http://diylilcnc.org/forum/tags/material Free, open-source plans for a low-cost 3-axis CNC mill by Taylor Hokanson and Chris Reilly. Sponsored by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. en-US Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:13:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://diylilcnc.org/forum/search.php http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post/page/2#post-914 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:45:06 +0000 Don 914@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I started off with CNC a while back attempting the oomlot build from instructables.com and it went great unitll it came time for those stinking barrel nuts &gt;:| grrrr I still have nightmares about it so after seeing this one on instructables I was so happy to see a way around them! planning my build now but had a few questions. </p> <p>Is there any reason I couldn't use .25 inch MDF as opposed to Masonite? I would think MDF would be a lot more consitant in thickness due to the nature of its manufacturing process but what do I know thats just speculation. Is Masonite more rigid than MDF? was masonite chosen solely because its cheap? has anyone out there adapted the use of a rotozip as the cutting tool? would a rotozip even fit in the z-cart? I know I could do the measurements myself to see but always better to ask so Im not reinventing the wheel </p> <p>I just scheduled some time at a local tech school with their laser to cut the panels out. Their laser cutter is a Amada Pulsar 2000W Laser (so psyced to get to use it lol!)</p> <p>Don Mynes </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post/page/2#post-823 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:31:05 +0000 Taylor 823@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>That's right! Material on the thin side will work fine, but if it's too thick the slot width won't allow you to insert your tabs. If your heart is really set on thicker material, you can adjust the slot width in the CAD files. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post/page/2#post-822 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:01:57 +0000 Dave Struve 822@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>So i see .21 - .25 is the thickness i should be looking for, is this the range you need to avoid adjusting slot location or is it more specific? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-818 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:31:50 +0000 Veiga 818@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> What is the weight of the package with laser cut panel parts?<br /> Is it a single package? What are its dimensions?</p> <p>Regards,<br /> Marcos </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-815 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:14:19 +0000 Taylor 815@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@ MauiJerry,</p> <p>These files will work with a variety of kerf results. We haven't tested the plans on every laser, but there have been no complaints thus far. We do recommend measuring all stock before you start cutting, as anything over .25" will start causing problems.</p> <p>Laser settings are more art than science. We used a 120 watt, but we always recommend that each builder set their own feeds/speeds through trial and error to account for the specific nature of their setup.</p> <p>It's surprising to hear that MDF and hardboard act differently on the laser. You're right about plywood - that stuff is so warped I'd avoid it all together. As far as this design is concerned, any rigid material that's about .21"-.25" will work. You might consider plexiglass if you're having wood burning issues. However, as Bre likes to say, plex suffers from the "binary fail". Looks awful good though! </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-814 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:38:00 +0000 MauiJerry 814@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>What kerf (aka cut width) is built into the dxf plans?<br /> What are the laser type and settings that you use? (make, model, wattage, speed, power, frequency, etc)<br /> I have had widely varied success with my Epilog Helix 24 40w system.<br /> MDF cuts ok - havent measured the kerf yet though. Hardboard gave me real problems (burning more than cutting)<br /> Plywoods are notoriously variable. I;ve had moderate success with high grade 1/8" ply but other plys will either burn or not cut, within cm of points. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-752 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:45:10 +0000 Taylor 752@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@Kyle,</p> <p>Revive away! As I just posted on a similar thread, we've just established DIYLILCNC L3C, which is a mission-based model halfway between for and not-for-profit. We should have the first batch of DIY panels for sale in the short term, so keep checking back. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-749 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:42:17 +0000 Kyle 749@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Hopefully not waking a dead-thread....</p> <p>Any movement on that business-model? I'm also in Chicago, and would be interested in having the cutting done for me. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/acrylic-vs-masonite/page/2#post-657 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:47:41 +0000 jimmycakes 657@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Are there any Illustrator files available? Possibly with all the tabs on a separate layer allowing easy editing of the tabs? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/different-materials-what-have-you-used#post-654 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:48:21 +0000 jimmycakes 654@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I read through the forums and did some searching on here. I see masonite and PVC. Has anyone tried any other materials? What are the pros and cons? I would imagine that PVC would allow you to have an even thickness of material, which the masonite does not. I am talking with a friend who has a laser cutter and a friend who has a CNC machine about cutting out my files for me. Now I'm trying to figure out who I should use and what materials. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-624 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:33:37 +0000 Taylor 624@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>If you're local to Chicago we may be able to do the cutting for you. Chris and I are still working out the business model, and we'll get in touch once we're up and running. In the meantime, look for local schools that have lasers in their architecture/engineering departments. You should be able to pay a student far less than it would cost at a commercial shop. If you've money to burn, Elston Metal Tanks is a great shop (though I'm not sure if they do non-metal jobs). </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/before-you-get-panels-cut-read-this-post#post-622 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:42:38 +0000 Mike Ehrenberg 622@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Hey guys,</p> <p>I'm here in Chicago, would you guys be able to recommend a fab shop for cutting your plans?</p> <p>Thanks, Mike </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/my-diy-cnc-project-is-better#post-210 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:03:42 +0000 Chris 210@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@amigaman, great work! This looks awesome. Please keep us posted on your progress; we'd love to have pics of your finished build in the gallery section if you're willing. </p> <p>I'm curious about the PVC, where did you have it cut? I know that without the proper setup, PVC can be pretty nasty on a laser cutter due to corrosive off-gassing. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/my-diy-cnc-project-is-better#post-206 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:32:48 +0000 DIYengineer 206@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>where did you buy the black PVC? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/my-diy-cnc-project-is-better#post-203 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:54:04 +0000 amigaman 203@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I am building mine out of .25" laser cut PVC. I can blue the edges together with PVC cement to make it one solid piece. Pictures here:</p> <p><a href="http://astromechbuilder.com/mechloader/v/R7Dude/CNC/" rel="nofollow">http://astromechbuilder.com/mechloader/v/R7Dude/CNC/</a></p> <p>I just ordered all the electonics and hardware. </p>