Homebrew PCBs

There is also one more thing about this CNC that I was generally saving for 
myself, but what the heck.

   Take a good look at my outer rails, and remember they are really the middle 
rail of a 3 rail slide.  There is already a groove for ball bearings on the 
outside.  In other words, a cut, a piece to redirect the ball bearings, and a 
piece of the outer rail to hold them in could make a recirculating bearing with 
very little work.  Able to go long distances without a long second piece since 
the bearings travel with it.


   The metal for this type rail comes on a big spool of flat metal.  It's folded 
over as it comes off the spool by 4 or more wheels, and made in long lengths 
that are cut and then punched.  Special ordered directly from the manufacturer 
it shouldn't be a problem to get 10 or 12 foot rail sections.  With travel 
pieces with recirculating bearings, that means you can make a 4' x 8' sheet 
plywood size driller and router for likely less than $200 for the rails, maybe 
less than $100.  Motors and drivers won't be that much more than for a smaller 
CNC.  Screw arrangement will be the only part to require much work, but 
shouldn't be that terrible either.

   There's a reason my controller has 12A MOSFETs and I have 120W steppers on 
hand, I just haven't built it yet.  I have sign making PC boards that are 5' 
long that I even could use a driller that long for too.  I just need to get 
cranking on it.

Alan