CNC Project #2 - Building the CNC Table

In this video we construct the CNC Table, using my own design to build the table that I will use to host the CNC Router itself The work surface is required to be Sturdy, Flat, thick enough to allow things to be screwed to it and able to withstand the vibration and stresses from the router during operation. Oh and strong enough to take the weight of course. I chose to build a partial torsion box. Partial because not all the bottom side is enclosed to allow the height of the resulting surface to be about 5” lower It also should support running cables and other potential infrastructure underneath in a tidy and safe fashion so I included holes running from front to rear and left to right to accommodate this. To create the design I used “DesignSpark Mechanical”, The free 3D design tool from RS Components to design the table, it can be downloaded from this link http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=designspark/designspark-mechanical 32bit and 64bit versions are available The Materials can all be found at your local hardware store for under 100$, 2 * 8x4 sheets of 3/4 plywood, Glue and Screws or Nails, a Brad Nailer and compressor makes short work of it if you have one. As my car was not big enough for the sheets of ply I had the store cut it down to 5' long and then sliced that part down to 2.5' wide which was done for free at the store, the parts where now easy to transport home I now have a nice sturdy platform to build the router onto that is easily big enough for my target platform of 1500mm in each direction. Yes, all the open build components and screws are metric but Canada is still an imperial measurement country for that kind of thing, I could not find a metric Tap or Drill anywhere in the local stores, good job I had them already (You don’t need them for the table build but will for the Extrusions etc. if you go OpenBuilds for the CNC Hardware. RS-Components “DesignSpark Mechanical” software can be used to design your table but it also will let you design 3D printable parts if you need them. There is also a “DesignSpark Electrical” and a “DesignSpark PCB” Version than can be found and downloaded for free from here: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=designspark. My experience shows the learning curve is not much and it is very similar to Autocad123D Of course if your build requires a different sized table or you simply want to build it your way, that’s ok too. I’m just showing you one way of doing it ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCMRylhuWjM