#1
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Comprehensive MechMate Bill of Materials
Gerald,
Does this site contains any link which has bill of quantity ? I intend to send a detail list to the supplier mentioning Steel components. I fear that some thing is missed while working my self. I feel that there should be a list of tools required to achive. This would make the project easier. regards, |
#2
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- The size of the Mechmate is defined by each individual builder. You get to select your own table length, table width, Z height
- You also have options whether you work in inches or millimeter - You have options for steel rails or alu-base rails - You have options for the cross-section of the main X-beams - You have options for the number of table cross-supports - Some people prefer to use rectangular tubing instead of round pipe. If you understand what the "Process" indicator is for on the drawing, you will realise that all the "S" drawings are going to give you 95% of the shopping list. If you have really studied the drawings and the options, and understood what it is that you want to build, then making your own shopping list is the least that you can do. I very gladly help people who have shown some effort to help themselves. Zain, if you are still out there, don't be discouraged because you caught me on a bad day. |
#3
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G,
I can see a little where Zain was coming from. My welder (who spends all day cutting and welding metal) spent a week reading over this site and went into information overload. He too said that without a "material cut sheet" he is just over his head. He was totally motivated at first, but now he is bogged down, and thinking again of just buying a CNC plasma cutter. He says "Nothing about the MM is beyond my abilities, I just don't see a clear start to finish plan". At our shop we solve problems all day long, but other shops are "cookie cutter" shops that are lost without every step detailed and in order. I would guess that most people are either building the 4x8' or the 5x10'. I would like to volunteer to work with somebody else in the group (so we can check each others numbers) to make up a USA inch cut list for the 5x10' size. That makes sense for us, since that is the size we are building. In addition, I propose our list include a second chapter that would detail how much Rack, Rail, wire and Echain is required. Finally, and I know we are getting really ambitious here, we could do a step by step assembly guide. If we could do this for the popular sizes, someone could fax the order to the steel shop, and get going right away. Those making custom sizes will be on their own, like everyone is now. This would get more people into the game, and save each builder probably 15 hours of measuring and converting. |
#4
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James,
The drawings provided have all the information needed. I had no trouble figuring out a materials list. I even modified mine quite substantially. I think the issue is that people are reading thru all the threads and posts, where they should just sit down and study the drawings. It'll take less than a week to come up with a materials list from the drawings than trying to read all the posts. |
#5
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Okay. My turn.
I will let you in one my little secret on how I came up with my steel materials list. I pretty much used Gerald's advice...and watched JR very closely! Print out 2 complete sets of drawings and then separate into their process. Staple each "s", 'w' etc. as a bundle. Take the 1 complete Package and fill in the x, y and a lengths you want to build your machine to. Now just plod along with a printed out photo of the original MechMate as reference, and make your list. Pretty darn easy. In a couple of hours-and that's all it took me while kids tugged at my socks- to decipher a bill of materials for all the mechanical. Electrics took about 3 days to dial in a list for it based on my needs. Patience and the will to truly understand the design is necessary. The proper leg work is part of the journey. If you don't want to invest the time, then spend more than twice the money and buy a shopbot, ez-router, k2 or otherwise. My professor jack miller in graduate school taught me to live by the 7 p's. Prior proper planning prevents pretty poor performance. Heck, he wouldn't even let us think about ordering material until we could prove we knew the process and the dwgs inside and out. ( Carl in the OBX of NC can vouch for me ) I would say I still follow those rules. Okay.... Time to step off my soapbox. Sean Last edited by smreish; Fri 15 February 2008 at 19:12.. |
#6
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I agree with Greg
This isn't a kit that comes in a box. It is a FREE design, all we have to do to build one is read, ask questions and paint it blue with a MechMate label. Like many of the people on this list I was working my own design. Gerald posted on a Yahoo list and I came over to this forum to get some ideas. I quickly found out that my machine (designed by a carpenter) wasn't even close to the quality of a MechMate. There are so many decisions we GET to make. My table is made from 2"x 3"x .120" rectangle tube "because I hade it on the shelf" My table is 4'x 6' "because that is all the space I have" I printed out the FREE drawings, took out the calculator added 23.6" to the 60" I wanted for my X rails size and put it on a cut list. Did that for every part. Took maybe an hour to make that cut list for the table. What do you want for free? Just my opinion, Kevin |
#7
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Guys, let's not get into too many tangles about this. I would love to see you guys generate and share lists for your local materials and sizes. It will save much shipping costs and duplicate trips to the hardware store. Things like those tiny resistors for the Gecko's that will be forgotten till a Sunday when all the stores are closed. The shim washers for squaring the gantry, etc.
