Hello from Florida
 

Hello, everyone.
I am in Titusville, FL, right beside the Kennedy Space center.
I have several cnc machines, including a 12" x 12" x 6" (working envelope) cnc router I made from scratch.
I was about to build a Joe's 4x4 (rack and pinion), but now have a sponsor looking for me to build a 5' x 10' (working envelope) machine. He would like 5 axes, but I think 3 will do for a start. He wants to build large R/C jets and use the router for foam plugs for the carbon fiber work.
Anyone in the area? I'd love to see a working Mechmate and/or maybe hire the work out to start.
BTW, I am a cnc machinist by trade. I use Mach3 on my cnc machines. I use AutoCAD for 2d and Solidworks for 3d modeling. I generate G-code with SolidCAM.
Can anyone give me a ballpark cost on building a Mechmate?

Thanks!

Hi Ron. That's an classic first question that has appeared in a lot of threads. I can't find the really good one, but here's a start.

I think the practical range I recall having heard mentioned over the years runs from just under $3k for a very unusual machine using wood beams and lots of pre-existing components, through an bunch of machines in the $5-$7k range, and up to a few outliers with special equipment or capabilities above that.

Welcome!

Thanks, Brad #10,
That may be a little too general. I guess I'll have to generate a BOM and source everything to get an accurate answer.
Is there a BOM available, or are there too many options?
I have an old set of plans, likely from the time when they were free. Are there any significant improvements in the current (paid) plans?
Also, is there a member list by area, or a member map?

Thanks for your time.

Welcome Ron,
BOMs are not readily available due to the vast differences in size of table, options and local vendors. Let us know what version of the plans you have and we can let you know if they are the latest and what differences might be there.

Thanks, Heath,
All the computer files are dated 2009, but of the ones I have looked at, the drawings are dated earlier. Some say "First issue, rev A" and some have one revision, rev B. I have yet to read every one.

Sounds like the current plans to me. Some of the dwgs did not change when the new version came out. Only some of the dwgs were updated to reflect changes in the design.

Ron, the variations in cost are mostly from:

(a) the price of steel and size of table - you will have to solve this one for yourself locally. (b) the choice of motors and drivers, from a low of $600 or so to a high of $1,800 or so.
(c) the choice of toolhead, from $200 router through $500 chinese spindle up to $4k in tool changer land.
(d) the amount of outlay for tools and tooling, which depends on what you already have access to.

As Heath points out, you need to block out your own BOM, and then we can help you decide on any particular option you are considering. Usually we'll help by offering you multiple, non-aligning opinions, which is surprisingly useful. <grin>