Sphinx 55

SPHINX 55​

A Sphinx build to inspire and encourage all those who want to get started with cnc
to check out "Opensbuilds" line of machine bundles and hardware.



With this build I wanted to keep it clean and modular, Starting with a "Sphinx 55" Machine bundle from the Openbuilds part store. I added the following options to my build.

: High Torque Nema 23 Stepper Motors "Here"
Depending on what you have in mind to machine with your new router the extra power from these larger motors can really come in handy.

: Blackbox Motion Control System "Here"
A great thing to be aware of when selecting a controller / control system is software and support. With the Blackbox you have FREE software made available by the same guys providing the controller!

: Meanwell 24V DC Power Supply Bundle "Here"
When selecting your power supply you must keep in mind your machine requirements; everything from controller , stepper drivers and even external switches.

: RoutER11 ER11 Router "Here"
Everything from Dewalt routers to VFD controlled 3 phase spindles can be had for your new desktop router, Keep in mind collet options and weight when making your selection.

: XYZ Touch Probe Plus "Here"
Setting up your work and doing a tool change mid project can be intimidating at first, a accessory like a touch plate / probe can simplify the process and offer repeatability.

: Extension Limit Switches "Here"
Having home switches on your machine opens up the option of using multiple work coordinate systems. Everything from jigs and repeat setups become possible.

: Router LED Light Ring "Here"
Who does not like a little extra lighting in their workspace, a nice addition that brightens up any project.

For a full breakdown of my build please checkout my parts list on the relevant tab above. Now on to the fun bit, Photos.

In the first couple of photos we can really see how using 3D printing can help you keep a build organized and well routed. Power supply mount, decorative end caps and motor coupler covers are thanks to David. Probe connector mount, toggle mount, rear electronics plate and belt cover are my own.





The simple toggle switch and printed mount on the rear of the Y-axis seen here allows me to control the router led light ring without having to use up vital IO on the Blackbox controller. I do lose a few mm of travel but not a difficult trade off.







Taking the time to properly route your cables and securing them is important to the maintenance and long term use of your machine. If I had a label maker; I would have and do advise neatly labeling each cable. Also note how each wire from every cable coming to end in a screw terminal has been properly terminated with a ferrule. A many a problem can be avoided by not using soldered wire in a screw connector!







Cable drag chain, it can take a bit of time to route and setup but is completely worth the little bit of extra effort put in to your build. Not only does it immensely clean up a build, it will also give you more life out of your wiring. Preventing pinched cables and cut cords ect.





Spoiler board and work surface choices can range greatly from build to build or even builder to builder. Let us take a look at what I have done here with this build.

Starting at the base of my spoiler board stack up is a piece of 0.750" Mic 6 cast aluminum secured from the top to the machine base using M5 hardware. Next we have the T-Track. Here I am using five 500mm long 0.500" tall tracks bolted directly to the cast aluminum base with 8/32 x 0.375" pan head screws. As we want a bit of waste material built into our spoiler board that enables us to surface the bed of our machine, I decided on 0.750" thick MDF cut into four equal strips and drilled / counter bored for securing directly to the main cast aluminum base below with M5 hardware. Take note to counter bore the head of your hardware deep enough to be avoided after multiple surfacing runs across the spoiler board bed.







Adding the XYZ Touch Probe Plus to your build is a great idea ! It is a perfect addition to any machine using a router or ER collect based spindle. However one of the things I did not want to do was have the probe wired into the machine full time. Once I have used the touch plate, I want to put it away. This was my answer for this dilemma.

I hard wired in a microphone connector to the Blackbox controller and mounted it at the front of the machine. With this in place I was able to make a custom cable for the XYZ Touch Probe Plus that will plug directly into the mount up front and lock in place preventing any accidental removal during a macro run. Yet still be easily removable when the need arises.



With the Blackbox controller we have the ability to control either a VFD 3 phase motor or a mains voltage router via a relay. If you are not comfortable with wiring Mains Voltage or do not have a electrician that can help you, I would advise simply picking up a IOT Relay power strip from Openbuilds "Here"

In my case, This kind of project is something I am able to tackle myself and it gives me a good excuse to use up a few industrial components I have laying around. What I have built is a "Inline IOT Relay Extension Cord". Everything is housed in a two part 3D printed enclosure. With the routER 11 cord plugging into the provided 738W-X2/03 receptacle and the new power cord exiting through a panel mount cable gland. The control signal cable coming from the Blackbox is hardwired directly in to the extension housing. I am unsure of availability on the relay I used ( using up components on hand ) so I shall leave those details out for now.
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