No, Sorry I meant is the spindle capable of aluminum machining? Do you use your rc spindle for milling aluminum

Oh ok. Looks cool! Next question is, is it quieter than a spindle with similar performance? Quietness would be my main quest haha

I'm playing around with a few different 3d printed carriers right now. I may go that way just because I can. Well see...

@kram242, or anyone else, if I were to swap out the v-slot for beefier 80/20 X and Y axis (with openbuild's linear rails), could I use the OX AI plates and create an 4x8 building with the same steppers that would allow me to double up the build for use as a plasma cutter and router cnc?
(I know that the base would need some redesign for the slats, etc.)
I guess I am asking about the compatability of the plate's holes and whether a 8' Y and 4' X would support the weight with out sagging and still offer precision wood and aluminum cuts?
Thanks,
Karl Miller

Hi @kram242,
I'd like to build a large OX 1mx1,5m but it seems that all the 20x80 x1,5m in the world is OutOfStock...
Can you give an estimation on when it will be sold again?

Any Photos or drawing on how the diffance axis are driven?
Thanks

Hello all,

So I'm finally getting around to putting together a few sub-assemblies on the OX, and I noticed on the aluminum plates that the holes the stepper motor shafts pass through aren't wide enough to seat the circular protrusion on the stepper motor, and they also aren't wide enough to pass a GT3 pulley through.

Just curious if anyone knows what the holes are sized for. A GT2 pulley perhaps? Was kind of bummed out that a nema 23 stepper won't seat in the hole as I thought they would.

Boy, I wish I saw this befor I started my cncrouterparts build!

Hi all,
Im busy machining the plates this week. Is there a reason the stepper shouldn't be seated to the plate? My second question is, On the model there are 2 mystery holes (to me) one the side plates. One is on the bottom under the OX logo and the second is to the rear of the stepper. Can I omit them, or do they serve a purpose.
Thanks,
Jay

I suppose my question wasn't clear?
I didn't ask how to attach a stepper motor to the plate. I asked what the hole in the plates was sized for. Any generic nema23 stepper mounting plate geometry is designed for the protrusion on stepper motor to seat into the mounting plate, and the OX plates don't do that, hence my curiosity as to why the OX plates strayed from conventional motor mounting geometry.

Hi- I am a distributor and I finally have my web store up and I am adding parts daily. I have 20x80mm x 1500mm I received today please check out my web site www.opensourceluthiersupply.com. Thanks Bill

I'm new to all this CNC, but I've got the bug bad to build one or two or three. Am I wrong in thinking that if the framework of any CNC were build in the standard OX model. could we just build a custom X plate with setups for say, one with router cutter, one with laser cutter, one with pulled knife and one with a extruder for a 3d printer? Couldn't we have just one bed and multiple interchangeable Head units and have all the love and joy of every type of CNC in one system? Call me crazy, but in my minds eye, I can see it. and I like it. What would be the drawbacks to trying something like this? or has it been tried or completed before? If not, I can easily see my garage with 3 or 4 CNC systems and a couple 3D printers

It can be done but the changeover to a 3d printer isn't as easy as you think. My 3d printer has a heated bed that is elevated by springs. I have to zero it often. Besides I would hate to cut into my heated bed accidentally. You could make an interchangable bed and head system. I am building mine with a smoothieboard that I got on kickstarter. It has 5 drives plus a big circuit to run a heated bed. Since I already have a 3d printer, I can experiment later. I bought a twin filament head to play with. My v rail is being delivered tomorrow so I will be building my ox this weekend.

Is it possible to enlarge this to 1500 by 1500mm and also how hard will it be to make (will it be good as a first build)

Has anyone tried Nema 23 motors on their OX CNC? I am wondering if the mounting holes are the same and if the OX can support the 270 oz of the Nema 23 versus the 179 oz of the standard Nema 17. Also, can a Nema 23 be used as the spindle too?
Thanks.

I'm so exited, @kram242 tomorrow (or Mondays) i'll pay for the order ( thanks again )
I'll hope to start soon the assembly of my own OX
[i'm excited like a little girl when see a pony ]

You can substitute Nema 23 for the Nema 17 and it has been done. The holes, though, do not match.

I don't think that a stepper could be used efficiently as a spindle but try it out and let us know what you find. Heck, that's what it is all about, experimenting. I did it when I made my spindle from a outrunner motor.

A stepper makes an ok, but inefficient spindle. It has plenty of torque at low speeds but tapers off pretty quickly. About about 400 to 600 rpm (larger motors less) torque goes almost to zero. The motor cogging would also be a problem with surface finish. You can source brushless (BLDC) motors in the same package size (Nema 23/34) for about the same price as a decent stepper. They DO make excellent spindles. They do require a special driver to run.

There's a kickstarter project right now that is using a brushless DC in a NEMA package. It also notes the need for a special driver board to run.