Hi, im on a first tech challenge team and we had lots of problem outsourcing aluminum from various vendors. We want to build our own CNC machine and we found that this one is really efficient and cheap to make.
Can it cut 1/8 inch aluminum with pocketing on the base design or would we have to make new upgrades?
Thank you,
kavish mehta
Welcome @Kavish_Mehta and team!
Yes, probably… Depending on size parts you need to make, and accuracy you need? Are you thinking Lowrider or MPCNC? Will you be milling Aluminum 6061?
I’ve noticed there’s a few FIRST members, mentors and Alumni here that will be happy to help your team be successful.
Not to dissuade your team from building a CNC, which will be cool, but, to save you time and money… If your team hasn’t already, consider reaching out to parents (via email from your mentor or principal maybe) at your school to see if any parents have CNCs, or access to CNCs even if they’re not officially part of your team.
The MPCNC and Low rider have both been shown to cut aluminum.
There is a learning curve, as with any CNC machine. There is an envelope of settings that will work and it is smaller for aluminum than wood. It will also be easier if you build the machine to just the size you need. It is tempting to make it very large, but the correctly sized machine is going to be much more rigid.
The MPCNC doesn’t require any milled parts, so that is an easier starting point if you self source. If you order the parts from Ryan (Collections – V1 Engineering Inc), then the Low rider is a little more expensive and capable of larger sizes.
yes, including making improved parts for the lr4. We cut the plates, I cut mine from 1/4" aluminum. Now if you plan on running Coolant, please take proper precautions!!!
I used Trochoidal and worked like a champ! but it does add time to cuts!
Hey, update on the CNC. We decided to create the LR4 instead. We’ve created the YZ plates fully and the full beam as well with the EMT conduit. Now, we just have to make the table because we don’t have one thats big enough for the CNC. Does anyone know how we can make a very simple table fast so we can have the CNC ready for the season? Thank you.
Your build is fairly small, so a simple sheet of plywood cut to size, with a 2x4 frame on 16" or 24" centers should work fine.
Sorry, I dont completely understand. Do you have a picture that you could send so I can understand better?
Thanks
My build is comparatively large (1360 x 2710 cutting area, 5’3" x 10’ table size), but the concept is the same…
So it’s okay to just keep it on the ground right? I don’t want to keep it too complicated and if we can just keep the CNC on the ground, that would be a better option.
Absolutely, although bending over all of the time may become bothersome. You could nail or screw some 2x4 legs in the corners to bring it up to a proper working height (uncomplicated and cheap). Or even some sawhorses underneath.
Because mine is so big, I built a tilt base. The last photo above shows it stored, I don’t actually run it in that position.
Alright thank you. Also wild idea, but I saw this in the thread that you sent. Ping pong table? We have one thats old and we aren’t using. We could make it more sturdy and it could work?
Any flat surface can work, so if you have an existing table of any kind that you can adapt, then by all means go for it. Once you are up and running, you may find that you want something built for purpose, but to get started, anything (including the garage floor) can do.
What’s your Usable cutting X, how wide is your machine going to be when assembled? If it’s small enough there’s a bunch of cheap easy good enough options available. Guessing you’re mostly cutting out competition/battle ready flat parts, and not looking to do super high precision 3D carvings?
Neat looking robot. Nice to see your team’s LR4 coming along!
Usable cutting X is going to be 18.45 and usable cutting y will be 40
That way, we can still cut 18 inches wide if we ever have to, but I doubt we’ll go that far to the sizing limit of the robot. the sizing limit is 18x18
Neat! LowRider V4 Calculator - V1 Engineering Documentation shows table size would be small enough maybe your team members might be able to get a hold of something stable and flat they have already like an unwanted table/table-top, or you find something free/cheap on facebook marketplace, hopefully seller will be compassionate and give you student discount.
I used a solid. Core door as a table and a leg kit leg kit from a router table with a sheet of mdf as spoil board. Primo build. (Edited incomprehensible post. no adult beverages involved not sure what ? )
Personally, I don’t think the base needs to be as sturdy as you think. The workpiece needs to be rigid to the router bit and everything in between. But if the whole thing moves on slightly wobbly legs, that shouldn’t affect the cutting. Just remember people are going to be lifting heavy sheets onto and off of it, so it needs to not break under load and when they are resting the material on the edge of the table.
