Aluminium engineering extrusion in Brisbane?

[TERRA Operative]

I'm planning on building a small CNC router/mill and am researching the materials to build it from.

I would like to build it using aluminium extrusion like in the link below.

http://www.valuframe.co.uk/

Does anyone know where to get this stuff, preferably in Brisbane? And also what it's called locally?

[spectral]

Hey mate,
Hmm that same extrusion stuff is used to put our desks together at work. Its pretty soft stuff and probably unsuitable for you purpose, depending on which sections of your mill you use it in

Anyway, presuming its non-structural areas etc you can always try Extrusions Australia at http://www.extrusions.com.au/ . I think they have a similar locking setup to the Valueframe.

If you want Brisbane based, I've used Capral heaps of times for ally stock and they also had extrusions there. They are at Slacks Creek. http://www.capral.com.au/

[beerhead]

I'm going over to my old bosses junk yard at some point in the next few weeks, I'll keep my eyes open, I've pulled definitely ripped piles out doing demolition in the past.

[jazae86]

Aluminium extrusion is available through a few places.
SMC Pneumatics (www.smcaus.com.au) sells Minitec (www.minitec.de)
Goes together various ways and various extrustion profiles.
Other brands include Maytec, Item, AME and many others.

If you were in Adelaide I would see what I could do.

[TERRA Operative]

Sweet. I'll look into those places.

I've also found the following:

http://www.linearbearings.com.au/Hom...6/Default.aspx

Who seem to sell the valueframe stuff. I'll be using the thickest walled stuff I can find and as the plans call for wood (plus I'll be using it for perspex and alloy) it should be a decent upgrade.

http://solsylva.com/cnc/25x25.shtml

[oldcorollas]

i've used stuff almost the same in japan (the 40mm wide) to make framing systems for furnaces and the like.. stuff that was reasonably heavy..

if you think abotu the joins a bit, you can make structures quite stiff!
the system i used had a better angle piece for the gussets iirc.. gave more length to have more stiffness
but the wider profile extrusions are quite good (the double and triple width ones)

[TERRA Operative]

Yea, the main frame work will be made from the double width (40x80) stuff.

Just working out the linear slides and ball screws for the axes.

[AndyTTR]

They absolutely love that stuff at my work... everything from workbenches and trolleys to conveyor belts and P-V measuring machines is made of it.

Shame you're not local, we're always throwing out left-overs and off-cuts...

[mattysshop]

not sure if you have tried them, it does seem a bit exotic from what i've seen in thier wharehouse, but see how u go..

Action Aluminium 4/32 sway street coopers plains, i havn't been there in the past few weeks, so i'm not sure how they went with the flooding as i know alot of places in that area that went under!

http://www.actionaluminium.com.au/Ac...logue_2010.pdf

cheers Mat.

[knightrous]

I'm planning on building a small CNC router/mill and am researching the materials to build it from.

Have you seen the Luminlabs CNC mills?
http://lumenlab.com/d/micro

[andrew_mx83]

building your own cnc, impressive


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[TERRA Operative]

That lumenlab deal looks pretty slick. How big is the cutting area? The only thing I don't like about it though is the plastic parts. They seem pretty narrow and prone to rocking as the holes wear from repeated use, especially from the forces from cutting metal. Also, what are the torque rating on the stepper motors. I plan to use something around 300 - 400 oz/in. maybe slightly heftier.

I am extensively redesigning the Solsylva design using Rhinoceros 3D (my fav CAD package) to use the aluminium extrusion and linear bearings, acme rods, etc etc to ensure accuracy and repeatability.
I don't plan to cut steel, but a LOT of alloy for car parts as well as wood/plastics for moulds for replica armour (Halo etc).

I'll have to start a thread when there's something to show. I plan to dive right in to it once the Levin is on the road.

I'll start making phone calls soon to the suppliers mentioned to see what I can get.

[jeffro ra28]

Nice project!

Re: plastic parts. If the lumenlab CNC use a high density self lubricating plastic it usually has excellent wear resistance with sometimes longer life compared to bronze, metal bushings etc, pending applications of course. IMO i wouldnt be overally concerned about it compared to standard metal or aluminium bronze bushings etc.

What guide/slide system did you have in mind for your project?

ACME threads? Wouldnt a oil fed ball screw be better? Just relating to lead screw wear on normal lathes and so on would be my concern with ACME style feed systems. If that is ofcourse your intended use for the ACME.

Just sharing thoughts is all

[TERRA Operative]

The slides will be linear ball bearings on rails, and the stepper motors will drive the axes with the acme (or acme style) rods.

This is the sort of setup I'm looking at using for the slides. two 20mm for the x-axis (supports everything) with two bearings per side to prevent rocking, then 16mm for the y-axis (which just supports the z-axis and router motor etc) with two bearings per side again.
The z-axis will be end supported rods with fully enclosed linear bearings as the height will only be 6 inches or so.

[Supra967]

Sweet. I'll look into those places.

I've also found the following:

http://www.linearbearings.com.au/Hom...6/Default.aspx

Who seem to sell the valueframe stuff. I'll be using the thickest walled stuff I can find and as the plans call for wood (plus I'll be using it for perspex and alloy) it should be a decent upgrade.

http://solsylva.com/cnc/25x25.shtml

We use Linear bearings here at work (just bought out by SES). Stuff isn't cheap. Linear actuators are stupidly expensive, especially the precision ones. $2500 we were quoted for one to guide some electrical wire to roll a coil.

Good news is they have a catalogue of their gear for downloading into modelling programs (inventor, solid works etc) so its easy to design before hand. Sections are very strong, you won't need to worry there.

Is this for a lot of use? Ebay hobby stuff no good?