Building a robotics lab

[Mark Sheridan]

Originally Posted by jwfoss

Those of you who have purchased a CNC router, can you recommend your supplier or point of contact at the company. Thanks.

There are a few threads with the very same question.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=137802
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=128941
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=123936

We have a router on order. We asked 1678 what they had and searched the threads to see if other teams liked it. I don't want to comment my thoughts cause we have not received it yet. I will say being local to our vendor is very nice, they seem keen on helping us out and was the primary reason for our choice.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by jwfoss

Those of you who have purchased a CNC router, can you recommend your supplier or point of contact at the company. Thanks.

We have a Zenbot 24x48, it's alright. For about $2500 you can get it fully operational, with a controller, Mach3, etc. You will need to get a CAM package as well, HSMworks is free and what we have been using. We just got a licence for CAMmaster that I'm going to start playing with (We asked them very nicely).

For an inexpensive solution I'd look at the X-carve. It probably won't handle any think cuts in aluminum out of the box but will probably get the job done for a fraction of the price of most routers. There have been several mods to make it cut better, like changing the spindle to the same router we use on the zenbot. I know a few teams have bought one this off-season hopefully they will chime in as they start cutting. The X-carve has a free CAM/controller software suite as well that may be some what limited but is also probably easier to use. Seeing as we get most of our competition parts made by our sponsors laser cutter this definitely were I would have started had it been available a few years ago.

These options won't do full sheets of material or anything but they are smaller and cheaper which will better fit some shops and budgets.

[mman1506]

865 bought a XZero CNC

I've also heard pretty good things about "6040" CNC routers that a number of sellers offer on ebay. For 1200$ you can get something with a proper VFD spindle, ballscrew and beefy construction. The trade off is reliability and size.

[RoboChair]

Originally Posted by jwfoss

Those of you who have purchased a CNC router, can you recommend your supplier or point of contact at the company. Thanks.

I would recommend VeloxCNC, they have a wide selection of bed sizes and are well built for a reasonable cost(10% educational discount too!). It's also easy to knock the cost down if you are willing to make your own table surface, stand to keep it off the floor and what not. Tell them 1678 sent you.

[rcoren22]

Originally Posted by jwfoss

Those of you who have purchased a CNC router, can you recommend your supplier or point of contact at the company. Thanks.

Last year we purchased a Camaster Stinger 2 after visiting another local team who has one.

There are a lot of great machines out there but we found that with the Camaster, you get a lot more machine and add-ons for your money.

We are extremely happy with the product and ease of use.

http://www.camaster.com/product/

Please feel free to PM me with any questions about the products or the process.

I have reserached this topic quite a bit before purchasing.

[protoserge]

How about fume extraction (laser cutter) and compressed air? Those would be best to plan for now. A compressor can be very loud and would need to be located such that the noise does not violate OSHA regulations.

I would not get a plasma. It is too dangerous in a crowded shop environment and you need a downdraft table with ample fume extraction, filtration, and ventilation.

I agree with the CNC router. I would choose this over a second CNC mill. What mill do you currently have? I would get some vises, a vacuum table, and waste board. Learn how to use the Work Coordinate System and layout multiple components/parts to do in one routine. A router that accommodates 4' x 4' sheet material would probably work out best as many local suppliers sell pre-cut material in this size.

The eBay CNC router designs can be hit or miss. The 6040 linked earlier does not look adequate for machining aluminum based on the gantry design (very small distance between the bearing blocks on the linear guide. Beware of other routers with a floating guide shaft (example) as they are not rigid at all and the gantry can be deflected with the press of a hand.

Depending on the funds you have, a manual lathe or CNC lathe really makes no difference. Conversational programming a CNC lathe like the Tormach 15L Slant-PRO with Path Pilot will be faster, especially if using a turret tool changer or gang tool setup. What lathes were you considering?

[Team3844]

3844 has been using a 4 X 8 Shopbot PRT Alpha CNC Router for prototyping for several years. ( plywood only)

We have a sponsor that does all of our sheet metal on a laser CNC

If we wanted to setup aluminum machining on the Shopbot, how would we handle the coolant to the bit?

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by Team3844

If we wanted to setup aluminum machining on the Shopbot, how would we handle the coolant to the bit?

Use an O-flute mill and spray mist coolant.
Flood coolant is not really an option with most bridge/router CNC setups.

[marshall]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

Use an O-flute mill and spray mist coolant.
Flood coolant is not really an option with most bridge/router CNC setups.

Actually, ShopBot (The company) uses vortex tube coolers when they cut parts for us: http://www.exair.com/en-US/Primary%2...20Systems.aspx

They work really well with a mag mount base on the ShopBot tools.

This is coming from a team that has been sponsored by ShopBot Tools for a couple years. We're huge fans.

EDIT: Link to one of these on Zoro: http://www.zoro.com/exair-cold-gun-1...gc lsrc=aw.ds

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by marshall

Actually, ShopBot (The company) uses vortex tube coolers when they cut parts for us: http://www.exair.com/en-US/Primary%2...20Systems.aspx

They work really well with a mag mount base on the ShopBot tools.

This is coming from a team that has been sponsored by ShopBot Tools for a couple years. We're huge fans.

EDIT: Link to one of these on Zoro: http://www.zoro.com/exair-cold-gun-1...gc lsrc=aw.ds

There's some issues I can see with this - all of them non-issues for skilled operators with a proper setup.

1. Noise both from the compressor and this gear.
2. Nozzle position - it has to be aimed correctly because you are cooling air and air is not as good a thermal conductor as say water.

So while I am all for this if you do it right, and it certainly removes the risk of spraying mist everywhere, it's also hard to see you didn't put the air where you wanted it.

[marshall]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

There's some issues I can see with this - all of them non-issues for skilled operators with a proper setup.

1. Noise both from the compressor and this gear.
2. Nozzle position - it has to be aimed correctly because you are cooling air and air is not as good a thermal conductor as say water.

So while I am all for this if you do it right, and it certainly removes the risk of spraying mist everywhere, it's also hard to see you didn't put the air where you wanted it.

It's true. It's also worth pointing out that with those nozzles you still need to cool the bit with a proper speed and feed setting for getting chips of a proper size. I can't speak from personal experience but the software package that comes up over and over for calculating speeds/feeds is this one (G-Wizard): http://www.cnccookbook.com/

Would definitely include that in your CAM software stack.

[rcoren22]

We use coolant mist, but one trick we have come up with is to put the compressor outside.

It drastically helps reduce noise and it helps cool the air. (Considering build season in North Jersey is typically pretty darn cold.)

Note: You may want to add an inline filter as this seems to increase the amount of moisture running through the lines.

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

There's some issues I can see with this - all of them non-issues for skilled operators with a proper setup.

1. Noise both from the compressor and this gear.
2. Nozzle position - it has to be aimed correctly because you are cooling air and air is not as good a thermal conductor as say water.

So while I am all for this if you do it right, and it certainly removes the risk of spraying mist everywhere, it's also hard to see you didn't put the air where you wanted it.