Mr. JwC's eShapeoko [Pre-Build]

[mrjwc]

This will be the first post on the board for me. I've been lurking here on and off for the last few years while planning my build and I've finally decided it's time to start building.

Quick introduction: I'm an engineer with a love for electronics and mechanics even though I studied IT. I frequently come up with ideas for things I should build, but the limiting factor has always been my patience and the lack of proper tools. When I've, despite my situation, started a woodworking project I've always ended up frustrated because the dimensions and angles weren't perfect and that made assembly more difficult. I'm hoping a nice Shapeoko will aid me greatly in my projects in the future.

I'm hoping to be able to cut/mill MDF/Fiberboard and PCBs to start off with.

Here's my current shopping list. I haven't ordered any of the items below just yet, so if any of you have some input please speak up

• Choose-your-size eShapeOko Mechanical Kit with Open End Plates from A/S/L
  • NEMA23 on all axes
  • Aluminium spacers
  • 1000mm dual X rail
  • 1500mm Y rail + deluxe frame
  • Trapezoidal Z leadscrew
• Steppers from OMC Stepperonline
  • X: 1x Nema23 1.16Nm 1.5A (164.3 oz-in) 23HS22-1504S (http://www.omc-stepperonline.com/nema-2 ... -p-68.html)
  • Y: 2x Nema23 0.6Nm 0.88A (85 oz-in) 23HS16-0884S (http://www.omc-stepperonline.com/nema-2 ... p-105.html)
  • Z: 1x Nema23 0.6Nm 0.88A (85 oz-in) 23HS16-0884S
• Steppers drivers
  • 4x DRV8825
  • GAUPS Shield (50V)
• Spindle
  • Uni CNC spindle motor 850W, 11 500-32 000rpm from eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 1304465029)
• 36V 9.7A Power Supply from OMC (http://www.omc-stepperonline.com/switch ... p-157.html)

Regarding the aluminium spacers, will they put a lot of wear on the makerslides? Should I wait and buy the hard anodized makerslides instead?
I like to do things like this properly, but the question is; am I being too ambitious?
Maybe the Nema23s are overkill? If so, this in turn means the stepper drives might not be needed and I could instead go for a grbl setup.

Any thoughts and/or suggestions regarding the build will be greatly appreciated.

Replaced

• NEMA23 steppers from CNC4You.co.uk<
  • X: 1x 3.1Nm (Specs: http://cnc4you.co.uk/resources/60BYGH301B.PDF)
  • Y: 2x 1.5Nm (Specs: http://cnc4you.co.uk/resources/57HS64-3008.pdf
  • Z: 1x 1.5Nm
• Stepper drives from Lucas (http://users.skynet.be/ldt/CNC%20electr ... 064AH.html)
  • 4x Traditional or Special DIY THB6064AH boards
  • 4 axis BOB
• 36V 10A Power Supply from eBay
• Spindle alternatives
  • a) Dremel knock-off (this would be purchased only for testing and to start off with)
  • c) 0.8kw or 1.5kw water-cooled chinese spindle with Bosch Rexroth EFC3600 or similar VFD

[May 10 update]
Everything is now ordered and I've already received the steppers and PSU, a 1/8" reducer for the router and quite possibly the router itself (I've got a package still at the post office).

Also ordered some PCB micro drill bits, 0.1mm 20° engraving bits and copper clad boards from eBay so I have something to work with once I get all the parts for the machine itself. Also need to buy some end mills soon.

[cvoinescu]

The aluminium spacers don't come in contact with the MakerSlide. They contribute a lot to the rigidity of the X carriage, which is a good thing. The V-wheels are still plastic -- the hard anodized MakerSlide needed for steel V-wheels is still a month or so into the future, unfortunately.

I think you're going overboard with those NEMA23 motors. There's hardly any benefit from any motor bigger than a 51 mm NEMA23 (say, 0.9 or 1 N m). You'll be able to break, strip or unclamp the belt with that X motor, but it won't make the machine better, in my opinion. Also, I'm personally against a NEMA23 motor on the Z axis, because a good NEMA17 will do the job just fine. If you must put a NEMA23 there, go for a small one.

[mrjwc]

Thanks a lot for your input! The reason I was thinking big was because of possibly purchasing the heavy Chinese spindle in the future. (They weigh in at around 6kg if I remember correctly)
Will a Nema17 for the Z be able to cope with that kind of weight?

I'll look into some smaller 23s and see what I can find.

[cvoinescu]

Thanks a lot for your input! The reason I was thinking big was because of possibly purchasing the heavy Chinese spindle in the future. (They weigh in at around 6kg if I remember correctly)
Will a Nema17 for the Z be able to cope with that kind of weight?

I'm not sure it will cope -- but I don't think the rest of the machine will cope with a 6 kg spindle either. 2 kg is already pushing it.

[mrjwc]

Updated shopping list with more reasonable steppers and drivers etc

[mrjwc]

I've now received a few packages:

Steppers & PSU from omc-stepperonline.com (Super fast shipping)

web_steppers_psu.jpg (124.07 KiB) Viewed 3831 times

6mm - 1/8" reducer

web_3.175mm-reducer.jpg (99.23 KiB) Viewed 3830 times

Cau Cau 850w spindle from eBay

web_caucau850w.jpg (140.9 KiB) Viewed 3830 times

[mrjwc]

The Cau Cau weighs in at 1600 grams

web_DSC_0189.jpg (108.47 KiB) Viewed 3829 times

[Philip]

Curious what the runout on that spindle is, it's very cheap.

[mrjwc]

Curious what the runout on that spindle is, it's very cheap.

It is, unfortunately I haven't got the tools to measure the runout (yet at least), so I'll just have to see how it performs when I finish up my build and start cutting.
I'm possibly looking to upgrade to a chinese spindle in the future so I didn't want to spend almost 200€ on a branded spindle at this point.

[mrjwc]

Received the drivers yesterday, they're tinier than I imagined

DRV8825 Drivers

web_drv8825.jpg (109.38 KiB) Viewed 3764 times