I started a new thread so it may not be missed. This router is 32 by 24 with a 4″ stroke in the z or up and down axis. I mounted the Y or 24″ axis on columns so I can adjust the height of the clearence under the cross axis. When researching I found that the biggest problem was clearence vs travel. People couldn’t get larger work under the clearence and when they tried to get the larger clearence (12″ or more) they lost rigidity. I fugured 4 inches of stroke would be the most I would use for any project but wanted to be able to carve into the top of a large jewelry box or such so I made this axis adjustable.

The speeds of this machine will reach upwards of 500 inches per minute on all axises which is way too fast for practical use since the z is only 4 inches long in travel. I will barely get up to speed before decelerating. I used 640 0unce inch motors on all of the axis that I got for $150.00 each new. I wouldn’t recomend used motors at all because if they were ever taken apart they will be no good. They will run but without the specified torque. These motors are really too big but I wanted the torque for experimenting on different types of metal also. Under the sliding table I used ball screws and linear ways. Where the motor is mounted I boxed it in and put in a 90cfm fan blowing up and keeping pressure under the table to keep dust out of the workings.

All of the slides I got from surplus on e-bay. The Y or cross axis cost 280 plus shipping. The Z or up and down cost about the same and a friend gave me the linear slides for under the table for free. These are about 55 inches long and on e-bay would run about 250 or more. I you notice the ends the slides that stick out have corian on them past the aluminum table. This is so the next router i build I may use these slides and didn’t want to cut them in case I need a longer axis. Just couldn’t bring myself to cut them off since they are soooo nice. I use the sliding table design so I wouldn’t have to do as much building and so I could make the Y axis adjustable. It does take up more room but in the long run I like the design better. I found the table the whole thing was mounted on at a tool supply store. The guy had it setting in back and sold it to me for $90.00. His dad had bought it to get the drills and stuff that were mounted on it and didn’t want the table. It has a 3/4″ solid steel top that has been ground flat for fixtures that it was used for. It has a lot of drilled and tapped holes in it and a few larger holes. That is why I put the melamine on it to cover those holes and only have the outlet for the air pressure around the outside to keep the dust out. The top that slides is an aluminum sheet with the slides mounted on it. I got that surplus for $120.00.

I am running it with two control programs. One is linux EMC and the other is deskcnc. both work well and I dont know which I will eventually use for good. I am using stepper motors with Gecko Drives which cost about $150 each. Three of them for now. The ball screw came from Mcmaster Carr along with a few other odds and ends. Limit switches are proximity switches from automation direct for about $30 apiece. wiring for them is about $10 buck each. Please dont hesitate to ask question as I will be glad to answer them. There is another post and I will get to those questions as soon as I organize some bookmarks so I can post some of the info.

I got the idea to build this from a post on this forum about a man who found an antique clock face to put into his grandfather clock he was building. I thought I could start a part time business making stuff like that for people. Thank you for your inspiration.

Tony