I’ve been thinking since a while that the best feature to add to my MPCNC would be the ability to change tool, doing a roughing pass with one bit and a finishing pass with a finer one.
Before talking about a touch plate to zero the Z, I am more at a basic level. Changing the bit while my DW660 is still attach to the Z gantry is not an easy task so this idea comes to my mind, why don’t we switch the whole DW660 by a second one on which I have already secure the second bit I want to use.
One could tell me that this is not much an easier task so that’s why I am asking is there somebody who design an attach system where I can easily remove the router from the Z gantry and attach another?
I don’t know if I’d trust a quick change mount. My luck it would try to change while in use. I’ve already tried to set my table on fire once, don’t want to try that again!
I have done sort of the same thing.
I made an entirely separate z-assembly including z-motor, rails and T8 lead screw. I have a DW611 on one and a laser on the other.
You could do the same with two DW611s.
I made the z-motor, z-probe, laser power and DW611 power connect with aviation plugs into a box on the center assy.
I like the switching your router idea, but what if we made a flex shaft like the Dremel fortiflex?
I think you can order flexible shafts in any lengths from some companies, and the properties vary quite a bit. 30000 isn’t hard to get, as necessary torque lessens in higher rpms. We can print everything else.
I think there’s a company, power transmission flexible shafts that might be worth a quick look.
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This picture was taken a week before I put the parts on thingiverse the very first time. The motor driving the flex shaft is hanging from the chandelier.
More aggressive acceleration. Less chatter maybe. Really it depends. I don’t know, I was kind of liking the er11 setup with my brushless. I still haven’t got the pwm working right. But my thoughts were to connect flex to it’s shaft, and hang a DeWalt. Looks like your making headway on your pid, so the benefits of using a brushless are about to disappear. The only thing I’d lose by switching to a DeWalt is the weight reduction. The DeWalt is a bit heavier.
I think there is an added benefit to having the router mass on there, less vibrations maybe. You are right, lower accelerations, but we are milling they need to be very slow as any “sharp” corner has a higher load and needs a tiny bit of extra time.
I think some of the corner issues can be overcome in cam and programming, but your probably right in regards to mass. I haven’t tried anything else besides my brushless set up. Maybe it’s time I just give the DeWalt a try.
I feel a little like I’m backtracking after investing so much energy on making a brushless system work. In my defense I already had the motor and power supplies. So really all I had to do was design the bearing holders and motor mount, and order some belts and pulleys.
I’m still going to look into getting some blank flex. I think it would be cool to try a full sized router on it. It might be more resistant to rpm fluctuations. Mass on the z axis can always be added back by other means. This would be for pure enjoyment, making alternate options work.
If price isn’t to big of an issue, do you foresee any major hurdles in going this route?
Hahahah, version zero. All parts were symmetric, very few molds would have ad to be made. Stepper silencers (the motors came with them, salvaged out of copiers). I bought so many of them the guy called me and asked if I wanted to come pick them all up, he had a whole storage garage full and was selling them on ebay one or two at a time before me.
The cable chain was the edge of the corner plastic for dry walling rounded wall corners. I used it for a while and decided I hated early on. I don’t think it made it to a real cut before I threw it away.
Pretty serious picture for me. I had no idea at the time, it was just the coolest thing I made so I took a picture. Many thousands of builds later…Might have to frame it.
