares me. That will probably set me back some. I know nothing about it and will rely on all of you for help with that. Everything else ill be able to handle very well. I have a ton of experience with improvising because most of the time i never had what i needed to do something properly. I already have my mechmate modeled on my computer using inventor. Right down to the nuts and bolts. I designed my machine in such a way that it can be taken apart for storage and transport. I dont have family and friends with tools and machines to borrow. I dont have a family of my own. Sadly,... i do not have a social life either. I am not a huge people person even though i do work at a hospital taking care of sick people. But thats different. Im the kind of guy that hides out in some workshop or lab somewhere making really cool stuff all day everyday. Sadly. Its just who i am. I like it to an extent because i can do things a lot of people cant. I can focus and figure things out. Anyways. It will be hard. Im not denying that. I will have many sleepless days. Going to work tired to do nightshift. Been there already. But i think this is worth it.a good thing. I wont lie but i do have a bit of doubt. I have never done sonething this extreme before. I have never had to make stuff to make money to keep going. So this all scares me. I might not go through with it because of this fear. Im trying to fight it because i feel like i have to try. Life is a chance. If ee dont take chances we wont get anywhere. I am 33 years old.

[cvriv.charles]

I could take the easy route. Even though its not easy. I dont know why I consider it the easy route. But I could not build the machine and just go to school. Racking up school loans and go to work tired, do my homework tired, go to school tired. Then maybe somewhere down the road find out that I'm not good enough for school. I either quit and even get kicked out. Which would pretty much put me right where I would be if I failed to launch the MM. Nothing to show for my efforts, more debt, etc. I'm thinking if I failed to launch the MM that at least it wouldnt put me in as much debt if I failed college. I dont know. I have a lot of faith in myself. Im not stupid. I just dont know why I am feeling doubt all over the place and having a ton of ambition at the same time.

School frustrates me. It always has. It was worse when I was younger. I did attend some college years ago for computer programming. I did a lot better in college compared to how I did in high school. I learned a lot very fast in college. No doubt about that. So I know I might do well in school but I know it still frustrates me. I dont know why. What I do know is that Im very good at making stuff. Being creative, innovative, thinking things through, solving problems, figuring things out. I am very obsessive when it comes to that type of work. I am extremely obsessive. I have solved numerous problems in my sleep because I ponder it so much that when I sleep I take it with me. I would wake up from a dead sleep as if the house was on fire and utter the words holy shit thats it. So I know if I had the machine built and running I would have no problem designing and making very cool next level stuff. I have always been good at that. What I will probably have a problem with is selling some stuff. I just dont know how to sell furniture. How do you sell furniture?!?! I mean a guy like me. No store front etc. Ebay? Craigslist?! My own website? I have friends now that would love custom furniture and stuff made by me. They all know what im capable of. They are all telling me to do this! They have zero doubts about my success. it just all of the unknown are scaring me. Im trying to stay focused on building the machine and get it paid off. A small step but still a large step.

I have some time to plan everything out. I know im going to have to organize my efforts. I do believe in being prepared and having a plan. We'll see. I have time to decide upon all this. I doubt the most when I lay down in bed to sleep. I end up getting out of bed to do anything to keep from doubting. Weird huh?

[TechGladiator]

Charles.

I wouldn't worry too much about the electronics. Although mine is not up and running yet (Should be a few more days), I can give you a hand with those. Once you understand it it's pretty simple actually.

I started building this machine as a hobby, but I am going to end up using it for work. We are going to be building molds for a couple new products we have on the works.

I would say that one of the best things for me personally about this whole experience is how much I have learned during the build. I had never touched a welder before, but YouTube was my friend and I picked it up pretty quickly. I had never sprayed painted and I learned how to do that also. And many many many more things I learned along the way..

[cvriv.charles]

That's exactly why I love to do things myself, for the experience. I have learned so much in the past from working my my hands. I too never used a MIG before but when I did,... I love it. There is one MIG I would love to buy but not right now:) I wouldnt mind even getting a TIG but they are crazy expensive. Well,... I'm a bit less nervous knowing I have many people here to help. You know,... if you guys dont mind. I'd like to show you some pics of things I have done in the past. I think once you see these pics and I even have a youtube video,... you'll understand why I want this so bad. Most of what I know now I learned on my own by making stuff. That and I took machine shop a long time ago:) Whip out your cable modems because it going to be picture heavy:)

[cvriv.charles]

This was a custom computer I was building. I started it YEARS ago and never finished it because my life was a mess. Constantly moving. I had no where to work on it. But the work I did was stellar. I made everything you see here by hand. My automated machinery. I used nothing but basic tools and machinery. I see myself making very cool signage with my MM:) ACRyan was a computer that was funding my operation. When I have my machine built,... I will surely hit them up to see if they need any prototyping done. Theres another computer I will hit up as well. They wanted stuff from me as well.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Aug+07+2007_31+8001327519027.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Aug+24+2007_55+8001327519034.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Aug+24+2007_59+8001327519052.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Aug+24+2007_65+8001327519067.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Sep+01+2007_7+8001327519104.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Sep+01+2007_10+8001327519113.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Sep+01+2007_12+8001327519136.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Aug+07+2007_7+8001327519164.jpg

