Nils is right, it's safety blue. It also matches my forklift, so I had some to start with. I think I bought it by the gallon also from HD. I'm hoping to get the motors wired tonight.

Mike

Any body knows how many cans are needed?

About a dozen for two coats plus touchup. Don't forget the primer, I only used 5 cans. Rustoleum really covers well, and is still oil based. I think you can shoot it directly on metal, might take more coats to cover.

Mike

...about a dozen is right & a good respirator.

. . . . and one clip-on handle:

Cutting....
 

Cut my first Roadrunners and a couple mini skull and crossbones.:D:D

Mach3 is going to take a little time before I figure a few things out. I need to figure out how to scale things first.

I'll get some pictures of the cutting. Just practicing on some sheets of particle board I had around.

Still have a few things to get straightened out, need a heat sync for the geckos, need a solid state relay for the router, need my e-stop buttons.

Hey Gerald, I'm I under #20 ?

MIKE

Here are a couple pictures cutting.

Mike

Congratulations!

Congratz! More motivation for the rest of us to get going. . . .

Just start with one part, It will get you going, and you'll want to get the next and then the next. Pretty soon you will be to the point where it's all down hill. I had most of the parts and laser parts, but it took me buying the steel to get myself going.

Mike

Here is a brief video of the first cuts. Quality of video is a little shakey, shot it with a sony digital camera in movie mode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRrfiEkz_84

Mike

Mike, Looking really good, that should get you a serial number!

Well done Mike! #16 it is.

Nice going Mike, now for pictures of ALL the thing you are cutting..;)

Mike,

Congratulation on #16. Welcome to the club.

But cut some more things. The machine is too CLEAN. You are making us look bad!

Thanks Guys,

I suppose now I'm going to have to show a picture of me and my facial hair.:D

That part of the club requirements I've been ready for.

Mike,

Congratulations on Serial #16. Nice machine, and a fast build too!:)

The updated Builder's Log is here.

Regards,
John

Congratulations John , enjoy your MM.

John, it seemed to take a long time. I wish I could have worked on it every weekend and every night. It also makes it easy when so many have done and asked questions before me.

Thanks again to everyone who conveys their thoughts, ideas, and questions so well on this forum. All you have to do read and search for answers, They are all here.

Mike

Still trying to learn software. Mastercam X3. Still trying to get it to cut all the way through. It took a jigsaw and belt sander to finish the emblems.

Mike


Oh yeah, I can see a dust collection system is a must with MDF...

super job mike
 

Mike , I am toying with building my own mm or buying a cnc I guess the biggest guestion is how much do you really save by building your own. I know there is a great deal of satisfaction in building anything yourself I have built 7 homes and several kitchen cabinets which is the primary reason I am dying to start cnc work getting to old to keep nailing houses together.. So if you would not mind me asking what do you think the materal for the whole machine cost.. I live in ky so our prices would probably be close.. Thanks Dennis

Dennis,
Dont forget if you build it yourself, if and when something goes wrong, you know exactly what is up and what parts are needed. Not being held ransom by some company that could go bankrupt or disapear in a year or two is a big plus in my book. :)

very true domino
 

I am 90% sure I will build my own looks way to intriguing not to. I am real curious as to the cost this would let me know if I should buy a spindle or stay with a router if you look at true cnc web site he has a few extra things on his machine like lasers and a sensor to zero the bit.. Items I would like to add if money permits..... Does anybody have a ball park figure for material all together?? Thanks Dennis

I have not posted in a month on my machine. Updates include dust collection and dust foot.

The dust foot was done a litle different than everyone elses. Had to try something different. I designed a top and a bottom with a reinforcing ring to help hold the upright pvc tube. The bottom is only opened around the bit to increase suction there. The sweep goes all the way around the dust foot. Here are a couple pictures.

Also I have a plastic drum to collect the bulk the the dust, about 99% plus goes into the drum and keeps the dust bag clean and pretty much empty. Alot easier to dump a barrel than fight that bag.

More info on the dustfoot.

The dust foot has three pieces. Top, bottom, and ring. I really like designing in solids with Mastercam. I bent a piece of aluminium arund the foot to hold the sweep. The front comes off to changebits with two screws.

Mike,

You designed you duct foot so that the pipe (PVC) fits into one of the circles and the router body fits into the other circle. Both of these are fitting in so there is a tight fit.

My question for some air flow engineer or some one with more experience at this, does this concept improve the sucking capability over the design where there is a small hole so that the collet has space to spin but that is open so air from above is also being pulled in.

Or does it matter?

I have also seen designs were the downward air from the router fan is not allowed and is divereted upward to stop it from interfering with the dust collection. Mike's design, I think, forces that air into the foot and I would think would reduce the suction of the foot. Mike have you noticed any that?

May be it is not enough that it matters.

Nils,

I have only done it this way, so I have nothing to compare it to. I'll have to do some more testing. I do know that my shop stays alot cleaner cutting MDF than before.

Originally I had planned on the foot moving seperate from the router, but then changed my mind and fastened to the router mount.

I'll turn the router and vac on and see what kind of suction I'm getting later today. My thinking was that all the air pull would be concentrated around the bit. But maybe the air flow is being disrupted because of the router.

Upgrade-3 to 1 Transmissions installed
 

Working on and off this afternoon, I managed to assemble and install the 3 to 1 belt drive gear plates I bought from Castone (Leo). Everything seems to move and jog well. Now I can't wait to do some test cuts early this week. Need to do a little paint touch-up when the weather warms up. Really went together pretty easy. Just wish I had a better hardware selection in my town.

Looks good mike.

Mike, I like the use of the drum, I guess all of the big chunks of wood fall in too? Instead of going to the bag. I still have not added a dust collector. I think I will try the same thing, when I add mine.