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$9.95
10 x 9 Fixed Gantry MachineThis machine was designed to be as solid and inexpensive as possible. Attributes of this machine include:
The machine has a cutting area of 10 x 9 inches with 4 inches of Z travel, and a footprint of 17.5 x 17.5 inches. The machine is a smaller but more robust version of the 13x13. Instead of bushings, it uses bearings that ride on supported rails. Bearings also support the leadscrews. All materials for this machine were purchased from the local Lowes, with the exception of the 608 (skate) bearings, drives and steppers. The cost of the hardware store components is around $100. The thirty bearings add ~$40 depending on the supplier and quality. The machine uses materials with a minimum of waste. The machine's body is made of 1x4 and 1x6 boards that are cut to length and drilled. This solid wood is stiffer than MDF. The rails are all cut from black iron pipe, rigid conduit, or galvanized plumbing pipe. The table is sized so it can use half (18 inches) of a standard three foot leadscrew on the X and Y axes. This helps to keep upgrade costs lower.  Only basic tools are required to build this machine. Most cuts are cross-cuts, and all wood cuts can be made with a small chop, miter, or hand saw. A table saw is neither required nor missed. The pipe rails and leadscrews can be cut with a hacksaw. There are no threads to tap, and the rails are not drilled. ................
The plans include step by step written directions with photos, dimensioned drawings and templates of the components.
There are over 250 images, which are primarily color photos. Many of the CAD drawings are perspective views, which are easy to visualize. Also included are measured cut diagrams for the 1x4 and 1x6 boards, so the parts can be measured and cut quickly. These sections of wood are then drilled to accept the hardware. Construction is very straightforward. ..................... |
Work Milled with the 10x9  Used 5/16-18 Hardware Store Leadscrews  Used 5/16-18 Hardware Store Leadscrews  Used Precision Acme Leadscrews  Used 5/16-18 Hardware Store Leadscrews The photos on the right show pieces of 3/8 x 6 inch aluminum flat bar that were drilled and milled with this 10x9 machine. The piece is 6 inches wide and 7-1/2 inches high. The examples in the first two and last images were milled with a 10x9 machine that used hardware store 5/16-18 threaded rods as the leadscrews with tee nuts for leadnuts. The work in the third image was milled on a 10x9 machine that used 3/8 inch diameter precision Acme with anti-backlash leadnuts on the X and Y axes. This upgrade adds ~$140 to the price of the machine. ................
As the photos show, the differences between the cuts with the precision leadscrews are substantial on some cuts, while the differences are not that extreme on others. Diagonal cuts that are made with both axes advancing will have more chatter than cuts that are milled when only one axis is moving. Though the chatter marks in the bottom image are more pronounced than the others, the cut is still functional, and the edge can be quickly dressed with a belt sander. Keeping things in perspective, the cut is not bad for an 89¢ leadnut. Higher resolution views with more details are on the 10x9 Details page. ................ The 5/16-18 threaded rod leadscrews gave rapids above 50 inches per minute. The precision Acme leadscrews permitted rapids over 250 ipm with 200 oz.in. steppers. ................
The prototypes used the HobbyCNC 200 oz.in. system. HobbyCNC also sells a 305 oz.in. system; the extra power is noticeable, but was not missed in machining the aluminum with this 10x9 machine.. The machine can use larger steppers and drives. The Xylotex 269, 425, and HobbyCNC 305 oz.in systems can be recycled into all of the other machines in the Solsylva plans. Therefore, this machine can be built as an introduction to CNC, and the electrical components can later be reused in other machines. This machine is sized in imperial units because it is built of off the shelf USA home center parts. Tool list (on FAQ Page) ................
These plans do not include directions
for the software and electronics.
This information is covered by the recommended software and stepper suppliers.
These plans do give directions for deriving the Step per Unit values needed to configure the software. The machines work well with stepper and drive systems such as those from Xylotex and HobbyCNC. The recommended software is Mach3 or TurboCNC. Other software and motor suppliers can be used. The above vendors work with the Do It Yourself market, and supply documentation and help forums for their products. Download details are given on the Download Page. The plans can also be purchased by clicking the Buy Now button in the table below; this will take you to PayPal via E-Junkie, the downloading service. You do not need a PayPal account to use a credit card with PayPal. |
| 10x9 Plan Digital PDF File | Price | Delivered By Digital Download | Buy w/ PayPal |
 10x9 Fixed Gantry |
$9.95 |
This plan is only available as a download, there is no hard copy. The file size is 7,930 KB (8 MB) The file name is 10x9_plans.pdf |
10x9 Plan
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