3+2 axis CNC - 3d printed automation

[@SimonCoates]

Christopher your content, designs and fabrication abilities are outstanding.

[@MrRossi1805]

Exactly my sentiments ! 😊❤

[@michaelknight2342]

I don't often insta-subscribe before finishing a video.

[@NicksStuff]

You might want to add a shield to keep the chips from getting in your plastic gears. I would also consider a different solution to hold the box in place, something with springs and/or magnets to avoid the use of two external plastic parts and a drill

[@JeronimoStilton14]

Damn beat me to it. saw those plastic shavings hitting the Vaseline and immediately wanted a shield.

[@fugenfuller-rp1fu]

Also agree on that manual fixation action that is quite time consuming.

[@Haagimus]

You can do something like spring retention clips that have like a little triangle bit on the end. So when you push it in it snaps into place and to take it out. All you do is push in the tab

[@tjh44961]

@@Haagimus I think toggle clamps would work very well, they could just pivot down into the hand holes. They are often used in workholding in small production runs.

[@joshmdmd]

Honestly even a sheet of paper or thin cardboard would do. I poke a hole through cardboard and put my nozzle through the hole whenever I blow chips to contain them. With the plastic being cut I doubt there is significant heat in the 'chips' so this type of guard would work.

[@micultimy91]

Christopher is single handedly producing content and devices at industrial quality just as a prototype shop 5 people team. Gotta respect that! 👍🏻 Can't wait to see more content like this! This channel needs more support because it's beyond any other R&D related channel you can find on KZbin.

[@Kawka1122]

Every decent engineer can do that. The only differentiating factor is amount of money.

[@TheBenenene10]

You might enjoy Wintergatan for musical RnD

[@joshmdmd]

@@Kawka1122 don't forget time!

[@Kawka1122]

@@joshmdmd and time

[@micultimy91]

@@Kawka1122 I'm not that sure. I know enough engineers that will spend sh*t load of money on toolings and materials and cannot achieve the end goal of a reliable and usable product, because most likely the corporate world had removed the creativity from their heads. Not to mention that universities are starting the creativity killing process, before you get hired. I see every single day people doing the same old tasks in the same inefficient manner and they do not bother changing anything for the better, not because there are no material resources, but because they lack creativity and will as resources.

[@AlexandreMacabies]

“Would you like to see more electronic designs in the videos” Yes please! It's quite amazing to witness how much you manage to combine two very interesting (and difficult IMO) skill sets into these bite-sized video updates. I'd love to also see the electronic aspects of your projects. Being more of a software guy, this domain scares me - in a good way. Keep up the nice work!

[@_skyyskater]

Video Summary: Guy invents 7th dimension portal to another universe to improve the efficiency of his screw counting machine.

[@MrDirkles]

He could have bought himself a set of scales 🤔

[@Bruceanddenise]

😂

[@KiemPlant]

I have noticed that a lot of these channels that I've been getting in my recommendations are often not even a year old with quite a lot of subscribers and views. Maybe I should start one of these just to document my builds as I love making stuff just as much as I love watching others doing the same. And a common factor between them seems to be very high quality videos from the start.

[@MyMomHadMe]

I don’t want to push you away from doing it, but I just want you to realize there’s tons of video tricks here that you don’t see that’s pretty tough to figure out. There’s more than just setting up a tripod and your phone while already working. It’s a LOT of work, but surely can be very rewarding. Just know how big of a bite you’re taking.

[@iridiandot]

Genuinely stunning work, would love to see at least the overview of the electronics.

[@petergamache5368]

Excellent work. In many disciplines, "cheap" and "lazy" are insults - not so in engineering. It seems like you've put just the right amount of effort and robustness into the design to do the intended job - an optimal outcome!

[@JonXuereb]

Engineering is just the management of compromises

[@The.Talent]

If you move the clamping mechanisms to the inside of the box, you could have them permanently mounted rather than having them removed and re-attached at each mounting, and if you have a long threaded rod with opposite threads on each end, you could make it so you only have to put the driver onto one end to tighten both clamps. Taking this two steps further, you could automate the driver by having a stepper motor mounted on the plate that automatically tightens the rod at the start of the process and loosens at the end of the job.

