Yet another alloy extrusion MFT bench(s)

[shed9]

I've dipped into all the other threads on this section of the FOG commenting on other members DIY MFT tables, well finally got some time to get mine on the way to completion. I'm actually making two MFT style benches with the same method; one is hanging off a Hammer K3 slider and then there is this one which is free standing.

This one was built from the left overs of a CNC router build which has changed direction from a horizontal construction to a vertical type that will hang on the wall - anyhow I had some spare alloy and it was perfect for building this.

The frame is about 900mm high and the top is 1900mm by 1050mm. I've constructed a bracket around the top section which seats 2 sheets of 18mm MR MDF. The Kapex hiding underneath should give an idea of scale.

I've got some Incra parts to fit, some T track and may possibly drop a router plate to take advantage of the work surface. For now, it's an absolute solid bench made predominantly from 90x90mm extrusion with the bottom shelf being 45x90mm. Will drop the standard 20mm holes in but not sure of how many or orientation yet.

Any advice appreciated. Hope I can help others in the process as well.

 

[rmwarren]

Awesome looking bench, that thing would support a tank!  [eek]

At the risk of immediately getting the thread off track, care to share any info on the wall mounter CCN router? Perhaps on a separate thread?

I have been daydreaming about making on for the past few months, would love to see what your approach was.

Thanks,

RMW 

 

[shed9]

Awesome looking bench, that thing would support a tank!  [eek]

At the risk of immediately getting the thread off track, care to share any info on the wall mounter CCN router? Perhaps on a separate thread?

I have been daydreaming about making on for the past few months, would love to see what your approach was.

Thanks,

RMW 

Thanks for the comments RMW, to be honest the bench build is a bit overkill but that's just down to what I had left over as opposed to being by design. As for the CNC router, as stated up there ^ I had originally planned to build a horizontal flat bed but then decided against it as I didn't want to sacrifice so much floor space. It's an 8x4 build and I've accrued all but a few small items to finish it off. The eventual spec will be;

> 90 x 90mm alloy extrusion build
> Nema 34 1600oz motors
> 1 inch HGR square rail and carriages for X and Y axis with ballscrew for the Z / cutter axis
> MOD 1 rack and pinion for X and Y axis
> PMDX controller hardware via Mach3 

I've not chosen what type of spindle yet, its likely to be over 2.2Kw as the ER20 collet will fit a 1/2" router bit which simplifies things although not sure on water or air cooled. I have several ideas to hold work pieces vertically but not decided on that yet either. I've had to put the router on hold over the last year but am now finding the time to get back to it although not as much as I really need to. I'll put it on here when I start to get things moving and happy to help where I can if you go ahead with your own.

 

[roblg3]

i have been thinking/doing some of the same research.  the one brilliant thing i found was " if you already have an mft top drilled, you can use it to lay out another top.  a router with a copy ring can get your process started and then just use a 20mm centering bit the make the final alignment cut of the holes." *(not my idea)*  if your table is larger than the mft, you can do your initial plunge cuts, rotate the mft on the "new" table realign the holes overlapping the ones you've just done and repeat as many times as necessary to cover your table.  i wish i could quote the thread, but that's the basics paraphrase of it.  I haven't priced how much it will be to have the top cnc by a shop, but that's a way to do it yourself.