CNC Router

Phoenix Build Pictorial

DAY 1

Day 2

Just got back from my local Home Depot picking up a few parts. Total spent $48.68 but I need to subtract $4.07 for some bathroom caulk. As you can see from the picture, I have some gas pipe, MDF sheets, bolts, washers, tap, and a counter sink drill bit. Whooo Hoooo, I'm on my way to the 1% club. (Inside joke with John Kleinbauer's customers)

Another close up of what I purchased from Home Depot. And an inspirational picture of what exactly I'm going to build.

Following John's plans, I marked out the cut lines for the Phoenix's Cutting Deck.

Following John's plans, I marked out the cut lines for the Phoenix's Base.

Let the MDF dust fly!!! Hey breathing MDF dust isn't harmful, is it? After taking this picture I decided to be safe and grab a dust mask. As you can see I have started to cut the base out and I am trying hard to get a clean and straight cut. **Note: Before cutting MDF in the garage, make sure the wife's car is removed. The dust seems to goes everywhere.

Well the base has been cut to size and at this point I am proud it looks like the same picture John has in his plans.

This picture show both the Base and Cutting Deck cut to size. Once again everything looks as it should in John's plans. At this moment I decided to take a small break and admire my work so far. Quite interesting that these two pieces will become part of a machine that will create great things. I have high hopes for Phoenix and I am sure he will come through.

You probably can't see the marks for the holes, but following John's plans I marked all the necessary holes that will connect the Motor Wall and Bearing Wall to the Base and Cutting Deck. To help insure proper measurements, I measured both pieces from the same edge.

Ok the holes have all been drilled and using a counter sink bit, I did as John's plans call for - counter sink the bolts. I have to say, this was my first time working with a counter sink drill bit. What fun. I must admit though, I did practice a few times on some scrap 2x4's I have in my shop. I found out you can get pretty deep in no time if you don't take your time and check your depth often. I guess I could have wrapped some tape around the bit to serve as a depth guide. Maybe next time.

That is it so far with the construction of Phoenix for Day 1. Everything on page 1 of John's plans has been completed. Next page will be the construction of the Motor wall and Bearing wall. I will continue to post pictures as I go about following John Kleinbauer's plans to build my first CNC Router.

See Day 2