Hi guys!My site has been quite empty for some time. But now its up again at http://737.ramsberg.nu. The first info on it is about my last project for the Sim: a low budget cnc mill. Total cost: approx $200.I've put som info, pictures and a video of the cnc mill in action.In a few days I will put a picture set of making a whole VHF panel with it./ Olle Ramsberg

Hi Olle,Nice to have your site up. Was Linux the only OS you used to run the CNC software? Can you compare Linux to Windows with regard to ease and performance supporting the cnc application?Thanks,Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.comwww.mikesflightdeckbooks.com

What software are you using to draw and control the machine?Take care,Roberto

I'll have to bookmark this URL !I want this too !!I'm curious to see more movies. Like when the mill is engraving text after you painted that panel e.g.

what is the maximum size you can cut?I'm very intrested in this, as I need custom panels and it would be too expensive to have them made...Was it hard to build?I'd like to see/hear more about this! Great work!!

I tried a few different CAD programs and CNC controllers. AutoCad, TurboCad, Coreldraw etc... I felt happy with drawing in 2d instead of 3d because the process was som much simpler. The method I use is "2.5d", and every 2d cad program that can handle layers and output dxf format is good enough.I now use Synergy cad (Trialware) (http://www.webersys.com/) for the drawing. I then convert the dxf file to g-code with Ace converter (http://www.dakeng.com/ace.html), load it onto my CNC controller machine which runs EMC under Linux.. No fuzz, straght of the BDI ISO image from http://linuxcnc.org. No fuzz, really: BDI = BrainDeadInstaller. (Note. I've only used the EMC1 version. When writing this, i noticed that the EMC2 version is released, but not yet as a BDI installation. More on that when i've tried it.)You really dont need to be a linux geek to run EMC, because of the BDI version. I really find it advanced when compared with other low priced controllers. The only free/cheap controller software i've found still runs in DOS... In EMC you got a GUI and mouse, for free ;-)So, a good comparison of Linux CNC and Windows CNC? No, sorry.. I couldnt find andy suitable software in the price range i can afford. That would be like putting a $3000 stereo into a $200 car :-)Cheers!Olle Ramsberg

My goal was to be able to cut the FMC for the 737 in one piece so i planned for a table size of 700mm x 600mm. Right now, i can mill on 400x550mm of that area, because of the linear bearings on the X axle (telescope rails from a server rack) makes to much friction when extending over 400mm. I will fix that later.... Maybe a re-invention of the X axle will be scheduled. Im not quite satisfied with it...Hard to build? No, not hard to build when answering a guy who will build a space shuttle cockpit ;-D Just took some time thinking and learning as i went along. Just why i did it really, because i didn't know how to :-)http://www.cnczone.com was a huge resource for ideas/Ramsberg

Coming up in the next update, I plan to do a complete panel and document it.I have to do some fine tuning of the machine first... Seems like I have some "backlash" in the lead screws that drives each axle. I will borrow some measuring equipment and fix it before this weekend.Talking about paint... I've been browsing professional paint stores for acrylic "Boeing-gray" for a while and can conclude with one word: EXPENSIVE! THe best I found was 45 dollars for a litre! I ran out of the store!BUT, guess what i found here in the low budget superstore "Biltema" in Sweden? Acetone-based acrylic "Boeing-gray" paint on spray can! price? 4 dollars for a 550ml can! Whohoo!/ Ramsberg

Documentation on making a panel would be nice, including pictures would be great, and video would be perfect!As for the size: should be large enough, but if I understand it, there's no limit.Just make sure there's no backslash and it should be ok, right?

My plan was to take som photos and video.Abut limits, sure there is no theoratical size limit, but my experience is that smaller dimensions give better tolerances... I probably will have to redesight the X axle (the table) because I planned too big for the practical solution i used... I will have to remove the server railings and replace them with bronze bearing gliders. (like the ones you can se on the pictures on my site for the Y axle.) for explanation the X axle is the table, Y axle is the side-to-side moving axle over the table and the Z axle is the up/down movement of the tool.There are a few enemies in building a CNC mill, where backlash is one of them. Its all up to you and your budget really. Ballscrews = no backlash = lots of money. YOu should alwasy try to go for least backlash, bur fortunately, you can compensate a bit for it in the software.Well, so long for now. Will now reinstall my CNC contoller with EMC2, do the backlash compensation and start on my VHF panel... Ill send you a heads up when its on the page./Cheers