[@nuttButterAMK]

The way you're explaining what you do so nonchalantly is even more mind blowing than what you do. I'm jealous of your talent, and grateful that you share what you do with everyone. Your videos are very fun to watch. Thank you

[@derektoy4444]

Thank you so much for your content. I think I can speak for a lot of us saying that whatever content you are willing to share with us is more than appreciated because it is an absolute joy to watch

[@piotrnod6489]

MAN Your channel blows mind. This kind of engineering is best thing ever. Bless the gods of interweebs for allowing us to be a part of your adventures!

[@whatfor5]

I'm continually inspired and impressed by your thoughtful approach to design an engineering. Thank you so much for taking on the immense effort to document and share it. It is really special. A thought on gear lubrication: particularly in the area of an active CNC, chip fouling is a real concern. So while a grease lubricant (like Vaseline) is a tempting option for lubricity and safety, it might not be ideal for gear longevity or cleanliness. A dry lubricant would be preferable and I have had good luck on printed parts using synthetic waxes or even bar soap. Just a thought. I confess, I have not done a study on the subject, these lubricants have always just been "good enough."

[@lennartb4]

First of all, your designs and ideas are incredible. I just cant but wonder what you did in the past and how you got so far that you got the knowledge, tools and inspiration to do what you do. Maybe a question for the Q and A :)

[@ChrizRockster]

These are the skills of someone involved in machine building, toolmaking and jig / fixture making. Manufacturing, specifically in the German style with an Industry 4.0 / Lean Manufacturing understanding. If you watch how junior engineers are trained in Germany under people who make CNC machines for example, you can see why Chris has been given the mental tools he needs to let his innovative brain run free.

[@JeronimoStilton14]

@@ChrizRockster Wish that happened here in the states lol. Land of the proudly ignorant

[@jetplume]

@@ChrizRockster Know anywhere that somebody could read about that?

[@unknown_user2345]

​@@jetplumeWhat do you mean? Reading of how trainees learn to do what they do or how integration of industry 4.0 is working?

[@jetplume]

@@unknown_user2345 I'm looking for the training materials used to teach them.

[@louisnoel3170]

Your content is incredible. The more you make the better! Would love to see videos on your electrical design

[@serenerebel1983]

This has been immense inspiration for a box milling solution i also require. Thankyou.

[@flinkiklug6666]

You could also add a vacuum near the box under the table to get all the dust away, or use air pressure. Very nice project. Like to look how it grows

[@flinkiklug6666]

you said it in the end that you will add a vacuum, I think my idea with pressurised air is a bit messy, the chips will land everywhere

[@benkeller3]

The level of thought and skill to put this together is impressive. Please keep producing content of your work.

[@chance9979]

WOW!!! Outstanding design by fitting your production elements into totes. What an excellent way to create a modular design.

[@wunschvelo]

Die Volksfräse VF1 --- es gibt doch noch Hoffnung da draußen -- sehr gehaltvoller und inspirierender Content! Herzlichen Dank

[@Tgspartnership]

I like seeing your projects come to fruition, despite the fact that I have no possible use for such equipment and lack the required skills, know how and patience to work through a project build that you have documented. The fact that you are building cabinets from these generic plastic crates makes perfect sense as a design, and it's a cool business decision to use something so widely available and so repeatable. I wonder how many other useful products could be build around the simple plastic stacking crate.

[@Karebear9001]

I’ve done some antique cylinder phonograph restoration and the main springs used to be packed with petroleum jelly and graphite powder. I used graphite powder for plastic gear trains in environmental chambers. Very cool project

[@conorstewart2214]

If you don’t like gear lubrication you could try making the gears or at least their teeth out of nylon, which is supposed to be low friction and self lubricating. I also saw you can get PC-PTFE blended filament which has low friction but it is expensive. Edit: something else I have used is a PTFE spray lubricant, it is quite messy to apply being a spray but it dries onto the part, coating it in a layer of PTFE which means it doesn’t really pick up dust since it is dry but it makes it very smooth and lubricated.

