Re: k2cnc routers

Hey Fred,

Wow. what a write up! I am really considering the KS or KT (same one)
2525 mainly because of the supported railes. I like the linear
bearings (feel they look more professional) but do think the roller
bearings might be easier to keep clean. Not sure which is really
better. I did notice the Z axis and Y asix are around the cutting
head. The X axis seems a little covered and the leadscrews is
covered. The Y axis leadscrews is on the other side of the mount.

Do you find much flexing in the unsupported shafts of the 2514?? Do
you think the 25X14 could cut aluminum in small passes?

Any thoughts on the design of the 2525 using suppported 1/2" shafts
with roller bearings?

thanks!!
taus




--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Smith" <imserv@v...>
wrote:

>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "tauscnc" <tauscnc@h...>
> wrote:
> >
> > > I have one.
> > >
> > > Fred Smith - IMService
> > > http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/hobby
> >
> > Hey Fred,
> > That's great! Do you mind expanding on which one and opinion

about

> > it? I should have asked an opened ended question :)
>
> We had a 14 x 14 x 3 machine with our SYS-3 servo system at the
> Cabin Fever Expo in York, PA in January. List price for the bare
> frame is now $1150. We used it for live testing of the new homing
> script routines. With a DeskCNC SYS-3 and a portercable trim
> Router, total price is $2433 plus shipping.
>
> The machine has 4 linear roller bearings and dual hardened guide
> rods on each axis and acme lead screws with delrin antibacklash
> nuts. Our servo motors mounted directly to the nema 23 motor

mounts

> and the lovejoy style couplings are adequate for shaft alignment

on

> a router. I get up to about 100 ipm, maybe more if I tweak
> everything better. 70 ipm is rock stable on all axes.
>
> The frame is all machined aluminum with mostly stainless steel
> screws. Some of the screws were a tad too short for the main

frame

> assembly. Too much tightening and they would have stripped out.
> Assembling the machine which came in 4 dowel assembly matched

parts

> was about 5 minutes. The X axis is not quite as smooth as I would
> like. I have not had time yet to trouble shoot it though, as the
> machine was purchased to quickly get some machining completed. It
> took about 10 more minutes to add the motors and wiring.
>
> This machine did not include a worksurface. I purchased an 8 foot
> section of pre painted mdf shelf board, cut to 21" lengths at no
> charge (thanks to Home Depot).
>
> There was not enough clearance between the gantry supports and the
> table top (3/4 thick), so I added a chamfer to both the gantry(

1/4

> inch 2 places, probably voided my warranty ;-) and the table top

(3/8

> inch one place) to assure a clearance fit.
>
> The Y and Z lead screws are not protected from cutting swarf, the

X

> is covered by the stationary table top, but not fully enclosed.

All

> 6 guide rods are unprotected. My long term concerns are that the
> lead screws, drive nuts, guide bars, and linear bearings will get
> gummed up and provide less smooth and accurate motion.
>
> I have been using the machine to cut 3/8 scale, prototype saddle
> components for a project which will use direct measurements from a
> horse, automatically create a saddle design and 3D contouring
> toolpaths in Vector Cam, then cut the parts using DeskCNC on the
> K2CNC router.
>
> My prototype stock is a standard pine, 2 x 4 board, and I have

been

> able to consistently machine the material at 1/4 in depth of
> cut, .150 in stepover. Our machine included the Porter Cable trim
> router bracket. Using a PC trim router, with a 1/2 dia. cove bit(
> 1/4 shank), I am able to rough out the parts at 25 ipm feed rate.
> The spindle starts to over load if I push it much faster. Some

parts

> of the contour are 1 inch deep, so the bit is sticking a ways out

of

> the spindle collet. It's pretty exciting because with this small

of

> a machine, all the noise, cutting, and chips are RIGHT THERE IN

YOUR

> FACE!
>
> No dust collection is available with the machine so make sure to
> consider that as it is required for any CNC router.
>
> I have evaluated several machines in this size/price range over

the

> last few years. This is one of the better ones, except for the
> protection from dust buildup on moving parts. I prefer a machine
> with V-rollers on X and Y.
>
>
> Fred Smith - IMService
> THE source for low cost Cad-cam and Desktop CNC
> http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/hobby