Started to put together [[Zen Toolworks CNC|Al’s CNC micro-mill]]. Stopped at around step Y-14 on the buildup because the lead screw turns very hard. I am worried the stepper motors will not have the power to overcome it, resulting in too many stalls.

[[File:IMG_20110116_164255.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|The hardest thing was to make a vise to push those bushings and bearings into their homes. A little gypsy engineering and voila!]]

Continued, after dismantling the base pieces and lubing them up really well with Graph-moly lube. It does move a little better, and I tried my best to keep everything aligned perfectly during the build.

[[File:IMG_20110128_191013.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|Here is the base all put together.]]

[[File:IMG_20110128_202151.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|and, after a few hours, here comes the Z-axis!]]

[[File:IMG_20110128_212501.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|and, after a few more hours, here it is mounted in the Y-xis!! OMG!!!!1!!]]

[[File:IMG_20110128_220403.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|it’s like magic elves are working on this thing! What’s this? OH! the whole CNC is toghether?!]]

so now it’s all coming together. the motor controller is mounted to the back of the Y gantry. Y motor can be connected as is. Z motor and the spindle wiring needs to be extended to allow for full travel in Y. also the X motor (base) should be extended so it wont interfere with full X range of motion (although it may clear as is)

[[File:IMG_20110201_233805.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|mounted the motor driver board and wired up the beast. all is left is a power supply and should come alive!]]

Dijjital has generously offered to donate a GIGANTIC redundant 24V power supply (possibly 20A, he wasn’t 100% sure in the moment). So it should be alive soon!
and that’s potentially all we have left to wire up!

[[File:IMG_20110202_140343.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|yes, that is a Makerbot Bob print of a cable organizer you see on that parallel cable!]]

[[Category:Projects]]
[[Category:Build logs]]