Hi Guy’s I’m new to the group. Has anyone here built a CNC foam cutting machine? If so are there a set of plans that you reccomend?
I am not sure. To be honest I don’t know the difference between wire CNC or route. I was think of building a hot wire foam cutter.
I’ve been thinking along the same route (pun?). A cnc to shape foam, but as a mold for vacuum carbon/fiber glass RC stuff. To get detailed shapes, a wire wouldn’t cut it (pun 2). It’s what got me started thinking about doing a CNC. Foam being the easiest thing for a CNC I think, lead me to building one tough enough to do wood also. Balsa a the very least. But as you get to pricing parts, you realize that you might as well spend a few extra bucks (very little extra) and be ready for possibly doing aluminum too.
Check out the open build ox foam balsa and even aluminium
Thanks Matt Helm where did you get your plans? Ideally I would like one that could do all three materials.
Thanks Glenn West do you have a link to the open build?
@Pascoe_Bowen Make my own designs with the help of the good people here. Have posted all of them here. Videos and download links. I use sketchup 8, free program. Newer versions are available, but I like version 8 much better than the new stuff. If you’re going to be designing RC stuff, I think sketchup is a great place to start. Lots of howto vids on youtube…
Thanks Matt Helm, is the machine you posted on Febuary 2, 2014 capable of cutting, foam, wood, and aluminum?
@Pascoe_Bowen Metal is doubtful on all of them I think. But the best is the last one, posted yesterday. The fixed gantry version. What makes it the best I think is that you can add more bracing to stiffen up the gantry without worrying about weight. That’s something I didn’t quite get at first, how much force is placed on the tip of the cutting tool. Which is what makes metal so hard to cut. And any flexing in the frame would cause major issues with your cut, or even damage to your tool.
If any of them will be able to cut metal, it’ll be that one…
Thanks Glenn West this is a cool site!
Yes it is. Inspirational. @Mark_Carew_OpenBuild is a good guy, he has answered my questions numerous times. And the neat part it just keeps getting better. He really is a leader in Open Hardware. Check out the laser cutter board on the open build store and then the laser cutter build. U can easily build a cnc a laser cutter and a multiple types of 3d printers all from common components. He’s made me very active in making.