Colin,

Pics look great and all very neat!! I used an 18mm diameter gas shock on our Z axis and found that it fitted without hitting the spider plate. Glad I did not go to a 20mm.

Good luck with the build.
Cheers
Tony.

Thanks!
Ok, I didn't realize the clearance was that close. It just barely rubs enough to take the paint off.

Collin, tweak the bracket at the top of the shock to reposition it a bit.

Okay, thanks Gerald.
We did our first engraving about a week ago, so we know it moves and definitely makes dust. Hooray! I still have yet to cut all the way through a 3/4" piece of wood, but that will come soon. We mounted our control box right on the side of the machine. The pros being less wire to run and being able to move the entire machine when needed. The chain seems to work good. I would like to eventually make some belt drive reductions in the future, but for now it should do what we want it to do. We did some brain storming on drilling adjustable shelf holes, and hinges, and came up with the dual head solution. Videos to come soon.

Here's one video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T8irlQKadk

Collin, nice work!

Looks great! What system are you using to drive the x axis?

Another dual Z axis. I like your idea of a drill motor with a 3 position bit indexer. Where ever did you find the collet rotation system? Or am I seeing something different.

...Also really like your chain adjustment system! Simple and taught.

We are using #35 chain fastened at each end for our "rack" and a 10 tooth sprocket on the stepper.

Smreish, The drill head is out of a Blum minipress hinging machine. There are 5 bits in an "X" One axis has 3 bits in a straight line for adjustable shelf boring, and when you rotate it 90 degrees, the other axis has 3 bits used for drilling holes for our hinges.

Wow! We have the machine home now. We brought it home last Saturday. We raised it with a winch in Scot's shop, then backed a flatbed underneath it. Then, unloaded it with a forklift at our place. (helpful hint...Make sure you not only have a SPOT in your shop cleared out for this beast, but a PATH to that spot also :D

The third picture is my Dad and the owner of Wood Creations by Delagrange, Inc. ( www.woodcreationsbydelagrange.com )

So, we have the machine painted, it moves under command, and has the logos applied. We even used it for the first time to cut parts for a real job. Do we qualify for a serial # yet?

The last photo is a classic! Who is the supervisor? :D
Actually, they are all great pics with all the people milling around. :)

Any pics of the job,.....or the off-cut? :)

Thank you!
Can anybody tell that I like taking pictures? :D

Here is the corner hutch we are working on right now.
We used it to route a 45 degree angle on the frame joints, then routed the top, middle, and bottom shelves. I thought I had a video of it cutting them out, but can't find it.

P.S. We had Several supervisors that day.:D

Give the bloke a serial number! :)

Congrats Guys on the machine! It looks awesome. :)

Congrats!, Im very curious about your transmission system, when you have time can you post a little video of it? AFAIK its the 1st MM with that movement method.

Collin,

I like that you used tubing instead of C Channel, I like the way you used the Milwaukee router bracket and placed it on the Z. It looks like a very good machine.

My questions is are you going to add dust collection and where are you going to put the pipe for the duct collection?

How about some pictures of small circles (4") cut with the machine. I would like to see the edges. Cut some diamonds on the diagnoal - so that the faces are not on the X or Y axis but run across both axis.

That is what is so great about Gerald's design, a great machine comes out of new ways of building.

Congratulations on an excellent job and machine. Welcome to the club.

Great looking machine . Yes you do get a number ...... Where did I put that list ??? :D

:D I was puttin in the number even as you speak :D !!! Congrats on the neat design.. Keep us informed on how those chain drives work.

Builder's Log Update
 

Collin,

Congratulations on a great looking MechMate and Serial #62.:)

Here is the Updated Builder's Log.

Please provide the dimensions of your MechMate for the log.

I guessed at the start date. You mentioned that you had been building for several weeks in mid-May, so I guessed mid-April. This is your entry, so let me know if you want to change the start date. Also, please review the entry and let me know any other changes you would like to make.

Thank you all very much for the Comments and Ideas.
I will try to get another video of the Chain drive and some of it cutting shapes like "sailfl" suggested.
I think the tubing for the x axis was probably the best idea of the whole project. It wasn't too much more costwise, but seems stronger and easier to work with.
The second best decision, was to use the proximity switches.
The third decision, was probably using the cable chain, and mounting our control box on the side of the table.


Thank you Gerald for the great design and letting everyone use and build off of your plans. I was also very grateful for your advice on many different aspects of the machine found in other threads.

Thank you!
Everything looks good. We started around April 12th and delivered it June 26th. The Cutting Dimensions are 6ft wide and 9ft deep.

Builder's Log Update
 

Thanks Collin.

Here is the Updated Builder's Log.

Yes, we definitely need dust collection. I suppose we will have to get creative :)

It took me a while, but I finally have some diamond and circle cutting pictures.

I finally got this one too :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MHl2N8viKc

Well done, I am amazed. Please show more detail of the IDLER pulley.

Only problem is if it get stuck it WILL break something, where the Gerald Design will slip.

Collin,

Thanks for cutting the circles and diamonds and the edges look very good.

Great job on your machine.

Amazing performance for the chain drive! MM wins again!