With the CNC router basically running it was time to clean up the rats nest and get the cooling loop completed for the spindle. This would have to be redone later due to the fluid lines collapsing in the cable chain.
The PC monitor is mounted on the wall and the keyboard and mouse are on a slide out tray over the mini rack cabinet that holds all of the electronics.
I did have a failure of the one of the X axis stepper motor drivers. I had hit the estop while the gantry was rapidly moving. I suppose that the voltage transient from this destroyed the driver. While I was waiting for the replacement (just barely in warranty), I purchased a “snubber circuit” module that can clamp the voltage spikes and added some large low ESR capacitors next to the drivers to absorb excess energy. So far, so good.
One of the first projects was to make some doll cradles for my grand-daughters. These turned out nicely.
Next the router needed to make some parts for itself. Cutting out the parts for the doll cradle and having sawdust everywhere pointed out the need for a dust shoe to contain the mess and direct the chips to the shop vac and later the dust collector.
The dust shoe has 2 halves. One is permanently mounted to the Z axis and holds the vacuum hose. The second half has the brush and is held on with rare earth magnets and located in place with some brass pins.
The removable lower half with the brushes makes changing bits and probing easy.
Now that there is dust collection in place the next big thing is to level the bed. It is “close” but there is a couple of mm of error in the height that I cannot take out by adjusting the bars underneath. The lower level of the bed is 2 sheets of 1/2″ MDF. The top one is meant to be consumable. A 2″ bit is used. It is then run back and forth across the entire work area. In hte process of doing this I found there were some ridges indicating that the spindle was subtly out of tram (not perfectly perpendicular to the table). I added some shims under the gantry beam and made a second pass and there were no detectable ridges whether by eye or feeling with a fingernail.
Flattening the work area
Once the work area was flat, I could add the new work surface on top. This is made up of 80/20 15 series 3/4×4″ extrusions over much of the top and interspersed with 3/4 ” plywood as filler on the right side, for some cost savings in the lesser used area.
The front edge has another piece of the 8020 mounted vertically. This area is to be used for tenons and dovetails
With the ability to hold material vertically I can tackle through mortise and tenons and dovetails. The first project using the CNC router for through mortise and tenons is a series of blanket ladders. These have wedged through tenons for the “ladder steps”.
Now the CNC router is being put to to productive use. More projects and upgrades to follow.