STLCutter 2 - Parts list

I showed Keith (Aeon Sportscars) the plans for the new CNC machine, and we had a chat about the various options for it. He was happy that it would work significantly better than the previous version, and we agreed to make it. I then made a list of parts that would be suitable.

Or so I thought. After beginning to place a £1500 list of materials with Zapp Automation, Gary (from Zapp) corrected me on a few points, such as the whip speed of the ballscrews I was going to go for, and (later on), the power of the motors I'd chosen. So, I changed the sizes of the screws, and got some more powerful motors.

The parts are as grouped for X, Y and Z-axis, motors, computer and also the router

X-axis

• 2x2000mm long 15mm rails
• 4x15mm carriages
• 1x1600mm 25x25mm ballscrew (with nut)
• End bearings for ballscrew
• Motor coupling (16mm -> 16mm)

Y-axis

• 2x1600mm long 25mm supported rails
• 4x25mm linear bearings (with mounting blocks)
• 1x1600mm 25x25mm ballscrew (with nut)
• End bearings for ballscrew
• Motor coupling (16mm -> 16mm)

Z-axis

• 2x400mm long 25mm supported rails
• 2x25mm linear bearings (with mounting blocks)
• 1x400mm 16x5mm ballscrew (with nut)
• End bearings for ballscrew
• Motor coupling (16mm -> 8mm)

Motors

This is basically Zapp's CNC Driver Kit 2

• 3xNEMA size 34 stepper motors (12Nm)
• 3xPM2278 stepper controllers (max 7.8A)

Computer

The computer was not purchased from Zapp Automation

• Dual-core Intel Atom Mini-ITX board
• 250G SATA drive
• Small HTPC case
• Laptop size DVD-WR drive
• EMC2 (Linux-based) CNC software
• Home-made parallel port interface, with LCD display showing CNC position
• 8.4" touch-screen LCD display (800x600 resolution; would be nice for a higher resolution screen)

Router

The router was not purchased from Zapp Automation

• Trend T10 router (variable speed, 2kW)
• 8mm collet
• 6.35mm collet
• Trend water channel cutter

This router was chosen because of the following reasons:

• It is very powerful
• It can take 1/2" router bits
• It has a variable speed control

I did consider the T11 earlier, but it had features that I didn't need (it's basically the same as the T10 otherwise).