This was for a reservoir called Borealis. A $750 computer water cooling reservoir. Im pretty sure you noticed all the cuts that can be done with a MM.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+26+2008_4+8001327519215.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/IMG_20110110_172219+8001327519237.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/IMG_20110110_171720+8001327519244.jpg

Some other cool reservoirs I made,...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+11+2007_8+6401327519265.jpg

This is a dual chamber reservoir with a twist:) It's made of acrylic. I love working with acrylic.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+17+2007_6+6401327519281.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+17+2007_7+6401327519286.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+17+2007_9+6401327519291.jpg

This was a $1250 reservoir! There were two other smaller reservoir included with the price but most of the price was because of this reservoir. By far one of the coolest thing I have ever made. A guy from Portland Oregon wanted this for a custom computer he was assembling for a computer show/ LAN party. Winner of the coolest computer ends up in I think PC Magazine. I have had my stuff in there.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+11+2008_2+8001327519308.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+11+2008_13+8001327519341.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+11+2008_14+8001327519360.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads19/Jan+11+2008_16+8001327519382.jpg

Here's a video of what the reservoirs looked like when being used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82DY4NQrxU8

[WTI]

You should hook that reservoir up to a water cooled spindle

[TechGladiator]

Charles. That is some nice work..

[cvriv.charles]

[QUOTE=WTI;55298]You should hook that reservoir up to a water cooled spindle[:D/QUOTE]

Exactly! But maybe not those. Maybe a smaller cooling system for the spindle. Eventually i wouldnt mind making a nice animated res for the spindle.

Thank you for the comments.

[DeadGuy]

Hey Charles,

I had some of your stuff back in the day, and loved it. I've have my MM up and running a few years now and love the thing. If I can help at all send me an e-mail. dennis@dangerden.com

Dennis





[QUOTE=WTI;55298]You should hook that reservoir up to a water cooled spindle[:D/QUOTE]

Exactly! But maybe not those. Maybe a smaller cooling system for the spindle. Eventually i wouldnt mind making a nice animated res for the spindle.

Thank you for the comments.

[cvriv.charles]

Awesome! I know you! DangerDen! I had a lot of your stuff too! So jealous. Im gonna get this thing built and im going to go back to work. This time im going all the way. No one to hold me back. Thanks for offering your help:)

[cvriv.charles]

I'm currently building a new model of the machine using Inventor. I'm doing this for a few reasons. I want to familiarize myself with the plans again. I'm also looking for things I may have done that doesn't make any sense.

For example, my x beam has a length of 122". Im pretty sure I did that to insure the router bit clears the support board at 0,0. LOL. Im pretty sure it does. Can someone verify this for me? Thanks.

[domino11]

The design should clear the spoilboard all around by about 2 inches if I remember right. This was so that a surfacing cutter could fully clear the spoilboard when you were doing the surfacing. Dont ask Kobus, he doesnt surface his spoilboard. :)

[Kobus_Joubert]

:o sorry...saving the planet

[cvriv.charles]

LOL. Thanks.

[domino11]

Dankie Kobus! :)

[cvriv.charles]

For those of you using the 2.2kw and even 3kw chinese spindles off ebay,... i was reading the auction descriptions. It saw 240v 3 phase. Is that what i feed the vfd inverter or what the vfd inverter feeds the spindle? Forgive me for sounding ignorant but i am when it comes to this type of stuff. I have 110v at the house but can go 240 if i have too. I do believe my mother box has several 240v breakers. One i know we're not using because it was for a pool that we no longer have. The other says AC,... she doesnt have central ac or anything like that so i have yet to find out what its for.

[WTI]

Single phase 220v feeds the VFD. The VFD turns it into 3 phase.

[cvriv.charles]

Ok. Gotcha.

[WTI]

Also, don't waste one minute of your time on a Chinese VFD from ebay.

I have several friends who are "tech" kind of people who could not ever get the Chinese VFD running right. They would start by themselves, or burn up, or refuse to run in Mach3.

Just get the Hitachi X200 VFD.


BTW the 220v breaker marked "AC" was probably for a window air conditioner somewhere in the house. Look for a "different' looking plug below a window.

[cvriv.charles]

Ok but the chinese spindles are ok right? About the 240v ac breaker,.... it powers the ac in my room now that you mentioned that. Why did they run 240v for a single ac? The ac im using is a very small one. Maybe 8000btu's?!?! I think i'll rewire that breaker and the pool breaker so i have a 240v and some dedicated 110v's. I really would like two 240v's because a lot of the high powered dust collectors run on 240v. But many of the cyclone dust collectors run on 110v. But they are crazy expensive but,... dont lose suction:) what is preferred to run the mechmate itself? The steppers etc. Thanks.

[WTI]

Yes, Chinese spindles are OK.


Our Mech :

120v for Computer, Steppers, BOB
220v for Spindle + Vacuum Hold Down (dust collector is 220v, but is central in shop)

[cvriv.charles]

Ok thanks:)

[cvriv.charles]

Couple of questions.

