13 x 13 Fixed Gantry MachineThis table was designed to be as simple and inexpensive as possible.
It uses materials with a minimum of waste. The machine's body is made of a 2x4 and a 1x4 that are cut to length. The rails are all cut from three 36 inch steel rods with no scrap.  Only basic tools are required to build the machine. There are
no threads to tap, or aluminum to drill, cut or bend. Most cuts are cross-cuts, and all wood cuts can be made with a small chop, miter, or hand saw. The metal rails and leadscrews can be cut with a hacksaw. The plans include step by step written directions with photos and dimensioned drawings of the components. Also included are measured cut diagrams for the 2x4 and 1x4 so the parts can be measured and cut quickly and easily. These sections of wood are then drilled to accept the hardware. Construction is very straightforward. The arrangement of the components gives a lean but sturdy machine. The gantry supports do not flex, and the chassis does not rack, even though very little wood is used in their construction. The solid wood is stiffer than MDF, and a table saw is not needed to build this machine.  The table bed can be made of a 15 x 15 inch piece of
plywood, MDF, or
plastic. One prototype uses a $5.00 plastic kitchen cutting board instead of wood for the table. This was done to illustrate the simplicity and flexibility of the machine's design. Right photo. Simple inexpensive off-the-shelf metal clamps and straps are used to hold parts in place. These negate the need to fabricate multiple small wooden support blocks. The components can easily be aligned; simple adjustment systems are incorporated into the machine's design. This simplicity allows the table to be built in a day. The machine has a 13 x 13 x 5+ inch cutting volume, but it has a footprint of only 18 x 25 inches.  The carriage is narrow, so the machine does not have to be as wide to achieve the 13 inch width of cut. The table overhangs the base, so the machine does not have to be as long to achieve the 13 inch cutting length. ................
This table uses bushings and unsupported rails, unlike the other
machines in these manuals, which use bearings on supported rails. Therefore, this 13 x 13 table is unable to cut as aggressively. However, it is still capable of supporting a trim router, though the router will not be pushed to its potential. The machine easily supports a Dremel, and the table's precision is on par with the other All Thread (hardware store threaded rod) leadscrew tables in these plans.  The work above was cut with a trim router and vee
bit, and the
piece on the right was cut with a Dremel and a straight bit. Each piece is MDF and is approximately four inches wide. ................
Because of this table’s small size and light weight, it
is able
to rapid at speeds faster than the other leadscrew tables in these
plans while
using the same steppers and drives and cheap leadscrews. The prototypes achieved rapids over 50 ipm. The prototype used the HobbyCNC 200 oz. in. system. HobbyCNC also sells a 305 oz.in. system; the extra power is noticeable. 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 into 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.Table of Contents of the plans. (pdf file). 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 were all designed to use the stepper and drive systems 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. Shipping details are given on the Order Page; use the above link.
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These plans are included with all of the other plans at no additional charge. They can also be purchased separately for $25.| 13x13 Plan Book | Price | Ship to - Via | Shipping Fee | Total | Buy w/ PayPal |
 13x13
Fixed Gantry |
$25 | USA - First Class Mail Canada - First Class International First Class Mail |
FREE $3.50 |
$25 $28.50 |
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