After a weekend of hard labor in the garage, I’ve cleared enough space to get started on the CNC project.
Today, I ordered the electronics package from KelingInc:
Gecko G540
3x 425oz-in stepper motors
48v/7.3A power supply
E-stop switch
and I decided to waste some $ on the parts kit from BuildYourCNC, since it contains all the hard-to-find parts and who wants to go chasing down a dozen different sizes of nuts n bolts?
I also picked up 4 quarter-sheets of 3/4″ Oak Ply and 9′ of 1/2″-13 threaded rod.
The only outstanding purchases that need to be made are a drill bit or two and the angle aluminum for the rails.
I spent the evening marking the parts out on the wood, and trying to figure out what hardware I was going to need to attach them, when I gave up in disgust and put in the parts order with BYCNC.
I did make a little sawdust tonight, too; I built myself a drilling jig so that all these 1/4-20 to cross-dowel connections will be spot-on. It looks like it will work pretty well, but I can’t call it “complete” until I drill the cross-dowel hole (did I mention that I still need to pick up a 7/16″ drill bit? 🙂 ).
I have a good feeling that a lot of parts will start to show up just as Kristi is out of town, so I can furiously start creating sawdust this weekend.
…which is not to say I won’t be working it after work this week, too. 🙂
If all goes perfectly, I might have a CNC machine that needs to fit in the trailer!
In short, the CNC quest has begun.