Darren...
Sure do, but it doesn't have any good closups: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsFt-CMsbvs

Yep, thats the one that got me noodlin Gary.
I'm wondering how a sub $200 Harbor Freight hoist would work here...

A DIY solution is here: How-to-make-a-vacuum-powered-plywood-lifter

Thanks Jack. Hopefully Pete benefits from my hijacking of his thread...

Hey, where did my thread go? Hehe.
No problem Darren.
That is very similar to what I am thinking. Main difference is I plan on a full 60 x60 vacuum surface so hopefully I will be able to unload and stack as well. It may be overkill.
Both ends of my machine will be tied up with dovetailing fixtures so the panel cutting will be in the middle. Everything up and over the sides.

Hmm, from my research, that may be difficult. It seems pucks are used to create a high vacuum per square inch of pod area. It may be difficult to achieve a strong vacuum over a whole sheet, especially with cutouts. That will reqquire huge CFMs.

we got it all painted and started assembly this afternoon

Without pics, yada, yada....:)

Yada yada.
To busy building it to take pictures.

A few more bites of the elephant today.
Got all the rails on and level. Rollers on. Rides sweet and true.
Got the z slide together. Gas shock is in place. Tomorrow mount it and install motor.
Tony is getting the electronics installed in the box.
The thing that has amazed me to this point is that by taking small parts and building on it how it makes sense. When I first looked at the project I almost got overwhelmed.

Agreed. I felt the same way.

It's all Darren's fault!! - Big Falls, Mn
 

I went to the shop at 5:30 am this morning and found this elf working away. Tony is wanting to get this done.

Wiring day..

Ready to wire it up.
 

Had a great day today. Control box is wired up. Motors are installed. Router bracket is installed, with a special adjustment feature. Cable chain is on.

Only booboo today was the gas shock got installed a little off and hung up on the spider. A little swearing and we got it fixed.

Tomorrow we start to run wires.

Here is a short video of the machine to this point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODlq7qKawy8

Awesome Pete. Is the gas shock installed with the big end at the top? If not it may fail prematurely.
Also, I noticed you were rolling machine with the motors engaged. Refrain from doing that after they are wired. I seem to remember someone saying they can act as generators and feed back into the controller.
Looking Awesome.

Thanks Darren.
Yes the shock has the big end up. Read the warnings on that.
If Tony has his way(he usually does) it will be cutting by our 1 month anniversary of starting to cut steel.

Awesome. Then the REAL fun begins.

Now that is really flying along! :D

Well we got most of the wiring done today. Shut down early to enjoy the spring weather and play a little music.
Here's what i came up with. The Farm Boy Blues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDrwULzaLTc

I hope there is/was something good in the glass...;)

Ayup. Some fruit of the vine. It had been a full week and felt good to kick back and relax with my Bride of 45 years. That was her playing. Not sure about the singing.

Well looks to be a short run now to movement. All of the groundings are attached. 2 motors to do final connections on, 1 estop box, then connect into the main box again. Getting excited.

Ready to roll.
 

Tony got the motors and estops wired up today. Just need to connect the leads to the geckos and it should move.
About time.

By George it moves....
 

YES!!!!!

First movement out of George this morning. All 4 motors moving with the jog command.

We need to calibrate the torque on the motors some more. Well maybe a bunch more.

27 days since we started cutting steel.

Here is a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6xEayjwU4c

A few hours later and we have it whipping along.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVhy58whO_c

Great job Pete.
You've spoiled the build time curve.

I have to give the credit to Tony the tiger. He has been impressive in this project.
He was the one who figured out that the resistor was a bit high. Went from a 39k to a 36k and George purred.

George is cutting
 

4 weeks ago today we started cutting steel. Today we started cutting wood. We spent a good part of the day calibrating the motor steps and leveling the z slide. We got the travel to within a 32nd on 90 inches of travel. Close enough at this point for what we cut. The trammel worked very well for us in leveling the router.
Any way it is time to move to the Senior circuit. " Mechmates already cutting"

Here is a video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGUttwvVWJE

As soon as the logos get here it will be stickered.

Nice job Pete and Tony, you made it look easy!

Thanks Mark.
We just kept it simple.
You're next.

Great job and amazing progress.

Thanks DB.
It has helped that we had 2 heads figuring things out. And the information needed is here on the forum.
Hopefully by the end of next week we are in production with George.

Looks awesome sir.Your grinding process on the rails is definitely a genius approach.

Enjoy your new money maker :)

So Pete, Mach 3 has a gadget whereby you put a measured set of marks the full length of your table, and tram your router point to point, and Mach 3 will calibrate to that exact distance.

1/32" over 90" is unacceptable on THIS forum, sir...:)

True Dat my brother :cool:

Ha. Wood will expand and contract more than THAT overnight.
But pretend I am from Missouri. Show me.

Got the touch off working today. Now to set the laser cross hair.
Picking up the material for the table on Monday, then we can set the jigging for the dovetailing.

Thanks. Cash machine. It should be paid back in a few months.

Tony is already planning for the next one.

Working on my dovetail joints today. They are fitting like a glove.
This is my main need for the mechmate. We need to do a 45 joint on our drawers and George should do it.

We got George moved to his permanent spot yesterday.
We will do the relevel today and start the ducting for the vacuum today and hang the control panel on the wall.
Shop is in mild disarray for a couple of days.

We will be working with 60 x 60 sheets of baltic birch so we built a machining area for it at 61 x 61. Surfaced it today so we can begin cutting.

Both ends of the table will have fixtures for doing our dovetails. Now I can use my surfaced area to cut the parts to build the jigs for that.

Awesome. At least to me.

Short video of George in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0nRdjzaOUA

With our vacuum we wanted a non porous substrate so we glued formica to the surface. Hopefully it serves the purpose. Years of doing countertops gave us a supply of material. Looks purty as well.

Started making money with our mechmate today. Cut out parts for our Kornerking product on it. We got the vacuum system working for the holddown. No clamping or screwing needed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqqKwtYLjIg

Great work Pete and if I may jump in, you acceleration looks too small. Something in a range of 200mm/sec or in inches 8-10 ips. Also if that end mill is in range of 6mm or 1/4" you can do plywood easy in just 2 passes. This accel might be needed for this beast Biesse 335 retrofit I done recently but he Mechmate is much lighter and can be much more maneuverable . Try bumping that accel to 20 or more (600mm/sec) and you may get away with cv on outer corners, that will improve your cut time significantly.

Looking great Pete.
Looks like you've been moved to the MM already cutting area.