Waag Society Fablab Amsterdam

copyleft info:

- Machine design by David Carr

- Electronics by Ilan Moyer

Thanks guys!!

This tutorial is about how to assemble the mantis mini cnc machine.
This is a really nice machine capable of making very precise pcb’s, and
off course a lot more;) But maybe the best thing about it is that its
total cost is less that $100! 

And
here’s a link to the assembly video’s :    
http://makeyourbot.org/mantis9-build/

Here you can download the files to make the plywood parts:

And here you can find the how-to make electronics:

index:

1.  Opening the package

2.  Grinding

3.  Countersinking

4.  Teenuts

5.  Assembling the rods

6.  |Assembling the Z-axis

7. Making the electronics

Opening the package:

First
unpack youre kit, and make sure that you check if all the parts are
available.
In my packet there were a couple parts missing witch were
mentioned on the parts list, namely: - the Acme nut ( but this will get
replaces by the plastic tube).

Te next step is naming al of the special parts:

click on a name to see the picture:

Groundplane, frontplate, backplate, higherstage, lowerstage, toolhead parts, sideplates, teenuts,

Grinding:
Next we need to grind the edges of the plywood just a little bit, just the little bits sticking out:

Make sure you’re not grinding anything else, since you need to make absolutely sure youre not chancing any of the dimensions of the plywood.

Countersinking:

Next we have to countersink a couple of the holes. The holes thad needs to be drilled are:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 This means we need to drill just the top of a couple of the holes to make sure the woodscrews will fit in perfectly.

The best way to do this is is using a countersink, but since this part was not in the kit I used a big drill head on a drill press.

Now just only drill the very top of the holes.:

Teenut :
Next we have to put the teenuts in place,

You have to put them in all 4 holes in the lowerstage, and aswell in all tree of the z axis plane;

Assembling the rods:
Now its time to assemble the rods in place, this is allso the time to start using the epoxy.

well be using the 6 minute epoxy;

Mix them both in equal amounts in the little plastic cup. Now from the moment you start mixing them you have about six min. before its hardend.

when you're epoxy looks like this, you need to mix new one.

now to assemble the rods you need a soft hammer aswel,

begin with putting some epoxy in the holes for the rod, and around the end of the rods
next get your soft hammer and gently hit the other end of the rod till its al the way thrue the plate:

Repeat the same step dfor the other rod, next place two bearings on each rod;

make sure the rods allign perfectly with the plywood.

Next put some epoxy on the other ends of the rods, and inside the holes of the frondplate.

and check if the top side is allinged aswel

repeat for the other rods, but not the z-axis.!

When done with the x-axis rod, repeat the same steps for the y-axis rods.

next place the y-axis subset inside the x-asis subset.

make sure you allign youre pieces perfectly.

starting to look like something doesn't it?

next its time to add the lowerstage to the bearings. place youre parts something like this.

and then apply epoxy to the bearings.

make sure you put enough epoxy, but dont make it touch the rods. first put the epoxy on the outer sides of the bearings, if it slides ok, place some epoxy on the inside aswel.

put some pressure on top,and let the epoxy harden.

repeat the same step for the x-axis.

Again first only epoxy the outersides, if its ok do the inside aswel.

Assembling the Z-axis

Next its time to assemble the z-axis, the most difficult axis of the machine.

first take a marker and mark the top and middel plywood part, so later ou know wich part has to go on top.

For this axis we'll be using 60 min. epoxy to have a little more time.

first start by putting some tape on the rod, higher than the two bottum plywood plates, so that later on you wont glue youre bearings to roure rods.

next start with the most bottum plate( without a mark).

start mixing the epoxy.

put some inside the biggest hole.

and put some on the biggest bearing.

when both have the epoxy attached, take a soft hammer and gently smack in in there.

apply some epoxy to the higher plate.

and put the two plates on eachother, make sure the're alligned.

when the two plates are on top of eachother, apply some epoxy in the smaller holes.

and some on the end of the rods.

use youre soft hammer again.

place the bearing over the rods.

apply some epoxy on the top of the rods.

and put the top plate on top, with the marking on the left side(marking is not upside down mirrored, but left/right)

again use youre hammer.and wait for the epoxy to dry.

Assembling the z-axis part2

next place youre z-axis laying down like this.

make sure the plywoodplates are alligend well.

AttachingThe motors


Before we do anything with the motors we clean the tips with some alcohol containing fluid like acetone

Next put som lockfit inside the rod and on the motor pin, for all tree axes.

The x and y axis are pretty straightforward, just place the screws where they fit.

and glue the threaded bolt to the stages.

okay next its time to assemble the spindle part from the z-axis.
here is the drawing from the spindle by David Carr.

Making the