[@szurketaltos2693]

PTFE is also bad for the environment, so best to avoid unless it is production critical.

[@mil3k]

​@@szurketaltos2693Explain how Polytetrafluoroethylene is bad for environment, please.

[@szurketaltos2693]

@@mil3k PTFE breaks down into PFOA which is associated with cancer and other health risks. And, GenX (a precursor of PTFE) causes similar risks -- so the production of PTFE is quite bad for the environment.

[@ABehrooz]

This is by far the cleanest DIY CNC I have seen. Good Job.

[@AlbertScoot]

Other than a couple nitpicks and things you've already noticed for improving, your setup is really good.

[@kathrynelrod5570]

impeccable work as usual. congratulations on the sponsorship!

[@robertheinrich2994]

this is beautiful. if I ever come into the situation that I need such a solution, I now know where to look. those boxes are literally dirtcheap, the only important part is to set up the injection molding once (which isn't easy) and then it cranks out those boxes for literally material cost. and they are designed to be massively sturdy.

[@BloodyMobile]

I absolutely love it. Just needs some "dust" collection. Or at the very least, the gears some covering.

[@Talvara]

Are you concerned about cut plastic making its way into your gears? from the video the plastic cuttings already made it pretty close to them

[@christopherhelmke]

I think you are right. Some covers would be a good idea.

[@mr.delicious3311]

Maybe a 3/4” tube with vacuum or air compression blower angled towards the cutting region too

[@vincentbarkley9121]

Good job. Gears and gears as bearings (!) need to be enclosed. A less automated but more expedient approach to solving this problem is to make routing templates for each face of the box. Once the templates are in place, routing takes about 30 seconds per face. Templates can be made on your CNC router.

[@Diemermakes]

You could adjust the size of the wood cutout on top and one of the handle grippers could stay permanently affixed and it would save you quite a bit of time with the mounting process. You could place the box down, clip it in to the handle gripper, and then attach the other one with the bolt.

[@Phazaar]

Honestly spectacular execution as always. Only one note (from grim experience). Plastic swarf getting into herringbone gears is -the worst-. Given the design, it wouldn't be difficult to incorporate a shroud that stops it from getting to them, and will give you years of life from this system.

[@PM.al.whatmough]

I have always wondered what router companies didn't recess a 4th or 5th axis in the table. So cool to see you do it!

[@helicopterdriver]

There are a few commercial ones available for a steep price. Most are mounted on the side or ends.

[@zartes_pflaenzchen]

It’s not just your voice, I freaking love ur hands… the way you smear the cream …

[@dankay9202]

Bruh lmao

[@uiopuiop3472]

This is really interesting, nice to see open source automation that's on par with industry solutions

[@purelife9000]

I was wondering what an absolute GENIUS looked like. Thank you for clearing that up for me.

[@egemens]

using herringbone gears to reduce play is a very good idea. simple and brilliant. And also very good work overall, thanks for sharing.

[@alialislm6487]

The designs and the clean implementations are extraordinary. Loved it

[@Lex.Dachstein]

I am also a big lover of Euro boxes, especially the format 40 x 30.

[@VEC7ORlt]

Standard deep groove bearing should always be used in pairs with some preload, that way there will be no play. Loaded axially they can safely withstand 10% of their rated axial load. You can buy pretty huge bearings so axial load wouldn't be a problem, like 6824, these go for around 20-30eu if you don't buy SKF and the like.

[@peterlarson233]

This is cool, but I wonder if you could make it a lot faster with the assumption that you're only working with one particular shape, which is that packing crate. If you use something like detent pins or some other kind of hard stop at different rotation positions, you could turn the box with something like a belt drive, then have the turntable lock into place with a separate mechanism. It wouldn't be nearly as flexible of a design, but it would change working surfaces for this specific job a lot quicker.

