Combo CNC/3D Printer Build

It is working! The eagle spotted viewer would realize that circle is more of an oval, so I have some belts to tighten and fine tuning to do, but otherwise major forward progress, and next....Printing!

Progress on the assembly front! The frame is back together and the wiring is almost complete. I have had to rewire a large portion to allow for the Gshield and Printrboard to used the same motor inputs. They are both tied into the same terminal block now and all I have to do is turn on either one so they will have motor access! The machine is back together and moving, I will most some of the first cut videos soon.

A more detailed update with pictures is coming, but new parts came in for a more robust frame, wiring is being done well so repair and upgrades are far more feasible, and limit switches are going in so printing can begin! Stay tuned!

The time is ripe for another frame change! After making some test cuts, I made some observations, notably:

- I was a serious amount of walkout due to the dremel I am using. This will be solved my using a legit metal mount and a more powerful tool (the Makita I mentioned in the previous build log).

- The bed would flex due to only three points, very close together. His caused cuts to be at an angle which is now resolved with the fixed bed design.

- Also, even with 3D printing in mind, The z was higher than I needed. Shortening it would allow me to change to a moving gantry and fixed bed system.

- Here are a few notes in my notebook:

The solution is to change the design from a more 3D printer inspired design to a more conventional milling setup. This keeps the bed in place and lets the gantry move in both the x and y direction. This new setup allows for a more ridged frame to allow for less walkout/better milling as well as supporting a heavier, more powerful spindle.

I am looking at upgrading my spindle from my punny dremel tool I am currently using. This would allow me to really cut some materials and not have to baby the mill making sure the spindle doesn't choke. I am looking at a Makita rt0701c palm router as I have heard that the Makita is far less noisy than the comparable Dewalt, and a few bucks cheaper. It will also give me more power than a Chinese DC spindle, and cost less.

This upgrade will force me to rethink my gantry slightly to bear a larger load and to design a better mount for the spindle which will be the next update.

I have added an enclosure to the electronics (printrboard, gshield, and PSU) cut out of MDF with a frame of aluminum extrusions. The front panel will be added soon to include quick connectors for the motors and limit switches as well as a power/kill switch.

Also, a dust collection tube has been added. This is not an ideal design, since it is hot glued and zip-tied, but when I upgrade the spindle I will design in a full dust collection system. This just makes clean up much faster.