So stand up and say hi!! Thanks
Hi!!
Thank you for the warm welcome.
I've just joined because I am starting to plan a CNC router table build (my first). Now putting the pieces together (in my head) before putting the pieces together (in the shop). I have used NC's before but most of my time on mill and lathe have been on manual machines with nothing more complicated than a DRO. I have a lot of projects that would be a lot more interesting with a CNC router table and I'm getting ready to take the plunge. This isn't a daunting project for me, having supported an engineering prototyping shop for 12 years with a wide range of manufacturing capabilities. Those days are gone and I guess this is how I want to get back into the game, so to speak.
To get started, the big question is: How big? I have enough material to make a table 4'x8' or larger, opening the door to a very large number of sheet-metal fabrication projects with stock aluminum sheet. But that table size implies I can also set up the motion controls that are that big. The costs rise quickly if I'm too ambitious. Has anyone shared their DIY project costs for that size of router table?
Controllers: I like what I see from PMDX. Any reason for caution with that choice?
Drivers: Is Gecko the obvious first choice are there other contenders?
Motors: For this size of machine is it safe to say that a NEMA 34 is too small, or has this been successfully used to move a 4' wide gantry? Can the driver/controller combination above be used to drive 2 motors in sync?