For me, as the "designer", to publish a "master" list is going to cause me too many headaches because I don't know where you buy what. It will lead to endless PM's of "can I use this instead of that". James, let your welder get a set of all the W and S drawings for a start. He will then ask about the lasered profiles and those he can see on the P and B drawings. |
#8
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G and others,
My welder has downloaded the entire plans and has read the forums. He just does not have the "vision" to see the project from start to finish. It's easy for you or I to envision how the whole assembly will go together, because we have a mind for that kind of thing. Not everybody does. Also, when I came into this project, there was MUCH less information to read about. The amount of data here has grown quite a bit. I'm not asking Gerald to do our work. I'm offering to work with someone to make up a USA cutlist. It will save time and could save save someone quite a bit of money should they somehow mis calculate on the measurements. |
#9
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i agree with james that atleast a standard list for 8' x 4' or 10' x 5' should have been present. This will make Mechmate easy to fabricate and more popular. Working out the sheets required and thickness take a lot time. May be all don't have such qualified welders who can work out and may need to work them selves.
It can be like the CNC program you give to your laser cutting comapany. Definately with NO OBLIGATION of the site owner. May be recheck or alterterd as per personlized need. I feel that it should have been in a more scientifc way as DIY projects normally are. So times it cost many times more than the material Cost to procure. Like if u miss a wire or washer. |
#11
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Im new here too and excited to get started but a thread like gathering necessary materials would be a good jumpingoff spot.
I have been reading the plogs and am trying to glean info from the separate builds. My approaching to this CNC machine, is from a design output stand point. So it is taking me a bit of time to wrap my mind around the control box etc. Also some of the basics what will produce the smoothest cut etc. Maybe there is a list of books and further reading I should be doing before jumping into the build. I find the plog, board sites very inspiring although it can spiral into frustration wasting lots of time. That said I am inspired by Geralds design and would like to chop this project into easily digested parts cut list materials list etc. so I can put the machine to work for me. |
#12
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Perhaps the best reason for not having a "shopping list" is so the builder has to dig into the plans.
A thorough understanding gained when ordering parts, makes for a much easier build. Yes, we will inevitably get some of it wrong. Who cares. The cost of a MechMate is a small fraction of what it is worth. Other than flying Gerald over here and having him build it, I don't know how it could be easier. Donald W. Ross |
#13
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I started out keeping a list of tools for each process (bits, taps, drill, etc) but I though since I was going to keep a very detailed build log, that I would record the actual tools I used during costruction of each drawing.
I'm now up to ~115 individual types of items for the table and part of the electronics. I'm also keeping a seperate BOM for parts required by someone just entering (router, bits, software, duct collection, etc) so people who are new to CNC can get an idea of the "real", total cost of CNC. In about a week or two I should be done with the final copy. I'll send you a preview prior to posting it publicly. Thanks, david |
#14
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Comprehensive MechMate Bill of Materials
When I first started the build of my MechMate, one of the hardest parts wasn't the physical construction - it was the lack of a single, comprehensive bill of materials (BOM). Over the past four months, I have scoured the MechMate forums and other sources to develop the most comprehensive and detailed MechMate BOM to date. It is my hope that this resource will help take down one of the major barriers to building a new MechMate.
A few notes on this BOM:
broken link deleted Link to the current MechMate BOM in HTML format: broken link deleted Please take the time to give back to the MechMate forum with your suggestions, corrections and improvements. Thanks, David Moore |
#15
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David,
Just attempted to download your BOM in either format and it says your pages are unavailable? Russ Larson |
#16
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David has left this forum. I must get around to removing the links to the sections of his site that he has deleted.
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#17
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Understand What's Offered
I looked hard at building the MM. I had to decide after looking at this site and what is offered for free, if this is what I wanted (or needed) to do. I decided that building the MM would be my best option due to price, my skill level, performance for my needs, etc versus buying a CNC router for close to $20,000.
I am sure that I will need to consult with local people on welding (I plan to learn myself and if I can not utlimately do it myself, I will get a welder) and electronics (maybe even my dad who is good at this sort of thing but lives 300 miles away). But the rest I know of for sure I can do. Remember, you are going to have to know how to troubleshoot the MM through the years. It will probably take me a year (hopefully less) to build since my time working and raising a family takes alot of my time. If the process is not in your skill set or the skills are not available at reasonable cost, then the MM may not be for you. Also, remember that you can learn something new, acquire new skills through the build, etc. Only you know if this is reasonable. Kevin |
#18
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David,
I read another post where you offered assistance building the mechmate. I live about 2 hours east of you and am looking for help. Are you available? Thanks, Jeff |
#19
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David is no longer a member here. He is trying to build a business with poor copies of stuff he has stolen from us. Google truecnc
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#20
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Ha, he even has the Mamba snake!
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#21
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Ha, seems sorta fitting, a snake for a snake.
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