CNC Router Build

[mike os]

Spindle is 2 or 3 kw. .. designed to be better than average, we discussed using a proper spindle and auto changer... maybe later

Box looks good surprising how big they get, looking at 1200x600for all the goodies. .. 4th and maybe 5 axis in future

 

[MattH]

Tlc-direct.co.uk do the big steel enclosures.
Trust me, get the biggest you can.

 

[mike os]

Always

 

[Wedg1e]

Tlc-direct.co.uk do the big steel enclosures.
Trust me, get the biggest you can.

Oh Jesus aye: many's the time I've worked on (or even built) control panels where you needed hands like Len Fairclough to get in there.

 

[mike os]

what power supply did you go for for the controller MattH?

drilled another hundred holed today... god tihs thing has a lot of bolts

working on the support frame.... going to need it soon, then we will see if I can hold a mig torch again

 

[MattH]

I just grabbed a 2A 24v din rail psu from the bay.
Mainly to keep it all looking neat in the enclosure.

 

[ukracer]

Just finishing off my cnc controller rebuild after swapping out the servo drives and motors. I went with a CS labs unit and I must say that it is top notch, I also have an ESS and Kflop and the CSMIO is a pleasure to us in comparison.

I have cut aluminium and steel with mine. Yours with all that aluminium plate will be very capable but you might fine you run out of spindle power before any machine limitations. I run a 4HP spindle and I glad I do.

View attachment 61718 View attachment 61719

It seems quite small in size compared to the control panel?

 

[MattH]

Is there a certain controller/machine size ratio I should be adhering too?
I think the router looks a bit smaller in the pic. It's got a cutting area of 800mm x 1200mm, the box section that the main frame is constructed from is 80mm box.
The machine is the biggest I could build to still fit in the spaces available. The controller would be the same size if the machine was 4 times as big.

 

[ukracer]

Is there a certain controller/machine size ratio I should be adhering too?
I think the router looks a bit smaller in the pic. It's got a cutting area of 800mm x 1200mm, the box section that the main frame is constructed from is 80mm box.
The machine is the biggest I could build to still fit in the spaces available. The controller would be the same size if the machine was 4 times as big.

I was not being funny mate. It just seemed a little strange. I thought you might say something like the controller box was free and that is why it was so big. I appreciate size constraints I cant even build one yet due to no space. lol

 

[MattH]

I was not being funny mate. It just seemed a little strange. I thought you might say something like the controller box was free and that is why it was so big. I appreciate size constraints I cant even build one yet due to no space. lol

I know mate, that was my attempt at funny.
I think the pic makes the box look bigger and the machine smaller however it is a massive control enclosure. I have two others in my workshop that where used and became redundant as the requirement just got bigger and bigger. Hence my comment to the OP about buying as big as you can. There's not really any empty space in mine, although it is worth pointing out that it contains the PC, monitor etc etc and is fully self contained.

 

[mike os]

Once you start factoring in minimum ventilation gaps, segregation of data and power etc space disappears faster than a very fast thing, control box on the above frame is 1200 X 600 X 200/220mm and is really just enough for 4 axis, and all the controllers and other bits and bobs cooling, PC etc

 

[DanielW]

Just finishing off my cnc controller rebuild after swapping out the servo drives and motors. I went with a CS labs unit and I must say that it is top notch, I also have an ESS and Kflop and the CSMIO is a pleasure to us in comparison
View attachment 61718

What do those little fans do?

 

[MattH]

I have two 80mm 240v fans pulling air into the bottom of the enclosure and two 100mm 240v fans exhausting at the top. Sounds like a tornado but creates loads of airflow for the servo drives and VFD.

 

[CRB]

I have two 80mm 240v fans pulling air into the bottom of the enclosure and two 100mm 240v fans exhausting at the top. Sounds like a tornado but creates loads of airflow for the servo drives and VFD.

?Would the two large fans not do the job anyway?
Depending on the volume moved by the large/small, you must be pressurising or creating negative pressure in there. I am probably not thinking straight, so do say so.

 

[MattH]

I dunno.

Fans sucky, fans blowy, everything cool.

 

[mike os]

servo drivers don't like being hot but are little electric furnaces... I have planned about 6-7 fans in my box.... cooling is cheap, electronics not so.

ideally you wand positive pressure in the box to prevent dust ingress, and a good inlet filter

 

[DanielW]

I wus being sarcastic,those fans won't even cool a fly down in summer,far too samll for the cabinet.

If you want the fans quiet,mount em on rubber matting spacers.

 

[MattH]

I wus being sarcastic,those fans won't even cool a fly down in summer,far too samll for the cabinet.

If you want the fans quiet,mount em on rubber matting spacers.

They aren't little plastic PC fans. They are very heavy duty metal jobbies. I ran the cnc at the hight of last summer for 8 hours plus with no heat related issues. The noise is from the rush of air not from vibration.
The fans push a huge volume of air up through the enclosure.

Sorry Mike I don't mean to high jack your thread.

 

[mike os]

no worries... just got a few ideas off the above pic...

 

[mike os]

Frame's made... time to start putting this thing together (trial build)