This machine has several options built in, or user definable.
I like options, flexibility and adjustability.
There is nothing worse than getting something you can't modify for your needs.
Colors will vary depending on what I can get. Clear, frosted, smoke, black, etc.
3/4 MDF, tables you can buy it cheaper than I can ship it.
Some basic hookup wire, 22 or 24 gauge
(old printer / serial cable works great)
A male / male parallel cable, 6'
PLEASE read my Read me page it will help explain some things
Quick specs:
Travel with 16"x 24" table (Cut area 12" x 17" )
Z travel 2" with 3 adjustable heights.
Motors are NEMA 17 Applied Motion Products 5017-13
And NEMA 23 5023-267
Adjustable nuts on X & Y leadscrews.
Motors can be front or back on Y, left or right on X.
The table can be set to a desired height as well
There is a reason most of the CNC stuff starts around $1000.00. Good quality parts are expensive.
But your average weekend hobbyist doesn't necessarily need professional quality, so...
The machines I make are starter versions.
My goal is to put out a truly affordable option that can be modified and improved on.
This is not as rigid as an all aluminum machine, but for most hobby work it will be fine. No, it won't machine a V8 engine or cut 1/2" steel plate
The great thing is, you can always make it more rigid, and you can make your own parts.
It can be upgraded to use NEMA 23 motors if desired.
If you've been looking at some of the plans on ebay & the web, you probably wonder how hard is to build a machine.
There is a lot you need to know, and tools are EXPENSIVE.
The stuff you see on YouTube, well, some is built by people who have a lot of $$ to build it with.
The others forget to mention they have a full shop to build that "easy to build" thingy.
Or the ones titled "Home made". Yeah, you live in a machine shop do ya?
Because that was NOT made in your average house or garage.
Some, I really question how long it will continue to work for.
Does that thing have any repeatability, or will it be off 1/4" on the next pass?
Some of the instructables, well, "is this a one of a kind thing made from obscure parts I could never find?"
What's the point of the "instructable" if I can't build it?
IMHO, Tom McWire still has the only real "Easy CNC" solution.
But even that, admittedly, without machine tools to improve it, will not work reliably without constant adjustments.
No, I'm not knocking Tom, I think he did an awesome job. Thanks Tom!!
