CNC Router Conversion: Speedy in pieces. Will it run again?

The Masterwood Speedy 207 seemed to be a popular machine used in the woodworking industry for panel proccessing (cabinet boxs). The machine is reffered to as a rail and pod point-to-point boring machine. It has multiple vertical spindles for drilling and a horizontal spindle with a saw for grooving and a horizontal spindle for drilling dowel holes. It is not designed for 3D milling as its Z axis is moved by an air cylinder and has finite stops for depth control.

To make this machine into a more traditional CNC router an additional motor and drive is needed for the Z axis. I would also like to replace the spindle motor with one allowing for automatic tool changing.

The control electronics is not suitable for my needs so I will be replacing it with a PC and touch screen monitor.

There are significant advantages in a CNC router build from an existing machine rather than starting from scratch. The base is very sturdy with the X axis rail mounts machined to tight tolerances, sturdy gantry with the Y axis rail mounts machined. The ball screws and nuts have mounts and brackets already provided and of industrial duty. In my case I have correctly sized servo motors, encoders, mounts, pulleys, belts, drives and power supply all made to fit the machine.

The major disadvantage I see in converting an existing machine is that the working envelope is fixed, my model has about a 3' x 5' working area and about 6" of space under the gantry (Z height) these specs are not easily changed.

The choice to convert a machine also hinges on the delivered cost of that machine. Machines of this class are increasingly available for good prices as factories close or modernize or when repairs to the machines become to costly.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Speedy in pieces. Will it run again?

Box of parts, basket case?

It started out in pieces, but think of the possibilities. I wanted to build a CNC router from scratch, but finding this machine was a huge head start. My plan is to put it back together, see what works then replace the electronics. Up to date computer electronics is a must for my future plans for the machine.