Cheap Robot CNC/gantry machines

[sbovisjb1]

I was starting my project to build a cheap 1080p projector for $700 and I came to the lumenlab website. I noticed that they were selling CNC robots for a relatively good price.

http://lumenlab.com/estore/home.php?cat=263

Check them out


Meet micRo: Lumenlab's desktop CNC robot kit. micRo is an awesome tool for any home-hobbyist and building it yourself is a great educational experience. When you're done you get a 10" x 12" x 2-4" working space. You can use micRo to mill, drill, cut, draw and more using tools you create.



RoGR is Lumenlab's modular gantry robot. It can be adapted to fit nearly any use: even to make more RoGRs. The right tool for (almost) every job. Replace most tools in your shop with one automated, powerful machine! Starting at a fraction of the cost of other gantry robots in this class.


They also have guides for free and a huge support forum with mostly experienced members. They also sell a lot of books. Enjoy this as I know I have. Well I'm getting the micRo right after I complete my DIY projector. I should actually post how I have done here.

[Jacks Complete]

Looks useful.

There are quite a large number of these sort of projects around now. RepRap is another, and there are a lot of homemade CNC systems with laser, plasma and routers out there. All have a place if you want to fabricate your robot army in time.

Some of these are totally homemade, using bits off old PCs and plywood, and others are made from kits. A fairly common method is to use stepper motors for the X and Y axis, with a wheeled or ball bearing system, pulled back and forth by either threaded rod or V belts.

I was looking to get a small (A3) plotter and use that with a Dremel tool attachment for doing etching and engraving on things like PCBs and material for chemical etching. Not gotten around to it yet.

The metal working stuff looks incredible - you could make nearly anything out of a sheet of steel with a CNC cutter and a bender. AK47 anyone?

[crazywhiteguy]

A CNC and basic bending could possibly make a functional Kalashnikov but it would need the breech to be lathed or precision drilled. There is a example of a rapid prototyping machine that can pump out what I would call a fully functional pistol. This title is a bit misleading seeing as The pistol is plastic. I want to make a CNC cutter but at the moment I'm very limited on time and funds. One day I hope. The AK idea is pretty damn close to being possible. If you made some modifications to the design of some weapons like the 1911 .45 auto pistol you could make everything but the breech blank on a CNC. Lathing out the breech blank is a very simple task that has been done by a collegue under my supervision. We are both under 18 and have no experiance past school safety training on the equiptment used. The blank is not regulated under canadian law. So it would be possible to make a fully fuctionalweapon with just A basic CNC and a drill press or lathe.

[chemdude1999]

I like this quote from the website:

"RoGR is Lumenlab's modular gantry robot. It can be adapted to fit nearly any use: even to make more RoGRs."

Self-replication is next to godliness.

In reference to crazywhiteguy, people in the US can simply purchase cheap but quality barrels in bulk from places like Sarco. However, it is nice to have the know-how to build an item from the ground up.

[Jacks Complete]

Self-replication is next to Godliness? Shit, I just thought it got you a bigger council house.

I, for one, welcome our nanoreplicator overlords.

[sbovisjb1]

Doesn't luty have a book with instructions, in which you can make a cheap metal bender? Only thing I want is a cutout to stamp out designs out of metal. THAT would be amazing.

[iHME]

I thought that David Gingery had a book about building a sheet metal brake.
I thought that luty concentrated on improvised weapons and ammo.

[sbovisjb1]

Yes sorry. Its David Ginegery that has the book.