[@LinkWulluf]

What about some sort of Pogo pin power pass through? So that when you stack the crates up those interlocking lips meet and somehow pass power to the other crates in line? You could end up plugging in the bottom crate and powering the whole stack or something

[@LinkWulluf]

This is the first video in your series I've seen. I personally have no use first order like this. That being said I love it! Seeing how all these little functions come together

[@Rushil69420]

Love stumbling upon content and creators like this. Glad you decided to share what you do.

[@GlassImpressions]

More content? Yes. Absolutely yes.

[@jacobusburger]

The idea of a modular assembly/sorting process is really cool.

[@vassiliborsow3069]

Great application. I suggest you to use a set of conical bearing as they usually wont cost much, and furthermore with light preload you can reduce play in the sysyem. For the gearing you can put the outher ring in the inside of the jig, making it semi enclosed or more easilly enclosable. Moreover you can reduce the dimension of the motor, as they are just for comands rather than power, wich in this case isn't much of a problem.

[@DrG2k9]

Da ich denke, dass du mich verstehst, sage ich es in deutsch: das ist ganz großes Kino was du da gebaut hast und mit der Volksfräse hast du ja auch ne gute Fräse. Hast du die schon auf KUS und Linearschienen umgebaut?

[@christopherhelmke]

Hi, danke dir. Auf KUS habe ich leider noch nicht umgebaut, steht aber auf jeden Fall an!

[@MrBlakBunny]

"I didn't want to be bothered spending time cutting boxes, so i am spending time making a machine to do it for me" :P awesome work and quite scalable

[@ekarakaya3402]

I was expecting modelling, designing, mechanical or plc automation courses from the course website. I think we need a video like how you came this level. I like your videos as a mechanical engineer. I wish you the best

[@Dozer456123]

I'm sitting here absolutely flabbergasted at everything you do

[@BostonGrambo]

I'd recommend either a dust cover for the gears, or an attached brush to avoid particles entering the gear and causing a skip.

[@3d1e00]

Looks awesome, I think the one thing I would change is removing those mounting wedges that push through the handle and need the impact driver to attach. Consider putting them on the inside and have them push out via an integrated motor to remove the manual step of tightening the mount?

[@jercos]

Petroleum jelly is a widely used lubricant, but not for packing metal bearings and gearboxes because of its low melting point. For 3D printed parts, which would melt anyway, I suspect you will never have problems.

[@NicksStuff]

Electrical engineering videos: yes, please!

[@TeamGreenHQ]

Just binged the series, can't wait for more!

[@nathanb62]

Your design and workflow is amazing. You could make a toilet paper hold and I would be fascinated.

[@kalemercer7053]

Just found this series so you may have already adresed but I see something that could cause issues. The plastic shavings will get into the gears not only gum therm up but throw of the stepper motors out of wack. A dust colection system would be the best option long turm, short term some shrouds around them will also protect them form dust and other particulet if you keep this for other projects.

[@chipcode5538]

I really like the parts you make, watched all previous videos after seeing this. 👍

[@Phoen1x883]

A bit of an oddball question, but how sure are you that that box design will continue to be cheaply available long term? Your modules fit it exactly, and you have now built custom CNC tooling just for it, but how do you know they aren't planning an update of some sort for the next time they retool the factory?

[@crimpers5543]

that's the risk you take for building on sand.

[@_..-.._..-.._]

@@crimpers5543???

[@_..-.._..-.._]

I would’ve just found a way to make my own boxes, seems a tad silly, but I respect his tenacity and dedication.

