My build has a workspace of 48" x 48". Im only planning on cutting coroplast for my Christmas decorations. I have little space so I made it a tilt table. Working Great so far.
Wow. that’s a huge build.
Coroplast it should be OK, but … wow.
Any reason you did not opt for a LowRider? It would be a more versatile machine, I think.
Cost. LOL. First machine and not sure just how much Ill use it with all of the other hobbies I have.
I guess I’m out of touch. I didn’t realize the LR cost was that much more than a Primo. But also haven’t really researched it either
Any $$ I can save here and there = more Lights / coroplast
Okay, valid.
When I made my Primo, the alternative was the LR2, which generally seemed a less capable machine, with it’s major advantage being full sheet capable, but there were other aspects that were less desireable, so I chose a Primo, then later decided that a larger LR2 would be a good idea.
With the LR2, I still used the Primo more, but did large cuts on the LR.
With the LR3, I started using the Primo less, but the only significant change in investment was the linear rails, which did bring up the cost.
With the LR4, I feel like that could have been a printed plastic and steel tube only upgrade, though I did spend to build an entirely new machine. I am giving serious thought at this point to retiring the Primo entirely.
Same. I had an LR2 that was never quite right because I was too cheap to buy the plates from Ryan and I had cut them wrong. Then when the primo came out I ordered a kit but sat on it for over a year before I finally built it. Once I started building the LR3 had come out. So I used the primo to cut new plates for the LR2 and I sold it. Then used that money to build my full sheet LR3. Once I had it I rarely used the Primo. Then decided to make it a dedicated laser machine. And it’s been great at that!!
WOW…I Like. Do the midspan support legs seem to halp?
They did.
Might you have a pic showing how you supported the vacuum hose and cables?
out of curiosity, have to tried cutting with it sideways?
I have seen discussion about that. No I have not but think with counterweights it could happen. Possibly not vertical, but at a slight angle. Your thoughts?
@geoffjones I think the MPCNC is a much better option for a tilt table than a LowRider as it naturally won’t just fall off when it goes vertical.
Of course, you’re losing rigidity by making it that big, but if you’re only using it for limited soft materials, it should be great!
I’d definitely park it at the lower end stops before you tilt it up for storage to save your belts, but it looks like you’ve already got that worked out.
I’ve seen that design used by several other designers like the MakerMade M2 and this one would definitely work better as you have full three axis control vs some of the other ones. You may just substitute the counterweights by raising the power settings on the vertical steppers.
I’ve never heard of MakerMade but that looks like a Maslow CNC and that led to this interesting video.
yeah, I have one of the original maslows.
I think it could work as long as nothing binds. The MPCNC in my shop has issues with foam pieces clinging and getting munched into the bearing surfaces and after some time they bind. This is fairly easy to wipe off, but requires constant attention to do so. I wondered if a vertical setup would allow the fluff to fall off, though it probably needs a deionizing gas flow that will neutralize the static charge on the foam chips and that would probably work in any orientation to keep the foam pieces from clinging to the cnc parts that matter.
It was just hanging off the ceiling. This was before the lowrider existed, once that came out, I put this back to a sane size.