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Here are a couple of machines I've built for my shop.
The sander required 18 months of part-time work and $5000 to complete. This shop-built machine has proven to be very affordable, commercially available machines cost approximately $45,000. In addition, by designing two machines, which share a common footprint valuable floor space was saved. This machine is constructed using structural steel tubing and 1/4 plate for the frame. The enclosure is comprised of MDF and top-coated with an automotive paint. Three motors are used, one of which is a 1/4 hp variable speed DC gear motor. This motor supplies power to the conveyor belt, allowing feed speeds from zero to twenty feet a minute. Standard automation technology is incorporated to orchestrate all machine functions. Belt tracking is accomplished with two photoelectric sensors, one air cylinder and a programmable logic controller. The planer has a twenty-inch cutter head, driven by a 3-hp motor. The pinch rollers for the planer receive their downward force via four air cylinders instead of the commonly used compression springs. This maintains constant pressure on the wood regardless of varying stock thickness. I believe this helps to minimize snipe and maintain uniform stock thickness. Also by using this arrangement the rollers and chip breaker are automatically retracted at sander start up allowing free access to the sander which is located on the out feed of the machine.
In 2004 I decided to build a CNC router for my wood shop. This machine was built with woodworking and metalworking tools including a south bend lathe, metal cut-off saw and a old drill press. On occasions I would job out work to a local machinist. Part of the reasons for this build were to construct a machine that was capable of machining wood and metal. The end result provided a machine that was capable of milling wood, aluminum and steel. The machine has a working table size of 30 x 50. It is powered by DC Servos instead of the stepper motors. The spindle motor is a 1 HP DC motor that allows for variable speeds necessary to machine steel. Of all my DIY machine projects the CNC router was the most difficult.
(No images available for this Shopbuilt Equipment listing.)
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