[@niklasw5554]

Multiple companies make them, they are designed based on norms (size)

[@Basement_CNC]

The are "eurobox", the are cheap, stackable, and available in every hardware store in Europe

[@BrennanLetkeman]

I don't know if the clamping system has to be automatic (and adding motors on the moving axis is more weight) but even just replacing the screws with some sort of coarser threaded hand knob or a locking cam would probably clamp them sufficiently with one big turn instead of the whole drill spinning process. could simplify and speed up the ease of it all without resorting to electrical complexity

[@goodtimecharly]

Really nice clean design! 5th axis stuff is a game changer I don't think I could go back to just 3 it just makes life easier and opens up new possibilities. Only feedback I could think of is it would be worth making a shroud or cover for the gearing on the bottom as it'll be a chip magnet. Even with a vacuum system hooked up they will get everywhere.

[@wsshambaugh]

This is absolutely beautiful but man would it have just been simpler to make a jig to located the boxes the existing CNC and just flip them manually. How many of these are you planning to cut?

[@gazehound]

petroleum jelly is genuinely not the worst choice for temporarily lubricating plastics. we used to use it to loosen up rubiks cubes.

[@RichardBronosky]

8:25 Instead of bolting on the handle clamps, you could save a lot of cycle effort by using magnets. Make the removable parts attach with peg and sockets. Put magnets in the sockets and pegs. The force of gravity on the crate would be perpendicular to the axis of the pegs. The grips would never fall out without them being grabbed and pulled out. ☮️❤️🌈

[@RichardBronosky]

If you want a mechanized system, you could use a "double slider crank mechanism". One servo turn would extend two wedges pinning the box in place. See: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2HFZHd3lsymmdk

[@JonMurray]

This was so awesome and impressive on so many levels. Finally the KZbin algorithm spits out a gem! Outstanding work. New subscriber ✌🏻

[@jimsvideos7201]

Those herringbone gears as bearings is a very clever idea indeed.

[@BombasticVirus]

allow me to throw in my 2 cents. probably will be a good idea to cover the orange gears from the cut dusts. 10:00 maybe a solution of brushes around the bottom of the box holder, brushed like used in the pantorouter dust collector

[@michaeld954]

I love it now. I'm gonna just want to make a small version to do metal.

[@artemylebedev9707]

It would be interesting to see how do you use CAM software to account those custom axes.

[@joshmdmd]

treat like 2D, manually type code for transitions between sides, make sure you change height offsets whenever height changes.

[@jakobsasz8035]

Regarding the lubrication of the herringbone gears, you could try using self lubricating filaments like Igus iglidur i150 They contain solid lubricants and are easily printable

[@unknown_user2345]

Yeah, but also crazy expensive for what they can do. Absolutly amazing for very special formed sliging bearings and parts, but for that gears und with such small load, acceleration and torgue, I would say it is probably more cost effective to lube and change the gears every now and then, depending on the amount of products that are made with the the maschine.

[@OMGWTFBBQSHEEP]

Really like the design! And if you will revise the design it would be really cool if you implement some small pneumatic cylinders to clamp the box in place, instead of using the drill😀

[@RichardBronosky]

I like where your head is at on this. Instead of introducing a new system (pneumatics) with unique maintenance practices. You could instead use a "double slider crank mechanism". One servo turn would extend two wedges pinning the box in place. See: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2HFZHd3lsymmdk ☮️❤️🌈

[@CruzMonrreal]

Adding some compressed air at the end mill would go a long way! Also probably out of scope, but consider some sort of tool changer and chamfer end mill. I'd bet that those edges are QUITE sharp, tho this already does 99% of what you need it to.

[@trialsofthewilds6571]

Incredible stuff, happy to hear all your thoughts on all your projects!

[@Pixelplanet5]

you should get some IGUS filament that has solid lubricants build in. that way you never have to grease anything and still dont have any wear.

[@DeusWolf]

It would be great to get a run down of the MPS as a standalone video. The original counter/sorter, future plans and requirements/constraints.

[@PabloSanJuanOk]

Christopher, ypour videos are outstanding !!! Add more videos on this please, Would love to see more videos !! Greetings from Argentina

[@andrewstrauss7166]

More electrical engineering would be super interesting!

