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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 7
Points: -367
Location: Virginia
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I've been working on a X3 CNC build for awhile now and its almost Cycle Start time. I've used Hoss's website for a lot of my build. Hoss thank you so much for all the help. All though this is my first DIY CNC build I'm not new at the least to CNC. A little about me. I'm a Apprentice graduate from The Apprentice School of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. I run a 4 axis horizontal Kitamura CNC mill. Our company builds the Navy's Nuclear Aircraft Carriers and Submarines. Now about the build, I choose to use Probotix Motherboard and Stepper motor drivers along with stepper motors from Keling Inc. The machine is a X3 from Grizzly along with a Ball Screw Kit from CNC Fusion. I used Nema 23 425 in/oz motors for X and Y axis. For the Z axis I used Nema 34 960 in/oz along with a gas strut for support on lowering and raising the head stock. I will be running flood coolant on the machine so I built a fully enclosed closure. This experience has been a very learning at the most and most enjoyable. I cant wait to start making chips. I've attached some pics. Your insight and comments are most welcome. JAKE  File Attachment(s):
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Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
Joined: 6/28/2008
Posts: 202
Points: 515
Location: Follansbee, WV
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Very Nice!  That's a good heavy duty enclosure too. Much better than ones I've seen that are just angle iron bedrail bolted together. Now it's time to get it dirty.  Hoss
Gosh, you've... really got some nice toys here.-Roy Batty
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/1/2010
Posts: 6
Points: 18
Location: Springfield, VA - USA
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Hey Jake, I also plan to cnc an X-3 mill this year. That's a great looking enclosure you made, I haven't decided what I'm going to do for mine. Right now I have the head apart trying to come up with a belt drive for the spindle that I like. Please keep posting updates and I'll do the same when I get my project going again. I see your in Virginia, I'm in Springfield right at US 95 and the Beltway. Tex
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 7
Points: -367
Location: Virginia
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Thanks for your comments guys. I've got the rest of my stuff on order to finish it. Hopefully in a couple weeks coolant and chips will be flying. Tex, I live in Newport News, Virginia. I'm about thirty minutes from Virginia Beach. I will keep posting on the build. Looking forward to seeing your X3. Take Care, JAKE
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 7
Points: -367
Location: Virginia
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Well its alive. Got the axis under CNC power tonight. Taking this weekend to get the parameters setup along with calibration and should be making parts in no time. Recorded a little video moving the axis back and forth check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nZcGW4rW34 Take Care, Jake
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/4/2010
Posts: 6
Points: 18
Location: Ohio
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That's the best enclosure i've seen yet. A few questions if you would. what are the panels made of?
could you label the knobs and buttons on your controller box. Love the flat design with the window for viewing. It would fit neatly in a shelf under the enclosure/table I have in mind.
Jeffrey
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 7
Points: -367
Location: Virginia
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Thanks a lot Jeffrey for the comments. To answer your questions the skin of the enclosure is 1/8 panel board from Lowes. The one side is finished white and I just painted the other side with spray in truck bedliner. The buttons on my control box are label with the common buttons I use with Mach. For example Cycle Start, Feed Hold, Program Stop, Feed Increase and Decrease, Opt. Stop, Single Block and Coolant. Wanna give a update on the machine. Just finished the coolant system and chip guards. Still need coolant guards for the motors and a few odd and ins. I'll post some new pics this weekend.
Take Care,
JAKE
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 7
Points: -367
Location: Virginia
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Well I had the coolant system going and chips were flying this weekend. Went out in the shop today and saw that my panels were bubble a little on the outside. I guess the spray in bed liner paint isn't water proof. At least the kind I used. So I'm stripping the panels off this weekend and doing it right. I have three sheets of white aluminum on the way. Contacted the local hotrod shop and a 4x8 sheet is only 42 bucks. A little more expensive but at least I won't have to worry about it getting wet. Here's some pics of the coolant system and some other stuff. If you need a good pendant for your machine I highly recommend the Vista CNC pendant. It will run you about $130.00. But its worth every penny. Make sure you buy the pci card. I installed my this weekend and boy does it make things easier. http://www.youtube.com/user/jake2418?feature=mhw5#p/u Take care, Jake
Jake2418 attached the following image(s):
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/4/2010
Posts: 6
Points: 18
Location: Ohio
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Setup looks great!
Too bad about the spray in liner, i was considering it for my box. Guess not now.
Don't have a connection at a hot rod shop so i guess i'm still in the design phase.
Jeffrey
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 7
Points: -367
Location: Virginia
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Jeffery,
Hoss, used the brush in bed liner and i haven't heard him complain. So you might what to go that route. I don't know if I would go the panel route. Maybe some smooth wood panels would do the trick. About the aluminum sheeting. If you know anyone who races dirt track you can ask them where you could buy it. Dirt track racers use it to make there bodies. Also it comes in a variety of colors if you didn't want white. Anyways that's the project this weekend to reskin the enclosure.
Take Care,
Jake
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/4/2010
Posts: 6
Points: 18
Location: Ohio
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Jake,
Thanks for the lead on Al panels. the only negative thing i've heard Hoss say about the paint in liner is that it has texture and the chips don't flow to central location.
Have fun this WE and remember to post pics of the process.
Jeffrey
Jeffrey
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 7
Points: -367
Location: Virginia
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Well I've got the milling running again and the new aluminum panels look awesome ill post some pics soon. Now that's its in operation I've been cutting some test pieces and can't get the dam things to cut on size. I've calibrated it and set the backlash on each axis. When positioning the machine it repeats within .0005. But cutting a part it cuts .015 big on X and .008 on Y. My program is right and while running the program it cuts to the dimensions programmed on the DRO. My cutter is on size and my spindle has only .0002 runout. I've tried messing with the backlash speed and shuttle accel and nothing seems to be working or helping the situation. I'm using the probotix bipolar drives and their breakout board. I've talked to the rep and he said they have had simular problems and suggest smaller cuts and slower feed rates. But if 1/2 endmill and .050 depth of cut at 2000 rpm and 10 IPM is too much that's a problem for me. If anyone is using probotix products and have any insight to fixing my problem I would greatly appriciate it. Or any suggestions at all would be great.
Take Care,
Jake
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 7/17/2010
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Location: Stumptown USA
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That is a VERY cool idea on the swarf shields. BTW I used to install bedliners using similar materials. On aluminum you need to wipe it down with acetone or xylene before you apply it or it will bubble on any oxidized aluminum. The other thing you might try is Krylon equipment sealer.
comes in Matte, krinkle and enamel.
'svidanya
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