cnc machine

As you can see below, the CNC machine I am using to build all my parts was designed and build by me (Rendering done is KeyShot). As usual, it started life as a model in Solidworks. The parts, once I was satisfied with them, were cut out of Aluminum, and the bigger ones were cut on a Water-Jet machine. The rest as you can see, are simply Extruded Aluminum. Initialy, I was running it with a regular wood router as a spindle. Eventually, I moved on to a VFD spindle. More information and Pictures below.

As you can see here, I am also using an Xbox game controller, to control jogging on the machine. This is simply done through a Mach3 plugin that supports the controller.
The drivers are from Kelling Inc, running on a 60V power supply I build into the controller box you see.
I am using a regular parallel port break-out board for the control signals, and all limit switches, homing switches, and probe.
The VFD is made by Tekno-Motor, running on a Delta VFD controller/Inverter.
The table is made from Aluminum extrusion, but I was using simple surfaced MDF as well.
Custom brackets were designed to hold the Vacuum Hose, along with the Dust Colector shoe (you can see Youtube video below).
Motion is through Ballscrews and Ball Nuts, using also steel rails with Linear Guides throughout.
All motors are coupled to Ballscrews with Timing Belts, through bearing end-blocks.
You can see size relation, with the pics of the Archtop Guitar placed on the Bed.

The videos above (from my youtube channel) detail the process I took to build the dust hood of the machine, and also the Touch Probes I use. Pretty straight forward, with also the help of a MACH3 plugin. Have a look, and let me know if there is anything further I might be able to answer for you. Below, you can see that before the VFD spindle, I was using a variable speed wood router. I have to say, that it did the job quite nicely as well. I think I paid about $200 at Home Depot for it when I got it, and still use it to this day as a stand alone router for bindings and round overs. As you can also see, before I began to cut anything, I was testing out the machine by “air cutting” different guitar bodies, like the Les Paul you see in the video below. Better be safe than sorry , (or ruin a very expensive piece of figured Maple)! At around 1:07 you can see the CNC controller in action (I placed LEDs that light up depending on the axis direction). The router mounds where cut out of Delrin on the CNC offcourse! You can also see close ups of the steppers, cable carriers, and ball screws etc. It will rapid at 400IPM with no issues. I tried pushing it more, but since the X-axis screw is a bit large, it would whip and stall. More speed than I need for my needs!

Above you can see my most recent addition to the machine: a 4th axis. I had to expand my controller by adding another stepper driver, but this was easy since my breakout board already had room for another input. I then had to configure Mach3 to accept this axis (will write a blog on how I did this soon). As you can see, what I have mounted to the axis is a Pen mandrel, since I was in the process of engraving and carving some pens. No real use for the 4th axis for Lutherie, but I have seen folks machine necks by mounting them to a 4th axis. Not sure of the benefits, but maybe someday I will give that a go.

And now, time for a bit of nostalgia: The machine to the right (bottom) is the first CNC machine I build back in 2007. As you can see, I had it cutting a “warlock” type guitar which I build, which was also my first guitar! It was cutting at a blazing speed of about 30 IPM! How did I achieve this you ask? Well, by simply using Home Depot Threaded Rod and electrical conduit off course! Nothing but the best! It was really a learning experience, and one I will fondly remember. It was not long after that, that I realized I needed to get serious LOL!