[@JaenEngineering]

I wanted to do something very similar a few years ago for cutting out the gland hole for GRP electrical enclosures, but the company i was working for just wasnt interested in developing the idea so we had to stick to manually drilling the holes with a cordless drill🤨

[@Phenex125]

Super Design und klasse Video - vielen Dank für's Teilen Christopher!

[@jchester07]

You might be able to have a better stability using thrust bearings. They are also cheap. But your solution was really good.

[@pixel_vengeur391]

Oh my God, yes please, do share whatever knowledge you want with us. If your mechanical engineering skills are anything to go by, I'm eager to know what you are capable of on the electronics side!

[@baxbanni2226]

Really awesome!! And I am so curious how you integrated 4th and 5th axis into your CAM and CNC software. Hopefully seeing it in another video soon. 👍👍👍

[@SamPinchesMakerShop]

Also curious about triggering external axis or events from ESTLCAM

[@_..-.._..-.._]

Same, wondering if it’s sensor driven or timed.

[@gianfrancoparretta7648]

I only saw the video now, but I have to congratulate you on the project and the realization of the whole thing. I really appreciate it, well done! You already have my membership. I hope for new interesting videos and evolutions. See you soon, greetings. 👍🏼

[@davidprock904]

I could probably use your expertise in electrical engineering. It's for something that will be a 3D printer, CNC, but also will be able to do laser lithography. It will have sub micron precision with zero backlash! Outside of the spindle/head, There will only be the gears to push the filament through or the drill bit to cut with, there will be No Other gears, rails, rods, belts of any kind at all whatsoever. And all of the action takes place on the inside of the motors that are stacked in the same vertical space. Obviously I'm making my own motors that are constant DC and water cooled but to control the motors... The electromagnetic coils are going to be very extremely complex to control and this is where your expertise might be able to come in. The electronics will also be processing each frame of a high frame rate microscope camera. while an AI model controls the amperage and voltage to the coils individually.

[@Betruet]

Just subscribed. I thoroughly enjoyed your video and look forward to more. Thankyou for all the time and effort you took to share this.

[@PCBWay]

This is truly AMAZING! 👍

[@enzoruberto]

I would love to see more electrical engineering too. Your videos are fantastic already and I think your electronics videos would be great too

[@toddbrous_untwist]

This is INCREDIBLE!! Thank you!

[@viktorkalinin942]

Смотрю тебя из России ) как же ты крут) стараюсь брать с тебя пример)

[@sulzhuk]

Christopher, I'm exited by your work! Could you give the answer please for the next questions? It's very interesting. 1. What kind of material have you used for the printing gears? 2. What kind of program have you used for the controlling all these axels? 3. How did you produce all other aluminium parts of body for two additional axels?

[@Gambiarte]

Handsome project! You need a vacuum or a protection for the turntable gear, it will fill with plastic chips.

[@thisApex3D]

Great vid! What I would love to see is how you wired that thing and how you control it. This is the hardest part imho.

[@wochenendedestodes9015]

Maybe you could use self lubicrating 3D Filament for the gears... Also an enclosure would be nice so that no milling chips end up in the gears... but realy nice work !!!

[@ssaw88]

There are quite a few cyclodial gear sets that are 3d printed and are very robust. These designs would help prevent the machined chips from getting into the ring gear

[@mylittleparody2277]

Very clean production and video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@automatemefirst]

Yes on the electronics. Very interested in that.

[@Prof.Polymath]

Vaseline is petroleum based, so it will affect some materials. Not sure it’s the best choice of lubricant really, especially if it’s drying out. But your machine doesn’t look to be running fast so it should be ok for what you’re using it for I suppose. Nice machining work 👍🏼

[@RobinGerritsen1995]

What is the 3 axis cnc-machine called? Do you have a link to the open source data?

[@alexstone691]

Awesome work, suprised you didnt use magents or something to hold the box instead of screwing it in, also add a vacuum or something so the chips dont fall into the gears

[@sebastianmuller1210]

Two cylinders pushing outward would be enough to clamp the box. Can be done by pressurised air or perhaps a rotating leaver if you would like to keep it electric.