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Grinding/Polishing machine
This Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) grinding / polishing machine serves 3 purposes:
- Machining for the mold used to slump the mirror
- Fine grinding of the mirror
- Polishing of the mirror
Overview
The CNC machine can grind and polish blanks of up to 1.4m diameter. I built it out of steel stock and various mechanical components as described in this page.
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Wide view of the ginding/polishing machine. The plastic film around the machine, and the metal hose under, prevent dust buildup during plaster mold grinding, and keep dust away for polishing.
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Top view of the CNC machine.
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Dust evacuation duct. There is a 120VAC fan inside the duct to suck air from the top of the machine to the bottom and send it outside the building through a hole in the floor.
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Mechanical design
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Left X axis bearing. A linear ball bearing is visible in the bottom. The ball screw, driven by a stepper motor, is used to drive the X axis. The Y axis motor and bearings are visible in the background.
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A chain keeps the 2 sides of the X axis in sync.
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Y axis stepper motor driving the Y axis ball screw (not visible - behind the brown plastic cover).
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Y axis linear ball bearings (bottom) and ball screw (top).
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Z axis.
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Machining tool for the wax. This tool was made by cutting a pizza cutting wheel in 4. It's a cheap way to make a large radius of curvature tool, which is ideal to shape the wax.
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Old pictures of the machine
These pictures show an early version of the machine, with conventional screw instead of ballscrews, smaller steppers, and single side drive for the X axis.
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Wide view of the ginding/polishing machine.
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Grinding head. The black plastic pipe is for dust control, and is connected to a modified vacuum cleaner outside the building.
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Page content last updated:
27/06/2023 06:35:52 HST
html file generated 27/06/2023 06:34:42 HST
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