Another vote for SheetCAM.  We have ArtCAM, RhinoCAM and VisualMill...And I Use SheetCAM 99% of the time.  The ability to use programming logic like if...then...else, etc. in post processors makes it capable of a lot of things that the others are not. 

I changed the design a bit, not using a spindle motor now. Decided to use a 1 HP conventional 110V motor and drive it with some intermediate pulleys to get the tool in the 9000-500 RPM range, built a R8 spindle housing to use the collets I already have.
It's slowly coming together...

Looking good!

Brett

Nice work,
I especially like the way that you counterbalanced the Z by putting the motor onto the backside of the machine.

Mike

Thanks.

Everything attached to the main gantry rail is aluminum except for the motor. I am mounting a 6 inch precision vice (yellow block) on the frame and a rotary head beside it. The work table is 5/8" Blanchard ground plate. The side plates are water cut 1" 6061 plate.

There is a slight issue with frame sag because of the gantry weight but it is being solved with a table brace and some center jack screws.

Good to see a nice clean and tidy wiring job
Hood

Got all the hard parts built... now doing cable/air/wire management, mounts for control box/laptop, then strip it down for paint.

Why in the world are you going to cover up all that eyecandy with some ugly paint?   


Looking great!

Brett

Been busy with "real" work so it has been on that back burner as of late... only going to paint the steel parts.

Neat work so far, may I ask if you have a build thread on your R8 spindle that goes up to 9000 RPM's?

Do you possibly have a picture of it in pieces and showing/naming what bearings you used?

Thanks, and great work you have done-
Dave