Always wanted a Router and this seems like a great bang for the buck Option. First post here, waiting on the slow buffalo from china at this point. Mostly printed in PETG-GF. Still need to print a few more braces but I haven’t ventured out for conduit yet and want to make sure of the sizing.
My build size, I think, will be for 60x100cm foam sheets. I keep waffling but think I have reached the conclusion that making it bigger later or just building another one isn’t a big deal.
Have a BTT SKR1.4 coming, have a pi zero2w on hand and have prepped it for klipper. sort of considering sensorless homing, but not sure on the dual Y&Z Not real sure of my cam options. I use fusion360 free version and I think it will work?
Just have the parts out checking stuff over and this seems a good time to say HI. All suggestions are appreciated. I’ve become of something of a chatGPT fanboi. I’ve had it tracking this project. I’ll attach a document link if anyone is interested. It’s bit over the top at the moment and needs to be pared down now that stuff has been ordered but thought some might find it interesting. I personally haven’t really looked at it TBH but fun none the less. Google AI project
Cheaped out on this Thai Router as I’m not keen to listen to one anyway. I see some sort of brushless, speed regulated, probably belt driven, DIY spindle in my future.
Started making a pin cutter/tatoo machine today. Hoping it will cut EPP foam, fingers crossed but research says it will. There’s a real blunder in the picture… rotated the fan 180 to align to the motor openings and turned the counterweight to the wrong side but it runs fine, it’s fairly rigid but I will be changing it. Thinking about mounting is on a gimbal to allow for “5” axis bevel cuts. project for later.
It takes a considerable amount of tuning to get that right, and even then it is not accurate, at least not CNC accurate. For any jobs that might require homing twice it will not line up well enough. 3D printers only home once per print, CNC homning more than once happens if you break a tool, or have a multi flip job.
Aliexpress was kind enough to use a medium speed kwai for my shipment. Things are going together nicely, no major snafu’s yet. The lever’s on the limit switches might be a bit short for the Y axis, haven’t fully investigated yet. Need to cut down my table top so just mocked up on the floor for the first time.
Did iterate on the pin cutter a but while I waited. Went to a longer tip which will allow for 45deg tilt to the heel of the tool. Also incorporated a superglue ptfe tip after counterboring the mig tip a bit. Tightened the .5mm cutter up in the bore and hoping it will run cooler and require little to no lube keeping the cuts clean for future gluing. Cuts very clean, better that I was expecting. Have tested it a bit on EPP, EPE and EPS foams and all work well. Cardboard seems doable too. Need to constrain the cutter to crank bearing a bit better but is more than useable as is.
Like most things, the LRv4 design surprised me in a number of ways. I thought the filament retained tool mount nuts was super clever until I actually used them and 2 of the four nuts just backed the retainer filament out. No big deal but not the result I expected. Maybe the biggest surprise is the floating Z nuts, pretty much only gravity drops the gantry. Everything is running smooth but the Z’s are a bit firmer than expected(I have not yet cleaned and lubed the rails). The entire machine is much more massive than I was expecting, but that’s a good thing!
I’m not a fan of heat set inserts and was glad to see none used. That said, I am having a bit of a issue with a few of the m3 linear rail mount screws but nothing catastrophic. Next time I think I would use self tapping screws here.
I understand sheer webs but they still amaze me. The sheer plates stiffen things up in an incredibly good way! Looking forward to getting my full length ones cut. Currently using printed YZ plates, I guess that will be my first metal project!
Looks like the entire project will come in a bit under $400usd (not counting pizza and adult beverages)which seems a great value. I’d say mechanical is about ~75% done and need to get on to the electronics, table mods & dust control.
Need to get some tooling coming. I’m a bit shocked at the price of cutters vs burs. I can’t believe there is that much difference in production cost to justify the 3-10x pricing! I did find a 1/8x1/4 collet adapter but have yet to find an easily available 1/8 collet here. This router was supplied with 1/4 & 3/8 sizes but appears metric sized tooling is easier to source. I think this 6mm collet should work. If anyone has any tooling suggestions, I’d love to hear! Am I understanding correctly that a single flue up cut 1/8 is the go too on wood & alum? I see these “compression” bits be wondering if I have enough spindle power to use them as intended?
I guess last thing is if anyone has suggestions on a laser head? I’m also wondering if an air assist pump would be useful for tool/mist cooling as I ain’t got no shop air!
Some success… still waiting on a skill saw to show up but everything is checking out. Y motors and switches working but no table yet.
Any opinions? seems to run smooth and plenty quick I think.
Few cutters, drag knife, 4&6mm collets and dust collection hose/tubing on the next slow boat.
Sorta wishing I’d set up wiring to the conduit Y axis side so the dust hose would be on the same side as the y axis conduit.
Without the full width cut shear plates/webs don’t really see any way to keep the Xbelt tension from sliding the x conduits against the end plates but don’t see an issue… yet.
