BigAl's 4x8 CNC machine...

[mikeschn]

Sounds like a good report. Hope you find your camera soon.

I am still thinking about a 4x8 machine...

Mike...

[DIY-Stu]

Here's a nice one to work on.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/open_sour ... print.html

[BigAl]

Thanks for that link Stu. What a good build made to look deceptively simple. I wish I could just happen across some cheap linear bearings like that guy did.

Still have not found the camera, but knowing you guys appetite for shiny things, I took some pics with my cell phone. Apologies for the quality...

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/5144897927_c529cff163_z.jpg" width="640" height="512" alt="Cutting with EMC2" />

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5144897921_8b67456ce4_z.jpg" width="640" height="512" alt="Close up of milling" />

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1143/5144897935_54a0a371ca_z.jpg" width="640" height="512" alt="Some Christmas Decorations" />

(These photos from my flickr photostream, feel free to join)

I cannot sing the praises of EMC2 enough having also used Mach2 and RoutOut control software.

[BigAl]

I found this very interesting article on building what looks like a credible home brew linear bearing.

He used a CNC wire cutter to cut the foam pattern, but you could make an mdf template and cut the foam by hand using a ni-chrome hotwire and 12v power source. You could knock-up a quick 'n dirty hotwire cutter in 30 minutes.



I'm going to have a go at these for my 'big' CNC table.

btw, on my current table I used drawer bearings for the Z-Axis, they are cheap and have negligible play. They are ideal fro the Z-Axis as there is no need for a longer bearing, and they hardly take up any space.