hello everyone, i've not been here for a while, due to the fact that my little (1500mm x 1500mm) Oosnest CNC Router runs every other day and is doing its job just like it was intended to do in my sign shop, so no quibbles there. What I'm trying to do here is gauge opinion on whether a 1500x1500 (mm) Hot wire cutter for cutting styrofoam is workable. I would love any input from anyone as regards belts gantries and other systems for controlling a 4 axis system (paired) for two gantries, and the also the electronics for the hot wire bit. Also we run vcarve software here and has anyone tried this for 2 axis cutting? Any help or opinions would be welcome. Also anyone with more knowledge of the working parts and components of vrail and specs if someone could come up with a parts lists or recommendation of parts that would be really helpful. TIA Alan
I use DevFoam Pro for toolpaths and Mach3 for cutting. I used OpenBuilds rails for my two upright axes, cold-rolled steel for the x. 80/20 aluminum for all of the frame. Steel reinforced nylon timing belts to drive everything. Stepper motors came from Automation Technologies. I made all my smaller aluminum parts from 1/4'' and 1/2'' aluminum sheet bought on Ebay. MAchined them on my CNC router.My machine is over 10' long and 8' wide x 5' high so I had to machine the long rails myself. But you could use all ready-made stuff for a machine that size.
Crikey Wayne that's a monster! Well done for creating it, looks like your in the same game as me, I wouldn't mind going that big just wish i had the room, hopefully just big enough to cut foam letters, i had mixed results bending acrylic for letter returns to make chunky letters but was looking for a cheap alternative as in foam letters.
