Octavio's Metal CNC Machine

Octavio is providing the rigidity by using a chain drive with two lead screws for the x-axis. As you can see in the images, the chain is connected to a bearing that is driven by the motor on the other side. As I have said in many parts of the website, backlash can be introduced in a machine at various parts including the lead nut, couplings, clamps/nuts at the bearings, gears, and pulley mechanisms. With the use of a chain and a sprocket, the backlash is minimized as long as there is sufficient tension. Tension is only required in a chain drive to reduce the backlash in both directions. Octavio feels that this machine should contain fewer special and machined parts. It is more economical to to go with off the shelf parts which reduces the maintenance. He has also managed to make this machine portable and he has the adapted his machine to hold a plasma cutter. His choice of the software tool chain is Mach3 and Vectic (3DCut, Vcarve, and PhotoCarve). Octavio is a very bright man with his view that every hobbyist should have at least one CNC machine. I raise my glass to that one. Here are a few examples of the work he has done on the machine. Octavio uses The detail of the flower bas relief is very nice. You can see that there is no evidence of backlash. The lettering in this examples is 18 point size according to Octavio.