DIYLILCNC Forum » Topic: Before you get panels cut, read this post

DIYLILCNC Forum » Topic: Before you get panels cut, read this post http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post 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 Sun, 19 May 2013 08:50:03 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://diylilcnc.org/forum/search.php Don on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post/page/2#post-914 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:45:06 +0000 Don 914@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ I started off with CNC a while back attempting the oomlot build from instructables.com and it went great unitll it came time for those stinking barrel nuts >:| grrrr I still have nightmares about it so after seeing this one on instructables I was so happy to see a way around them! planning my build now but had a few questions. Is there any reason I couldn't use .25 inch MDF as opposed to Masonite? I would think MDF would be a lot more consitant in thickness due to the nature of its manufacturing process but what do I know thats just speculation. Is Masonite more rigid than MDF? was masonite chosen solely because its cheap? has anyone out there adapted the use of a rotozip as the cutting tool? would a rotozip even fit in the z-cart? I know I could do the measurements myself to see but always better to ask so Im not reinventing the wheel I just scheduled some time at a local tech school with their laser to cut the panels out. Their laser cutter is a Amada Pulsar 2000W Laser (so psyced to get to use it lol!) Don Mynes Taylor on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post/page/2#post-823 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:31:05 +0000 Taylor 823@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ That's right! Material on the thin side will work fine, but if it's too thick the slot width won't allow you to insert your tabs. If your heart is really set on thicker material, you can adjust the slot width in the CAD files. Dave Struve on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post/page/2#post-822 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:01:57 +0000 Dave Struve 822@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ So i see .21 - .25 is the thickness i should be looking for, is this the range you need to avoid adjusting slot location or is it more specific? Veiga on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-818 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:31:50 +0000 Veiga 818@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ Hi, What is the weight of the package with laser cut panel parts? Is it a single package? What are its dimensions? Regards, Marcos Taylor on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-815 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:14:19 +0000 Taylor 815@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ @ MauiJerry, These files will work with a variety of kerf results. We haven't tested the plans on every laser, but there have been no complaints thus far. We do recommend measuring all stock before you start cutting, as anything over .25" will start causing problems. Laser settings are more art than science. We used a 120 watt, but we always recommend that each builder set their own feeds/speeds through trial and error to account for the specific nature of their setup. It's surprising to hear that MDF and hardboard act differently on the laser. You're right about plywood - that stuff is so warped I'd avoid it all together. As far as this design is concerned, any rigid material that's about .21"-.25" will work. You might consider plexiglass if you're having wood burning issues. However, as Bre likes to say, plex suffers from the "binary fail". Looks awful good though! MauiJerry on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-814 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:38:00 +0000 MauiJerry 814@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ What kerf (aka cut width) is built into the dxf plans? What are the laser type and settings that you use? (make, model, wattage, speed, power, frequency, etc) I have had widely varied success with my Epilog Helix 24 40w system. MDF cuts ok - havent measured the kerf yet though. Hardboard gave me real problems (burning more than cutting) Plywoods are notoriously variable. I;ve had moderate success with high grade 1/8" ply but other plys will either burn or not cut, within cm of points. Taylor on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-752 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:45:10 +0000 Taylor 752@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ @Kyle, Revive away! As I just posted on a similar thread, we've just established DIYLILCNC L3C, which is a mission-based model halfway between for and not-for-profit. We should have the first batch of DIY panels for sale in the short term, so keep checking back. Kyle on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-749 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:42:17 +0000 Kyle 749@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ Hopefully not waking a dead-thread.... Any movement on that business-model? I'm also in Chicago, and would be interested in having the cutting done for me. Taylor on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-624 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:33:37 +0000 Taylor 624@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ If you're local to Chicago we may be able to do the cutting for you. Chris and I are still working out the business model, and we'll get in touch once we're up and running. In the meantime, look for local schools that have lasers in their architecture/engineering departments. You should be able to pay a student far less than it would cost at a commercial shop. If you've money to burn, Elston Metal Tanks is a great shop (though I'm not sure if they do non-metal jobs). Mike Ehrenberg on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-622 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:42:38 +0000 Mike Ehrenberg 622@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ Hey guys, I'm here in Chicago, would you guys be able to recommend a fab shop for cutting your plans? Thanks, Mike Taylor on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-177 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:27:26 +0000 Taylor 177@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ Jim, Did you have the file from our the downloads section laser cut? If so, you should already have slots on your panels. If you somehow have the overall shapes but are missing slots, I suppose it's possible you could make a little router jig to add slots by hand. Let us know if you go this route and perhaps we can help advise on building a jig. JAMESDONOHOE on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-169 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:17:59 +0000 JAMESDONOHOE 169@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ Hi, Rash young man that I am have had the parts cut before reading up on the T-bolts. In retrospect they are the obvious way to go. I had problems anyway locating barrel nuts. Any suggestions on cutting slots at this stage? Jim Chris on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-129 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:44:08 +0000 Chris 129@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ Darrel, this should be no problem structurally; If you leave everything as is, the tabs will not fit as snugly and may stick out too far. So you may want to adjust the tab & slot lines in the DXF to more closely match that material depth. Here are the measurements we used: <img src="http://diylilcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Picture-59.png" /> Here's a link to a drawing of just the tab and slot shapes to use as a reference: <a href="http://rainbowlazer.com/3d/rhino/cnc-routing-technique-for-milling-interior-corners/">Vector path for 1/4″ laser-cut t-bolt joint (.dxf)</a> In any case, I'd recommend doing a test if possible to see how the fit is. Open Form Architecture on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-127 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:44:30 +0000 Open Form Architecture 127@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ @Chris: I am running into a similar problem with the 1/4" Masonite sheets, but have been able to source a thickness of 0.19" - is this too small? Or can I use this? Thanks, Darrel Chris on "Before you get panels cut, read this post" http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-106 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:45:49 +0000 Chris 106@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ FYI everybody, we just noticed there is one piece missing from the driver board case. It's the top panel and we're working on getting it into the DXF. I will post in the revisions topic when we've updated it. Thanks!