1: Is 0,0 considered the front of the machine or the back?

2: Whats the purpose of the table offset?

3: Does the spindle or router face 0,0?

Thanks.

[sailfl]

You put 0,0 where you want to put it.

You have to decided in what direction works best for you.

I think most every one works with the location of 0,0 on the right side of the table as you face the machine. Think of a big piece of graph paper. If you have a 8" x 11" sheet of graph paper you might put the Machine 0,0 at the right lower corner of the paper. You could put it at the top left corner.

At the lower right corner, the lower left corner would be 0,8 and the top left corner would be 11,8.

It does not matter which direction you have the router oriented. The bit is zeroed at the 0,0 location.

When you place a piece of material on the table, it may be located at machine coordinates of 0, 2. Which would be x=0 and y=2. When you make the x=0, y=2 the new 0,0, you tell Mach that this will be my new coordinates for 0,0. The machine coordinates are still 0,2 but the piece you are cutting will be located at the new zero.

I don't know if I have made it worse.

[cvriv.charles]

Ok well for me it seems natural to have 0,0 at the back left of the machine instead of front right. I will have access to all side of the machine but still,... I need to know whats front and back, left and right.

Another reason I ask is because if I loaded a full size 4' x 8' sheet of whatever into the machine,... which end would I slide it onto the table? I'm thinking it best the the gantry would be out of the way. I was thinking sending it to 0,0 which for me would be the back of the machine while I slid the sheet onto the machine from the front. You know what I mean?

[WTI]

Like Nils said, you will choose your own front/back 0.0 and it will all work out.

The gantry can be moved to any position so it is out of the way for clamping, screwing, or walking on the table.

[smreish]

Charles,
It really is a user choice based on the orientation of your machine in the work space.
I personally have 0,0 (if looking from the sky view) on the bottom right, which means it's on the right of the short side of the machine. This is evident when you look at the spoil board because the distance from the side C channel to the spoil board is shorter here, which makes working on small parts in the small corner easier.

You will be required to define the o,o in your file generating software and the clockwise and direction of the file being built.

For instance, if your 0,0 is in the bottom right like mine, then to travel to 60x120 is actually and -60, +120 move. The software does this for you, but you can see the actual results in your g code when it call each move out by line.

Not to confuse you - but your machine set up can be manipulated any way you chose that makes sense to your workspace.

[Gerald D]

There might be confusion on what is "bottom", or where is the "right side when you face your machine". I think I am speaking for most of us when I say:

The job of the MechMate is to make a solid model of something that we have on our computer screen - yes, that thing in front of you at this very minute. That is the starting point. So, where do you have 0,0 on your screen when you are in a CAD program? Most of us have it bottom left. X goes across the screen to the right, Y goes up the screen to the top.

Our screens are wider than what they are tall. The natural way to lay the screen image onto the bed of the MechMate is to get the long axes parallel. So we will have the main beams at the top and bottom edges of the screen and the gantry runs vertically across our screen as we see it now.

The open end of the MM is in from the left or right sides of our screen. We tend to spend most of the time standing on the left side. If we stand there, then 0,0 is to our right, nearest to us with Y going left and X going away.

But, the basic principle stays - where is 0,0 on your screen for CAD, and then how will you lay your screen image down on your table?

[Kobus_Joubert]

I ageree with Gerald, and everybody that I helped in building or setting up a new machine I tell them to place the screen in the same plane as the work table. This way you know where the machine will move. Once you understand this concept, you will NEVER run into the side of the table or off the rails...hopefully.:o

Gerald don't you mean Y.. going away.. Z is the plunge ?

[Gerald D]

Thanks Kobus, I meant X going away (parallel to main beams) - have edited it now.

[racedirector]

There might be confusion on what is "bottom", or where is the "right side when you face your machine". I think I am speaking for most of us when I say:

The job of the MechMate is to make a solid model of something that we have on our computer screen - yes, that thing in front of you at this very minute. That is the starting point. So, where do you have 0,0 on your screen when you are in a CAD program? Most of us have it bottom left. X goes across the screen to the right, Y goes up the screen to the top.

Our screens are wider than what they are tall. The natural way to lay the screen image onto the bed of the MechMate is to get the long axes parallel. So we will have the main beams at the top and bottom edges of the screen and the gantry runs vertically across our screen as we see it now.

The open end of the MM is in from the left or right sides of our screen. We tend to spend most of the time standing on the left side. If we stand there, then 0,0 is to our right, nearest to us with Y going left and X going away.

But, the basic principle stays - where is 0,0 on your screen for CAD, and then how will you lay your screen image down on your table?

Sorry to quote the whole post of an old thread but this is THE best explanation of X, Y and 0,0 I have seen anywhere, fantastic work Gerald. I think this post should be stickied somewhere for those wondering where 0,0 should be.

Cheers
Bruce

[MetalHead]

http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?p=55498&postcount=62

Best to comment and link off to the thread.

[racedirector]

Sorry Mike, will do that in the future.