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My x-carve is finally all that I hoped it would be. The Hitachi EATS and allows the use of 1/2" end mills (in a 1/2" collet). Here are pictures. I used 1/4" aluminum plate, three sets of v-wheels along with easy to accomplish rigidity modifications. I planned to upgrade to larger steppers, but I really don’t think it is necessary. The Hitachi’s variable speed control seems to be very consistent as well.
Wow!, Good to know, because I have one of these routers… I’m not too keen on the 1/2 inch collet that came with it because I kept having to take it out of the router to pull off the bit.
Would you mind providing more info on your setup so that others like myself could possibly mimic?
Here is a link to the rigidity mods i did. This literally took one trip to the hardware store and about 3 hours of time (plus wire routing, belt-tightening, squaring, etc.). Some people are WAY over complicating some of these simple mods:
The Hitachi mount (I only used the two brackets, not the big black backboard): Router Mount
I used the standard spindle mount plate as a template and made it 1" taller and used three sets of v-wheels.
It is solid as a rock (at least compared to my last three machines).
It was really great to hear back from you! I have a great interest in your
hitachi project because I wish to try it on my own X-Carve build. I have
some questions that only you can answer about the subject. for instance:
when you mounted the router on you steel reinforced rail did you experience
any sag or twist on the gantry and if so ,how much? did you mount the
router on a linear slide when it was on the stiffened rail and did it sag
or twist and if so by how much? Did you try the open builds open rail
system and if so did you experience any sag or twist with it and if so
approximately how much? Any hlp you can give me with the about question
would be very greatly appreciated in the extreme!!! CLYDE.
I appreciate it. What I’m trying to avoid is spending $100.00 plus on some hardware I will not use. Throw in the fact that i’m living in an apartment with limited storage and and already have more crap then I need. CLYDE. CLYDO5798@GMAIL.COM
Yes - there was not much sag. The nice thing was with more mass and HP, there was less resistance on the plunge. I moved from Steel reinforced to Open Rail. But I created new x-axis plates out of 1/4" aluminum and recessed the open rail into a pocket in each plate. THat was very rigid.
Thank you for your help. The open builds rail system was my second choice and so I am glad to hear that there was no sag in that system. I am also using GT 3 x 6mm belting on the X axis. What would be great is if I could use a linear Z slide with the system but 9.5 to 10 pounds is probably to much weight to pile on it. Maybe if I got the system where the Z axis motor is offset to the rear and is belt fed like the standard X-Carve to keep the weight more evenly balance over the X carriage that may work.What do you think? I have read all your posting and have great respect for your knowledge and experience in these matters and the fact that you have the real world experience and are ready to share is a very noble thing. Like I said , I don’t what to throw money away on something that’s not going to work and your help is invaluable in this endeavor.Once again, THANK YOU for your time and effort in this matter.
Heck yah. I supposed the new makerslide would too. I had all kinds of stuff hanging off that thing. Teh Hitachi, a dustshoe and skirt, a tachometer, a pen holder. It will be more than precise enough for detailed work.
