RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: wooden table for a router

Hi Dave and Chuck

Yes my machine can do a couple thousand pounds of side load...
it was designed to cut metal as well as wood.

That force capability is needed to accelerate the machine components
as well.

The interesting thing is that actual cutting forces are very low...
usually under 20 pounds for routing wood.

But then when you break a bit the machine will be perfectly happy
to drive the non-cutting remnants right into the work, usually
splitting the wood or starting a friction fire.

Same thing happens if the router motor stalls... It just keeps on going.

That is why I have worked on cutter force sensors for my machine
as well as spindle speed feedback.

As far as a wooden router table... I am sure not going to recommend it
for a big table but It probably could be done. It's awfully unstable, but it
can have specific strength and specific stiffness similar to some metals. We
woodworkers enjoy the challenge of making structures out of materials that
can change dimensions several percent from summer to winter.It brings to
mind the Bellanca Super Viking aircraft. It is a very high performance hot
rod, and it is still made of wood. As a pilot I would love to have one.
Need a few hundred kilo$ for that though.

Les

-----Original Message-----
From: turbulatordude [mailto:davemucha@...]
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 10:24 AM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: wooden table for a router


Thanks,

For a desk-top routers, I am sure that wood will work great. my PCB
drilling machine is MDF and does not have any side loads like a
router would have.

I seem to remember Les Watts mentioning his machine has something on
the order of a few thousand pounds of side loading capability. seems
a dull router bit on hardwood would test the strength of many
machines.

I'm thinking that a wooden table of roughly 10 ft by 6 feet would
have potential warping problems with humidity as well as concerns
about rocking from repeated accel and decell of the gantry.

Dave





--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Charles Knight <charles@i...>
wrote:

> >
> >
> >I friend was amazed at my CNC stuff and since he is a carpenter,

he

> >asked if I could make him one.
> >
> >I told him that a steel table is $$$ and he asked if anybody uses
> >wood for the tables ?
> >
>
> It's not yet done, but this is my new "hardware store"

machine...it's

> mostly MDF, but built with U channel construction. It's STIFF!

Flex

> will likely not be a problem...and would certainly not be a

problem for

> woodworking. Wood moves with humidity FAR more than the flex

present in

> this machine. (I've made some progress on it, since this photo was
> taken. My router is mounted in a proper Z axis, the drive screws

are

> conected, and the motors are ready for a test run. I've also fully
> supported the rails, for an exponential increase in stiffness.)
>
> http://members.ivwnet.com/~chuck@i.../cncfront.jpg
>
> This machine is a bit overbuilt for its capacity (18x24") but it

should

> be able to handle anything I throw at it.
>
> The table (I assume you mean the work surface itself) is made from
> slatwall, a commercial style display system for retail stores. It

has

> channels cut into it, and will be used with a bolt and a flat

washer as

> an "integrated clamping system." Thanks to some rails beneath the
> table's surface, it's held quite rigidly flat. While I've not

measured

> it, yet, I don't expect any significant variation from practically
> perfectly flat. And, if there is, I can always "grind" it down

with the

> router, itself. Being an MDF product, it has no grain and will not
> warp, except under its own weight, which is properly supported.
>
> There are also many others who have built machines using this basic
> style of construction, who frequent a site called

http://www.cnczone.com

> in the "homebuilt wood routers" section. Lots of good ideas,

there, for

> people on a budget.
>
> The secret is going to be making it sufficiently stiff...not too

hard,

> if you use proper construction. Remember...wood is a reinforced
> composite material, not terribly unlike fiberglass or carbon fiber.
> *Use* it to your advantage! Keeping a 4x8' table stiff may be a
> challenge, but it's definitely an achievable goal.
>
> -- Chuck Knight

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