Although the V90 is an entry-level machine, it’s decidedly not a toy. The way it functions is complicated — a platform carries the tool holder; a larger gantry moves the tool back and forth; the frame positions the gantry; and it’s all driven by a motor turning the screw interposed between two shafts. Indeed, this three-axis Cartesian robot is probably the most complex machine I’ve ever built, and I had expected it to be correspondingly difficult to assemble; however, quite the contrary — it’s easier than many common bike repairs. A thriving community actively updates the online build guide, and all the materials were very helpful during my own build.
Projects from Make: Magazine
Probotix FireBall V90 CNC Robot
A hack-friendly desktop CNC robot on a budget.
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Steps
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Step #1: Clean the rails
- The bearings in your V90 are made of Oilite, a microporous metal vacuum-impregnated with lubricant. The centerless ground shafts ("rails") in your kit ship with a waxy, protective coating, that must be removed before they are installed in these bearings, otherwise the waxy material will clog the oilite pores and ruin the bearings. Do not install the shafts in the bearings without cleaning them first!
- Moisten a soft cloth with acetone and wipe down the shafts until the surface no longer feels waxy.
- Be sure to clean all four rails. There are two smaller, 0.625" diameter rails for the short horizontal axis, and two larger 0.750" diameter rails for the long horizontal axis.
Conclusion
This guide covers construction of the mechanical system--the Cartesian robot--itself. To complete a working CNC machine around the V90 robot, you will need a means to generate G-code instructions, a suitable computer to run the control software, the control software itself, and the interface electronics. See Probotix' document, An Introduction to the FireBall V90 for more information.
If you're building a V90, be sure to check out the official Probotix V90 assembly page and Alan Parekh's build over on Hacked Gadgets.