I built a CNC machine!

[Scotts Elle]

I have been thinking about buying a CNC plasma table for a number of years and the cost was crazy. I found a numbe rof resources online on how to build one but they all looked really ghetto. After alot of planning, I started and it took me close to 9 months but its worth it. I am building a modding a chassis and building a suspension for a 2004 Lightning. Its for a friend so he has been great with letting me take my time. All brackets here are cut on 1/4 plate.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjdbB_JS5gk"]YouTube- BC Lightning Lower Shock Tabs on Home Built CNC Plasma Table[/ame]

Here are some shots of his frame so far...

 

[spitin venom]

Skillz!!!!!!!

 

[BIGWHUP03]

That sweet! Are you an engineer or just really gifted?

 

[SLVRBLT]

Nice skills Scott

 

[CFRacer22]

DUUUDE!!! This is amazing!

 

[blackonblacksls]

damn dude, where in texas are you? thats crazy.

 

[99MustangGTman]

That is amazing man, I have no idea where you would even start lol

 

[Paulinator]

fun project!

 

[93_408_LX]

Nice work!

 

[nocobrafornow]

awsome equipment, have you thought of assymbling the same stuff to maybe sell to others or would you be willing to give people the info to buy themselves. i ask because i can imagine you put a lot of time and effort into this. and how much would something like this cost compared to the others. if you don't want to tell i understand but anyway that is a very cool piece.

 

[bmoseley]

awsome equipment, have you thought of assymbling the same stuff to maybe sell to others or would you be willing to give people the info to buy themselves. I ask because i can imagine you put a lot of time and effort into this. And how much would something like this cost compared to the others. If you don't want to tell i understand but anyway that is a very cool piece.

+1

 

[Stevo151]

damn insane skills man!

 

[Flyin Monkey]

Excellent job! I have wanted CNC plasma for so long. I can't stress enough how cool it is that you built your own!

 

[CobraBob]

I'm going to guess you have some engineering background. That is one nice project, and well worth the time you put into it. Well done!!

 

[Scotts Elle]

Thanks. No engineering background here. I was a fabricator and mechanic by trade many years ago. I am surrounded by people who are smarter than I am and are willing to answer my questions.

There are lots of companies that support hobby CNC building. I got the majority of parts from ebay. My only recommendation is that you use linear bearing guides. Most home built tables use "v" bearings and the accuracy blows.

I did document the build and will post some more pics when I get in front of my home computer.

The main components you will need are:
Break-out Board (candcnc Welcome Page)
XP Computer with a parallel port
Stepper Motors (Welcome to ORIENTAL MOTOR or ebay)
rack and pinion (Martin Gear | Gears, | Spur Gears | Sprockets | Timing Belt Pulley at Martingear.com)
linear guides and pillow blocks (ebay)
24 to 36VDC, 20amp power supply (Mouser Electronics - Electronic Component Distributor or digikey.com)
various electronics like limit switches, e-stop button, power switch, cable, etc (Mouser Electronics - Electronic Component Distributor or digikey.com)

I use MACH3 (www.machsupport.com) for the table control and Sheetcam (SheetCam homepage) for the CAM n. I use a combination of illistrator and turboCAD to actually draw the parts and convert cardboard templates into CAD drawings.

I spent about $2500 on the steel, parts, paint, computer and chemicals for the water table. Still a hell of a lot cheaper than the over priced stuff that plasma cam and torchmate push.

Be prepared for a huge learning curve and allow yourself to make mistakes.

 

[03cobra 87GN]

That's awesome man I always thought about doing something like that. Alot of people mod birdgeports to turn them into a cnc mill.

I use a 3d modeling program at work called solidworks and I've been wanting to buy my own seat so I could start desiging parts for people. it looks realy fun. Best of luck:beer:

 

[N2DAMYSTIC]

Wow, Nice work!

 

[aaandht]

Now that's skills.

 

[Chris06GT]

Thanks. No engineering background here. I was a fabricator and mechanic by trade many years ago. I am surrounded by people who are smarter than I am and are willing to answer my questions.

There are lots of companies that support hobby CNC building. I got the majority of parts from ebay. My only recommendation is that you use linear bearing guides. Most home built tables use "v" bearings and the accuracy blows.

I did document the build and will post some more pics when I get in front of my home computer.

The main components you will need are:
Break-out Board (candcnc Welcome Page)
XP Computer with a parallel port
Stepper Motors (Welcome to ORIENTAL MOTOR or ebay)
rack and pinion (Martin Gear | Gears, | Spur Gears | Sprockets | Timing Belt Pulley at Martingear.com)
linear guides and pillow blocks (ebay)
24 to 36VDC, 20amp power supply (Mouser Electronics - Electronic Component Distributor or digikey.com)
various electronics like limit switches, e-stop button, power switch, cable, etc (Mouser Electronics - Electronic Component Distributor or digikey.com)

I use MACH3 (ArtSoft USA - Home of Mach3 and LazyCam) for the table control and Sheetcam (SheetCam homepage) for the CAM n. I use a combination of illistrator and turboCAD to actually draw the parts and convert cardboard templates into CAD drawings.

I spent about $2500 on the steel, parts, paint, computer and chemicals for the water table. Still a hell of a lot cheaper than the over priced stuff that plasma cam and torchmate push.

Be prepared for a huge learning curve and allow yourself to make mistakes.

Awesome work man!! Thanks for the list of components needed!

I am thinking of using the same technique, but utilizing AutoCad and Solidworks for the programs...

 

[MDRacing]

Did you ever post you build documentation? Would really love to learn more. Nice work!

Matt

Thanks. No engineering background here. I was a fabricator and mechanic by trade many years ago. I am surrounded by people who are smarter than I am and are willing to answer my questions.

There are lots of companies that support hobby CNC building. I got the majority of parts from ebay. My only recommendation is that you use linear bearing guides. Most home built tables use "v" bearings and the accuracy blows.

I did document the build and will post some more pics when I get in front of my home computer.

The main components you will need are:
Break-out Board (candcnc Welcome Page)
XP Computer with a parallel port
Stepper Motors (Welcome to ORIENTAL MOTOR or ebay)
rack and pinion (Martin Gear | Gears, | Spur Gears | Sprockets | Timing Belt Pulley at Martingear.com)
linear guides and pillow blocks (ebay)
24 to 36VDC, 20amp power supply (Mouser Electronics - Electronic Component Distributor or digikey.com)
various electronics like limit switches, e-stop button, power switch, cable, etc (Mouser Electronics - Electronic Component Distributor or digikey.com)

I use MACH3 (ArtSoft USA - Home of Mach3 and LazyCam) for the table control and Sheetcam (SheetCam homepage) for the CAM n. I use a combination of illistrator and turboCAD to actually draw the parts and convert cardboard templates into CAD drawings.

I spent about $2500 on the steel, parts, paint, computer and chemicals for the water table. Still a hell of a lot cheaper than the over priced stuff that plasma cam and torchmate push.

Be prepared for a huge learning curve and allow yourself to make mistakes.