Difference between revisions of "Equipment/CNC Router"

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== Health and Safety ==
 
== Health and Safety ==
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The CNC Router is a potentially dangerous piece of equipment which must only be operated by members who have received appropriate training and who take due care. The top things to always remember when using the CNC Router are:
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* '''ONLY USE THE CNC ROUTER IF YOU ARE ON THE LIST OF TRAINED USERS'''
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* '''NEVER LEAVE THE CNC ROUTER RUNNING UNATTENDED'''
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As a trained user, you should be very aware of the following risks and how to deal with them:
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'''FIRE''' - Cutting with the wrong settings could result in the material igniting.
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'''TRAPPING''' - Stand clear of the machine while in motion.
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'''DUST''' - Ensure extraction system is working.
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'''NOISE''' - Ensure that you wear the correct PPE when working with the machine for prolonged periods.
  
 
== Instructions ==
 
== Instructions ==

Revision as of 02:11, 12 May 2013

Class Red equipment: Do not use without specific training.
(More about equipment classes)

Equipment / CNC Router
CNC Router


Summary

A CNC router is a computer controlled shaping machine. These are related to the hand held router. Instead of hand held routing, the tool paths can be controlled via computer numerical control. It is a computer-controlled machine for cutting various hard materials, such as wood, composites, aluminum, steel, plastics, and foams. It is one of many kinds of tools that have CNC variants. A CNC router is very similar in concept to a CNC milling machine. The CNC router is controlled by a computer. Coordinates are uploaded into the machine controller from a separate CAD program

  • Capacity: 1200 x 1200 x 120mm
  • Rate (X,Y): 6000mm/min (Max) 5000mm/min (Working)
  • Rate (Z): 30mm/sec
  • Spindle Speed: 4500 to 24000rpm
  • Mechanical Precision: 0.01mm
  • Spindle Power: 1.5KW Variable Speed, Water-cooled
  • Blade Diameter: min 3.175mm, max 12.7mm
  • Order Format: HPGL, G code, u00, mmg, plt
  • Control System: DSP with USB connection

Here are some examples we've made on the Model Mill (please add a photo of yours any time you do a job!)

  • WP 20130509 004.jpg

Using the CNC Router

Owners

The Owners are those who have volunteered to be in charge of the equipment, organising maintenance, training others to use it, and generally being a point of contact. The current Owners of the CNC Router are:

  • Stephen Woolhead
  • Chris Abri
  • Mark Mellors

If you have any questions, problems or concerns around the Model Mill, please use the mailing list thread:

Training

YOU CAN ONLY USE THE MODEL MILL IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED
and have been added to the Trained Users list by one of the Owners

To get trained on the model mill and be added to the qualified user list, you will need to arrange for a training session with one of the Model Mill Owners.

If you'd like to arrange training, please see:

Health and Safety

The CNC Router is a potentially dangerous piece of equipment which must only be operated by members who have received appropriate training and who take due care. The top things to always remember when using the CNC Router are:

  • ONLY USE THE CNC ROUTER IF YOU ARE ON THE LIST OF TRAINED USERS
  • NEVER LEAVE THE CNC ROUTER RUNNING UNATTENDED

As a trained user, you should be very aware of the following risks and how to deal with them:

FIRE - Cutting with the wrong settings could result in the material igniting.

TRAPPING - Stand clear of the machine while in motion.

DUST - Ensure extraction system is working.

NOISE - Ensure that you wear the correct PPE when working with the machine for prolonged periods.

Instructions

Tips & Tricks

Maintenance

The maintenance of the CNC Routeris carried out by the Owners, with some basic maintenance being carried out by Users on every job.

Maintenance Schedule

Maintenance Log

Installed on 21st March 2013.

Maintenance Shopping List

Original Requirements Notes

  • CNC Controlled
  • Minimum 4' x 4' cutting bed
    • It was generally concluded whilst 8' x 4' would be attractive, it may have limits in terms of floor space and also materials storage and handling - storing and moving 8' x 4' sheets on to a flatbed machine is a pretty impractical task in a full workshop, and certainly not a 1 man job.
    • We concluded we could store a lot of sheet material in 4' x 4' and 600 x 900 for the router and laser respectively (and for general use), making storage much more tractable and avoiding the need to cut down such large sheets.
  • decent software

Maybe a Vacuum bed

  • Would make jobs quicker to setup (except vacuum beds sometimes require a custom 'mask' cutting to cover all the unused holes)
  • avoids risk of hitting clamps/bolts
  • Will be more expensive (new mask needed for each job?)
  • Unsure how "magical" a solution it is

Options

Shopbot

  • The defacto FabLab CNC router
  • Would be from the [PRS Standard Range]
  • Prices are roughly $11500 and $13000 for the 4x4 and 8x4 models
  • Ship from US (no distributors), by air or sea, and import duties etc payable
  • Quote from Shopbot: approx $15k/£10k + shipping/taxes for 4x4, 8x8 would be approx £2k more

Piranha

HPC Laser CNC


Others

Machine URL Price (UKP) Size - X Size - Y Size - Z Weight Notes
Heiz S400 link £1595 400 300 110 31kg
Heiz S720 link £1995 720 420 110 41kg Videos - Making PCBMachining metalEngraving in wood
Heiz S1000 link £2395 1000 600 110 51kg £4012 including all options and VAT
HPCLaser RC6090 link £3750+VAT 600 900 65 200kg Up to 24000rpm, 30mm cutting thickness. From same supplier as Laser cutter. Upgraded spindle from one listed. Claimed accuracy of 10 micron.

Weight gives an indication of stiffness and quality for a given size of machine. Shopbots weight is not listed

Notes

http://www.shopbottools.com/mProducts/prSstandard.htm

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