$14.95
 13 x 13 Fixed Gantry MachineDesigned to be as simple and inexpensive as possible. |
The plans include step by step written directions with photos and dimensioned drawings of the components. 
13 x 13 Fixed Gantry Machine.
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The machine uses materials with a minimum of waste.
Its body is made of a 2x4 and a 1x4 that are cut to length and drilled. These boards are stiffer than MDF. Most cuts are cross-cuts, and all wood cuts can be made with a small chop, miter, or hand saw. A table saw is not needed to build this machine. The rails are all cut from three 36 inch steel rods with no scrap. The metal components can be cut with a hacksaw. Tool list (on FAQ Page) 
Made of 1x4 and 2x4 boards.
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The table bed can be made of a 15 x 15 inch piece of
plywood, MDF, or
plastic.
One prototype, shown on the right, used a $7.00 plastic kitchen cutting board instead of wood for the table bed. This was done to illustrate the simplicity and flexibility of the machine's design. Inexpensive off-the-shelf metal clamps and straps are used to hold parts in place. Simple adjustment systems are incorporated into the machine's design. The machine has a 13 x 13 x 5+ inch cutting volume, but it has a footprint of only 18 x 25 inches. 
Simple flexible design.
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This table uses bushings on unsupported rails, unlike the other
Solsylva machines, 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 roto tool. The work shown here was cut with a trim router and vee bit. It is MDF that is 4 x 4 inches. 
Pattern carved with the 13 x 13.
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Because of this table’s small size and light weight, it
is able
to rapid at speeds faster than the larger leadscrew tables while
using the same steppers, drives and low cost leadscrews.
The prototypes achieved rapids over 50 ipm with All Thread leadscrews that were driven by the HobbyCNC 200 oz.in. system. 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 Solsylva machines. Therefore, this machine can be built as an introduction to 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. |
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These plans do not include directions
for the software and electronics because the suppliers cover this information for their own products.
These plans do give directions for deriving the Step per Inch values that are needed to configure the software for this machine. The machines were all designed to use NEMA 23 stepper and drive components such as those from Geckodrive, Xylotex and
HobbyCNC.
Mach3 and TurboCNC are popular controller software options. Other software and motor suppliers can be used. The above vendors work with the Do It Yourself market; they have help forums and documentation. |
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Compliments
Dear Mr. Steele, I must compliment you, this is VERY well done. The writing has been very clear. Kudos for a job well done. And I speak with experience on this, as I have worked as a Technical Writer & Illustrator for many years. |
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Clicking the Buy Now button in the table below will forward you to PayPal via the downloading service.
You do not need a PayPal account to use a credit card with PayPal. The Digital Download page gives more information about downloading the plans. |
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The file size is
4,382 KB (4.4 MB) The file name is 13x13_plans.pdf |
$14.95
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13x13 Plan
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All five plans, digitally delivered as one PDF. |
The size is 32,351 KB (32.4 MB) The file name is 5_plans.pdf |
$39.95
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Five Plans
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