Vertical 4x8 flatbed CNC router build

[shed9]

I suspect this is the best place to put this.

I'm starting a 4x8 CNC router build, but for reasons of space and convenience of access and maintenance I'm going vertical. Not an awful lot of info on vertical builds, hence my posting here - hoping to get some pointers and help where ever I can.

Current progress: I ordered the aluminium profile last year but I ordered it for a horizontal setup on a stand. Not a problem as such because if anything I just have too much profile stock which I may use as a separate bench now. Profile is all 90x90 with 10mm slot, however as I have changed to the vertical option I have ordered a replacement for the gantry in 90x45 - this way I will adapt the other 90x90 to stack on the new one and reduce the weight. Most of the 90x90 is standard weight at 6.1kg per meter, however I invested in heavy duty for the two outside beams which are 10.3kg per meter; all in all there is a fair bit of weight in this project.

Current bits in;

All aluminium profile (awaiting 90x45 due nest Friday)
Four Hiwin square 25mm rails; 2 of 2.4m & 2 of 1.4m
Six Hiwin 25 carriage units
Three MOD1 racks; 2 of 2.4 & 1 of 1.3m
Three NEMA34 1600oz steppers with controllers and psu's
PMDX 126 controller (although this may be diverted to another project)
Mini-ITX board for the CPU

Need to get;

Z axis components
Spindle and VFD
A shed load more of stuff

I cleared out one part of my shop and fastened some 12mm board to the wall to create a straight and clear space and have some aluminium plate on order to manufacture the fixings to connect and align the main frame.

Here is a quick shot of the wall and some of the profile stock;



As mentioned, not a lot of info on vertical routers, I know there are some people who have posted but the best I found was about half a dozen at best. Given that I need some clamping mechanism regardless of orientation I felt the possible obstacles for vertical clamping offset against the benefits warranted my approach.

Any other members built there own routers on here, would be particularly interested in any advice on gantry options.

 

[kostello]

I have a question.
If this is a CNC setup what is to stop the cut pieces falling into the cutter or the floor????

 

[shed9]

I have a question.
If this is a CNC setup what is to stop the cut pieces falling into the cutter or the floor????

Hi Kostello

Yes, its a CNC setup? With steppers, spindle, breakout board, ect, what other setup could it be? I appreciate the confusion though, just updated the first post accordingly.

As for falling stock, it will be clamped just like it would be on a horizontal basis - with a few slight differences to accommodate the different plane.

 

[Mar_mite]

Very interesting! What do you plan on using it for?

 

[kostello]

I knew that you must have thought it all out!

 

[shed9]

Very interesting! What do you plan on using it for?

Hi Mar_mite

I have a large scale project coming up that requires a lot of machining on timber and ply sheet. I have some experiencing of metal milling and a (distant) background in electronics so thought I would match it all up and build my own.

I'm going to raise the gantry from the bed to machine timber up to around 8" in height.