So the CNC router is being built at Multicam, so we should probably make sure we are ready to receive it.
I talked to Lance last night as he was doing some repair work on the outlets in the workshop and he informed me that all of our panels are full and if we want to run any more high voltage circuits, like for the CNC router and the vacuum pump, that we will need another panel.
Is that the case and if so shouldn’t we get that going ASAP so we don’t have a scenario of having a CNC router and not being able to use it?
The router itself takes 208 3 phase. The vacuum pump (needed for holding down sheets) takes 208 3 phase as well. I don’t know how many amps at this point but the router spindle is 4 HP Perske spindle and the vacuum pump is 8.5 HP 2 stage blower.
The router will also need compressed air and dust collection.
Also to take into consideration is moving the router from the loading dock to the final destination in the wood shop.If the forklift will fit through the wood shop door this will probably work, otherwise casters, or pallette jacks may work. The machine will be fairly bulky and somewhat heavy.
I think we also need to think about adding compressed air pump capacity. The current small pump does not have enough capacity to keep the HAAS happy (Low Air Pressure Alarm) on longer jobs. If we have three machines (HAAS, MultiCAM and the PlasmaCAM) all running I don’t think our compressed air system can keep up.
The dust collection is pretty much run unless we plan to move it from the far corner of the woodshop. It has a 5 inch port ready but if we really needed to we can run 6 inch ducting.
It’s temporary. The motor for the Husky is at the shop being evaluated. A new one will be $850. Come to the BOD meeting to support buying a good compressor!
In order for the vacuum pump to be as effective as possible, you’ll want to keep plumbing runs as short as possible. 220’ will result in loss of lots of vacuum power.
Normally the way you run the router is with a sheet of MDF on the table that has had the top and bottom surfaces faced. Believe it or not MDF is porous enough to pull a vacuum through (with top and bottom faced). It also acts as a spoil board to protect the table from accidents. If the spoil board gets too many gouges in it you just resurface the top using a fly cutter. When the spoilboard gets too thin, you replace it and start again. I also saw some techs at Multicam route a grid pattern in the bottom surface of the spoil board to help air flow. With the phenolic tables this isn’t as much of an issue but with the table we are getting it might help.
December 5Normally the way you run the router is with a sheet of MDF on the table that has had the top and bottom surfaces faced. Believe it or not MDF is porous enough to pull a vacuum through (with top and bottom faced). It also acts as a spoil board to protect the table from accidents. If the spoil board gets too many gouges in it you just resurface the top using a fly cutter. When the spoilboard gets too thin, you replace it and start again. I also saw some techs at Multicam route a grid pattern in the bottom surface of the spoil board to help air flow. With the phenolic tables this isn’t as much of an issue but with the table we are getting it might help.
Although most of the machines Multicam makes are 1" thick phenolic with a grid cut into it, the 1000 series machine I saw a quote for DMS had the t-slot table - which does have some thin phenolic glued to the top, but its way thinner and does not have a grid cut into it. Instead they have a series of holes drilled into chambers between t-slots and those chambers are run to the plumbing in the back. It looks like this but with a grid of holes cut into it:
The normal 1" thick phenolic tables look like this with the grid cut into them:
This is what I got from Jeff at Multicam
"The router is configured for 208V, 3 phase and the vacuum pump is rated at 230V 3 phase, as we discussed.
Attached is the layout drawing for the router table and a drawing of the 17 HP Regenerative Pump (Blower). I would try to leave at least two feet around the perimeter of the table for accessibility. Regarding the pump, we recommend locating it as close to table with as few right angle duct bends as possible to minimize pressure loss. 200 feet will probably cause significant pressure loss, so I would consider setting aside space in the woodshop for the vacuum. If it is too loud, it’s quite easy to build a simple sound baffle box around it.
"
Update on Electrical @bgangwere brought Bob from White electric in and I am talking to him now about getting a 200 Amp Panel installed I am also contacting Scott-Dell for a quote (LandLord recommendation)
Should we consider moving things around in the space?
Idea 1) Put the CNC Router where the Hass is. Move the Haas to where the large Lathe is. Build a room just for the CNC Router with curtains (or Real walls) and run dust collection from wood working.
Idea 2) Split the distance and put it where laser is. For this to happen another ventilation hole needs to be made some place else for the laser.
Idea 3) Similar to option 1 and 2, move laser to use same ventilation as kilns. I thought about placing it on the wall between the doors where the Emco is now You would need to move the Hass and some of the other equipment.
Idea 3.5) Move laser to use the same ventilation as the kilns. Move foundry spinning wheels and stuff to arts room Move non messy arts stuff like the computers, large format stuff to pillar room. Leave the kilns there as they are only fired every so often anyways.
These are just ideas and not fully thought out, so feel free to shoot down any of them.