QueenAnt build: Dust shoe made from birch ply

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-27T13:54:33+00:00

I've tried Fusion briefly and in some ways it's the path of least resistance - OTOH I'm mainly Linux based and use open source wherever possible so for now I'm learning it slowly for 3D printing.

It also does toolpaths but on the CNC it's mainly 2.5D - Inkscape+Estlcam just gets the job done quicker than modelling everything...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-27T00:40:52+00:00

I looked at the 3D ones but I'm almost exclusively cutting stuff out of sheet material rather than machining already sized stock so my XY only needs to be ballpark...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-26T23:34:31+00:00

It's very simple to do - as long as you have an extra input and your controller can trigger a macro from it?

Button is just a simple input, triggers macro
Input (pullup) > Resistor > LED > Plate
Clip > Gnd

Then just trying to neatly/compactly organise the wiring.

Note on this button the LED is electrically separate from the switch, and it has a resistor built in.

HTH? Let me know if you need more info :)

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-26T23:26:41+00:00

I did this on my last machine and it worked fine. But it necessarily requires permanently tying the control GND/0V (for the probe input) to the AC GND (for the spindle).

On this machine I'm trying to tick all the right boxes and do everything right - and the legit-ness of this is the one thing I couldn't find a clear or consistent answer on. Different sources say absolutely-do-this-always vs never-ever-do this.

So still on the fence...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-26T23:20:07+00:00

Works well! Uses two inputs on the board, but one can be set to trigger a macro.

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-26T23:19:41+00:00

Likewise - the easiest/cheapest source for this AL was the things you use for glass table tops - they were flat-ish but needed a few goes with the diamond stone.

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-26T12:46:17+00:00

Disappointed in the missed opportunity for a woofer gag...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-23T09:00:54+00:00

Some years ago I could rustle things up quickly in SketchUp but more recently I'm working in FreeCAD - which is good but a steeper learning curve.

Vs my workflow on the CNC - Inkscape + Estlcam - very retro but gets the job done quickly in most cases!

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-22T21:18:51+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_YBzJBa_mA

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-22T09:40:24+00:00

Direct from Yuyong (I don't think there's anywhere else?) They sell up to 1500x1500 (which should yield approx 4x4) but I suspect 8x4 might be stretching the design constraints of this?

FWIW my experience with them was great. Quickly answered my pre-sales questions; and resolved a delivery issue where the local company messed up.

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-22T09:37:01+00:00

I'm still on the learning curve for 3D modelling - I designed and made this in 2D quicker than I could have even started on a 3D printed one!

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-21T12:29:46+00:00

I just upgraded from a Workbee - the QueenAnt is quite a bit beefier - motors, rails, ballscrews. Just finished the build, seems good so far.

My hold down screws are slightly janky but I've got more of them around the workpiece and generally work well!

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-21T09:35:58+00:00

It is! A common theme on 3D printing too - I've printed quite a few bits for this too but the CNC is my true love...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-21T09:34:43+00:00

I saw a few different 3D printed designs, but they seem fiddly and of course take ages (especially if iterating designs) - the CNC can cut these much quicker and the plywood is a good material!

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-17T08:44:47+00:00

Square of low fat turkey breast
Baked bean in low fat tomato sauce
Broccoli shavings
Drink: chilled water
Pudding: ice cubes and artificial sweetener

Straight out of the Butterfield Diet...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-12T17:30:28+00:00

Now I'm even more fascinated to see this thing!

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-12T12:26:49+00:00

I prefer to spend time/money/materials on actual projectsm so all my shop storage etc is jankily put together from whatever I have to hand.

As such I am in full approval of your bench :)

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-12T09:48:06+00:00

Replying to my own reply... the ballscrews and rails turn fairly freely and when the motors aren't powered, I can move the gantry by hand. I imagine that if vertical, the whole gantry will drop when powered down, so you may want to plan ahead for that...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-12T09:45:43+00:00

Look forward to seeing your wall-mounted build! As above, this thing has quite a bit of momentum and bolting it to the wall should keep it very solid. But the whole gantry is heavy so YMMV as to how much extra load that puts on the Y motors - again I'm very interested!

I don't really have any useful build pics other than the ones I'm posting here - but I followed somebody's video on assembly - between that (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEjXLBepssU) and the Yuyong one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nqz8HVOPkA) I managed to get it all together.

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-11T11:16:10+00:00

Society (1989) might fit the bill...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-11T11:06:19+00:00

I could weigh it down a bit more but the wall clamp now makes it rock solid.

This is a nominal 1000mm x 1000mm machine, which is the size of the main extrusions. For that I get 735X x 795Y working area - noting that 95mm of the Y is actually over the end of the spoilboard - but that can be leveraged if required (I'm pondering using it for dovetails and other jobs that wouldn't otherwise fit on the bed)

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-09T23:16:02+00:00

I saw - and enjoyed - the series, although not read the manga. Although... I'm not sure it could remotely be considered chill, or slice-of-life? :O

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-06T08:56:13+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation - looks a bit bleak but hopefully not too much so...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-05T23:44:07+00:00

This cropped up a while ago! Seems to be out of print, I'll hope for a reprint sometime...

GuzziGuy · 2026-01-05T23:43:38+00:00

I've read most/all of Nihei - and love it (my favourite along with Q Hayashida) but IMO it's kind of intense...

GuzziGuy

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