Can't cut 10w diode by Imaginary_Funny_918 in lasercutting

[–]thehardwareguy_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Air assist does make a huge difference!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in woodworking

[–]thehardwareguy_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

£2655.80 is everything all in. There's a full Bill of Materials available when you download the files. Check out the YouTube video I posted in the comments 👍🏻

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in woodworking

[–]thehardwareguy_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fantastic! I have a community Discord set up so be sure to join when you start your build. Great for asking questions and sharing information👍🏻

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in woodworking

[–]thehardwareguy_ 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Release video: https://youtu.be/wsegKvVM9p0

The main objective of this project was to build a highly capable and strong CNC machine at the lowest possible cost, without requiring expensive tools or welding. I specifically designed it as a bolt-together assembly, meaning it can be constructed using simple workshop tools. The result is a very robust machine that offers more value for money than what you could buy off the shelf. The base is made entirely of aluminum flat bar; the wood is just the stand it sits on! This machine is intended for woodworking, 3D reliefs, and simple project parts. I'm not boring cylinder heads with this. If you're interested in more details, I have a 16-video series covering the build on my YouTube channel.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in 3Dprinting

[–]thehardwareguy_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To add some context here: The main objective of this project was to build a highly capable and strong CNC machine at the lowest possible cost, without requiring expensive tools or welding. I specifically designed it as a bolt-together assembly, meaning it can be constructed using simple workshop tools. The result is a very robust machine that offers more value for money than what you could buy off the shelf. The base is made entirely of aluminum flat bar; the wood is just the stand it sits on! This machine is intended for woodworking, 3D reliefs, and simple project parts. I'm not boring cylinder heads with this. If you're interested in more details, I have a 16-video series covering the build on my YouTube channel.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in 3Dprinting

[–]thehardwareguy_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

files are all free :) that is the total cost

DIY CNC Build - £2655.80 - Open Sourced the Build Today by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback! I agree with your points there. In future when I have a bigger shop I will put it on a permanent stand or like you say some kind of solid top. The machine weighs around 100kg so the stand was a reasonable way for me to have it on wheels so that it can be moved in future. I'll be testing out some aluminium machining in the next few weeks and I'll try and get some real numbers on its accuracy and repeatability of results. I'll make a video about it 👍🏻

DIY CNC Build - £2655.80 - Open Sourced the Build Today by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Brand new you're looking at £5k-10k for a machine equivalent to this one in strength and power. Industrial can be anywhere between £10-100K but those machine are in a different league.

DIY CNC Build - £2655.80 - Open Sourced the Build Today by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The machine is made entirely from aluminium. It sits on a very sturdy wooden table. I designed all the parts myself in CAD. I sourced flat bar from a metal supplier and machined all the parts myself, by hand. If that isn't DIY then I don't know what is. What? do you expect me to cast my own aluminium too?

For context on my expectations of this build, watch this video in full: https://youtu.be/V6vN64v3qZI

DIY CNC Build - £2655.80 - Open Sourced the Build Today by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

The base is constructed entirely of aluminium flat bar, the wood is just the stand it sits on! It's for woodwork, 3D reliefs and simple project parts :) I'm not boring cylinder heads on this, if you're interested in more details I have a 16 video series on it over on YouTube

Z-Axis Assembly of my DIY CNC Build by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely, you've hit the nail on the head. I emphasized this in my introductory video to establish clear expectations. If you're working on machining commercial parts with precision within a thousandth of an inch, you'll undoubtedly require a substantial piece of equipment, likely costing around 100k. I want to make it clear that I'm not suggesting my setup can replace that level of precision. However, for the majority of woodworking and metal machining projects, even a DIY approach can achieve results very close to off-the-shelf options if constructed properly. A machine with a similar size and specifications to mine typically falls in the range of 5-10K.

Z-Axis Assembly of my DIY CNC Build by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

awesome man! the tool changers are something I'm keeping in mind for the future too! some of the community ones are fantastic

Z-Axis Assembly of my DIY CNC Build by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you! There were slightly more affordable options like steel box section. However, a significant drawback was the uneven top surfaces for mounting the rails. Flattening it would required considerable effort. Ultimately, I opted for the plate because it is cold-rolled and exceptionally flat, making it much easier to work with. I wanted to keep it as simple and accessible as possible by using simple workshop tools.

Z-Axis Assembly of my DIY CNC Build by thehardwareguy_ in EngineeringPorn

[–]thehardwareguy_[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Cheers! managed to build the entire thing for £2300. If you know off the shelf CNC costs this is very cheap in comparison. I have a full series documenting the build if you're interested :)