MechMate CNC Router Forum

Go Back   MechMate CNC Router Forum > General - MM Build
Register Options Profile Last 1 | 3 | 7 Days Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #31  
Old Tue 24 January 2012, 18:57
smreish
Just call me: Sean - #5, 28, 58 and others
 
Orlando, Florida
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old Tue 24 January 2012, 19:47
TechGladiator
Just call me: Miguel #94
 
Randolph, NJ
United States of America
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?)
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old Tue 24 January 2012, 22:46
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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,...
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 09:08
rischoof
Just call me: Rik #92
 
Goirle
Netherlands
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?
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 09:44
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 10:15
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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?
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 12:11
TechGladiator
Just call me: Miguel #94
 
Randolph, NJ
United States of America
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..
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 12:32
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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

Last edited by cvriv.charles; Wed 25 January 2012 at 12:47..
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 12:47
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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.









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.




Some other cool reservoirs I made,...


This is a dual chamber reservoir with a twist It's made of acrylic. I love working with acrylic.




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.





Here's a video of what the reservoirs looked like when being used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82DY4NQrxU8
Reply With Quote
  #40  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 17:15
WTI
Just call me: James
 
Detroit (Michigan)
United States of America
You should hook that reservoir up to a water cooled spindle
Reply With Quote
  #41  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 17:21
TechGladiator
Just call me: Miguel #94
 
Randolph, NJ
United States of America
Charles. That is some nice work..
Reply With Quote
  #42  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 19:14
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
[QUOTE=WTI;55298]You should hook that reservoir up to a water cooled spindle[/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.
Reply With Quote
  #43  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 21:56
DeadGuy
Just call me: Dennis #51
 
Astoria, Oregon
United States of America
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=cvriv.charles;55302]
Quote:
Originally Posted by WTI View Post
You should hook that reservoir up to a water cooled spindle[/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.
Reply With Quote
  #44  
Old Wed 25 January 2012, 22:31
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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
Reply With Quote
  #45  
Old Fri 27 January 2012, 10:30
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #46  
Old Fri 27 January 2012, 11:08
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
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.
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old Fri 27 January 2012, 11:40
Kobus_Joubert
Just call me: Kobus #6
 
Riversdale Western Cape
South Africa
Send a message via Yahoo to Kobus_Joubert Send a message via Skype™ to Kobus_Joubert
sorry...saving the planet
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old Fri 27 January 2012, 11:56
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
LOL. Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old Fri 27 January 2012, 14:32
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Dankie Kobus!
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old Mon 30 January 2012, 23:20
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #51  
Old Tue 31 January 2012, 00:32
WTI
Just call me: James
 
Detroit (Michigan)
United States of America
Single phase 220v feeds the VFD. The VFD turns it into 3 phase.
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old Tue 31 January 2012, 01:17
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
Ok. Gotcha.
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old Tue 31 January 2012, 01:45
WTI
Just call me: James
 
Detroit (Michigan)
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #54  
Old Tue 31 January 2012, 02:23
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #55  
Old Tue 31 January 2012, 13:35
WTI
Just call me: James
 
Detroit (Michigan)
United States of America
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)
Reply With Quote
  #56  
Old Tue 31 January 2012, 13:49
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
Ok thanks
Reply With Quote
  #57  
Old Sat 04 February 2012, 02:08
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #58  
Old Sat 04 February 2012, 03:02
sailfl
Just call me: Nils #12
 
Winter Park, FL
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
  #59  
Old Sat 04 February 2012, 03:43
cvriv.charles
Just call me: charles
 
New Jersey
United States of America
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?
Reply With Quote
  #60  
Old Sat 04 February 2012, 10:52
WTI
Just call me: James
 
Detroit (Michigan)
United States of America
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.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Register Options Profile Last 1 | 3 | 7 Days Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Long Awaited Return to Build - Paragould, AR Hillbillie Construction started, but not cutting yet 25 Wed 20 July 2011 18:17
Aussie Builders - Anyone Wanting to Sell Their PK296A2A-SG7.2 rotorzoomer The Market Place 3 Sat 10 April 2010 22:01
How many motors use mechmate in the long axis albertoslayer Motors & their mountings 11 Tue 09 March 2010 10:44
Wanting to build a CNC router dkrueger Introduce yourself and start planning 5 Fri 05 March 2010 08:38
Customer wanting someone to build a MechMate to spec dneisler Archives 43 Tue 05 August 2008 15:48


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:03.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.