http://diylilcnc.org/forum/forum/diylilcnc-build Free, open-source plans for a low-cost 3-axis CNC mill by Taylor Hokanson and Chris Reilly. Sponsored by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. en-US Thu, 17 May 2012 23:16:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://diylilcnc.org/forum/search.php http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/what-feedrate-do-you-use-with-your-cnc#post-1043 Mon, 14 May 2012 14:57:55 +0000 Chris 1043@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>gera229, feed/spindle speeds really depend on the material you're using, of course, as well as the properties of the bit. You can actually get bits specifically for different materials (plastic for instance) that can make a big difference in your cut properties. Check out the end mills section of the McMaster-Carr catalog for some good explanations of things like the number of flutes, end geometry, up/down cut, etc. </p> <p>To start off, I'd recommend getting two general-purpose bits: a square end mill and a ball end mill, which you'd use for roughing (ie removing lots of excess material) and finishing (removing small amounts of material &amp; making finer cuts), respectively. Probably two flutes is fine, and as you experiment with new materials you can expand your bit collection. For feed speeds you want to go as fast as you can, but of course it depends how dense your material is, and whether you're roughing or finishing. For something very soft like prototyping foam you could feed as fast as 100 inches/minute or more, something like Masonite would be more like 30 inches/minute. For spindle speed you want to stay as low as possible while still removing enough material to make a good cut. </p> <p>It's usually pretty easy to figure out a good range of feed/spindle settings with a bit of experimentation. When you're cutting, pay attention to the size of the chips/dust being created. You usually want little chips/chunks about a 1/16-1/8" in size for a good roughing cut; if you're getting fine sawdust, the feed speed is too low and/or the spindle speed is too high. This builds up heat &amp; dulls your bit. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/what-feedrate-do-you-use-with-your-cnc#post-1041 Sun, 13 May 2012 19:12:23 +0000 gera229 1041@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Since we aren't laser cutting, we are limited to feedrates to avoid breaking end mill bits.</p> <p>Since the bits are thin 1/8 bits the feedrate is even less than an actual end mill thats 1/4" or 1/2" wide.</p> <p>I would like to know what RPM, feedspeed, depth of cut per round, what endmill, and type of material you use it on.</p> <p>I'm asking this mainly to cut masonite to build my own, but would be interested feedrates for all types of material such as hardwood, various plastics, and aluminum if you had any experience.</p> <p>What end mill did you use, what was its diameter, and how long was it?</p> <p>I really hope a CNC machine like this is useful with decent speeds. ;P </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/y-axis-precision-help#post-1033 Sat, 05 May 2012 21:47:54 +0000 EqualsP 1033@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Gera229, the motor's shaft had the flat spot from the manufacturer, but the 1/4" rod used as the drive shaft for the y axis did not.</p> <p>it should probably be done for the x-axis shaft as well. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/cnc-cut-files/page/2#post-1026 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:34:27 +0000 T4b 1026@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>They recommend Rhino (see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTy8KMr8D6M" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTy8KMr8D6M</a>), so I guess that's what they use. The one who wrote the "Guerilla Guide to CNC machining[...]" (the one I posted a link to some other time) also recommends it. <a href="http://www.rhino3d.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.rhino3d.com/</a><br /> But unlike AutoCAD it's not free for students, although students pay much less. That's why I'm using AutoCAD at the moment (alternatively, when I don't want to fire up a virtual machine running Windows I use qcad. But I've had quite a lot of trouble with qcad when opening dxf files made with gnuplot or AutoCAD). </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/cnc-cut-files/page/2#post-1025 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:27:08 +0000 gera229 1025@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>What program did you guys use to draw the parts? Because I'm finding it kind of difficult to move around the layers and find dimensions and modify certain items in AutoDesk AutoCAD for some reason. Probably because you used another program?</p> <p>Also will I need to delete all the text prior to cutting? In CAD it showed that the text used the line command to draw rather than the text command to type so I have a feeling that it will actually cut the text out. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/cnc-cut-files#post-1024 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:46:04 +0000 gera229 1024@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>The red marks are the holes right?</p> <p>What material should I use for the enclosure? Ply wood, Masonite, MDF?</p> <p>I can also use steel and aluminum (I have access to a plasma cutter). BUT I'm worried about shorting the circuit as a result of that (well I can paint, but I don't think that's very reliable) </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/cnc-cut-files#post-1023 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:21:57 +0000 Chris 1023@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@gera229, nope, the Capacitor is just a label that would normally be scored (not thru-cut) by the laser. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/cnc-cut-files#post-1022 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:51:06 +0000 gera229 1022@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I see. Cut sheet is in the layers which are turned off haha.</p> <p>Where is says Capacitor, is that part cut out? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/y-axis-precision-help#post-1021 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:43:53 +0000 gera229 1021@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Don't all shafts on motors from hobbycnc have a flat spot?</p> <p>Taylor do you guys cut parts for CNC builds out of your own CNC machines (I see they are laser cut, but still do you do it the way I asked)? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/cnc-cut-files#post-1018 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:04:30 +0000 Chris 1018@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@gera229 - bummer, looks like PartKart, the online CAM software site that hosted those files, has gone offline. I'll see if I can track down a copy. </p> <p>Meanwhile, here are the 6 panels you'd need for the driver case:</p> <p>(2) Driver Case Side [cut sheet 1]<br /> (1) Driver Case Bottom [cut sheet 7]<br /> (1) Driver Case Top [cut sheet 7]<br /> (1) Driver Case Front [cut sheet 7]<br /> (1) Driver Case Back [cut sheet 7] </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/y-axis-precision-help#post-1016 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:50:49 +0000 Taylor 1016@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Well done! We'll integrate your solution into future documentation. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/y-axis-precision-help#post-1014 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:55:12 +0000 EqualsP 1014@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I was able to fix the problem. The issue was the set screw connecting the shaft from the y motor to the y drive shaft was slipping slightly when the motor changed direction. I had to remove the drive shaft and grind a flat spot into it so the set screw would be able to be tight and not slip on the shaft. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/cnc-cut-files#post-1013 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:43:52 +0000 gera229 1013@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Download link for CNC cut pattern is broken.</p> <p>In the drawing I think I found the case drawing on the right side, but there are only 2 panels. Isn't there supposed to be more for the complete case? And aren't there supposed to be holes to attach the board to with screws? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/dremel-on-sale/page/2#post-994 Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:32:44 +0000 gera229 994@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Have you guys ever tried the Black &amp; Decker RTX rotary tool?</p> <p>It's about half the price of the Dremel 4000 and is 2 amps (So I say it's a pretty powerful rotary tool). Not sure how the reliability compares, but reviews from the walmart website seem to be quite good and same from amazon.</p> <p>Let me know if anyone has tried or will try it.</p> <p>Has 3-speed adjustment speeds (12,000, 24,000, and 30,000 rpm).<br /> Is this good enough to cut various different types of material? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/no-parallel-port-on-laptop#post-975 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:33:05 +0000 MariusL 975@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@Ergoglobe,<br /> I will be releasing a small controller that is USB based for projects like the DiyLilCnc.</p> <p>The controller does all the computing and the front end software just does GUI stuff. This way there are no latency problems.<br /> I am thinking of doing a release especially for the DiyLilCnc. </p>