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Thread: 3D printer & CNC design
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11-01-2017, 02:13 AM #1
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People can and have milled aluminium with converted 3d printers. I'm not saying it was ideal, I'm just saying it's doable. Check out thomas sanlader's video where he converted his mendelmax to a cnc. The "router" was the bit that gave out in the end, since he was using a rotary tool not proper router. That being said, you can do better than a mendel style frame for milling. And I don't know what sort of desktop routers you're thinking of that have higher travel speeds than 3d printers, they usually go a fair bit slower as they have to cut through material as they move, 3d printers don't face any noticeable resistance when they move. That aside, a lot of them are powered by lead screws of some sort (acme, ballscrew) which limits their speed compared to belts.
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10-03-2017, 12:55 PM #2
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Or you could just buy one like this... or if you must DIY build maybe use this as a template.
https://www.amazon.com/BIBO-Extruder...+printer&psc=1
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10-04-2017, 05:35 AM #3
Also make sure that you have something laser proof under whatever you are cutting.
Printing surfaces are not usually laser proof.
And don't forget the smoke :-) Some kind of extraction hood and exhaust to outside is a good idea, and easy to do. You could get away with something as simple as a computer case fan and an expanding tumble dryer tube.
The only things I've engraved are very small peices of leather and woodfill filament. Fortunately i like the smell of burning leather and i don't think the filament gave off any noticeable smoke.
That was with just a 1000mw laser though.
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10-05-2017, 01:53 AM #4
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10-04-2017, 02:40 PM #5
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Commercial laser systems are totally enclosed and shielded. If yours isn't, you had better be extremely careful not to let the laser hit anything shiny. A stray reflection can easily blind you.
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10-04-2017, 08:43 PM #6
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The most important piece of advice for the machine itself. CA's point about fume extraction is also very important for the actual use of the machine. I'll admit it's not so bad with wood and leather, but vinyl, acrylic and PVC which I've seen people cut on these self made machines will put out something real nasty when hit by the laser. All three of those (and more) contain chlorine, so when they burn (which is what engraving or cutting with a laser does, it burns through the material), they create chlorine gas. That stuff is nasty, I'll leave it at that.
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10-16-2017, 05:41 AM #7
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Has anyone here made their own cnc? Our makerspace made a cheap (<$100 with stuff lying around) cartesian that is... ok.
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10-16-2017, 03:07 PM #8
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If it worked at all, that's quite an accomplishment for that budget. You can expect to pay a lot more for the parts of a half-decent CNC router, if you don't have a lot of the required components lying around. Depending on size, figure $1000 - $4000 for a medium-duty machine, paying yourself nothing for your labor. For more help and inspiration on DIY CNC, check out CNCzone.com .
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10-16-2017, 09:02 AM #9
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Not yet, but I am planning to. Mine will be low cost, no more than a couple hundred dollars and 1-0.5m square cutting area. How big was the CNC at your makerspace? I don't imagine it could be too big for <$100.
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10-17-2017, 06:30 AM #10
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I think you can do cheaper than 1k on a self sourced machine. Chinese machines with aluminium profiles and leadscrews can be found for 200-600 in various sizes. You could build something like the xcarve for a few hundred dollars worth of import parts. Granted, quality wont be amazing and you wont be milling steel, but woods and aluminium (slowly) are doable.
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