BillFitzmaurice.info

Hello Everyone, I have been lurking for some months now and I wanted to document my build. I have a feeling this will not be my last build as I have already purchased the AutoTuba plans and looking at the SLA's.

So yesterday I transferred all the measurement into Cad and made the cut files. It really didnt take long at all as the instructions made it super simple. After 20 minutes on the machine we have sides. I used MDF, I know its not a recommended material here but I have a few sheets just collecting dust. The sides are 3/4" mdf with 1/4" Dados with drilled and countersunk holes going down the center. I am going to leave the screws in. I want to dry fit everything and then start gluing everything in. Tomorrow I will cut the rest of the pieces out and hopefully get everything dry fitted.

Enjoy the pics

Mech Mate CNC Router..... Nice!

Did you build that yourself? I notice it's in your garage

Neil,
I did build it myself and your right it is in my garage. It does make it easy to build boxes.

Sick CNC router. More pics of the garage/router please, looks like a super clean setup and you could earn some Harleys for that

a maz ing

do tell how much that bad boy costs

Been looking at the mechmate. The website is unhelpful unless you register. I don't quite get how much of it you have to do yourself. Do you have to weld up and source pretty much all of it?

Seems like there are quite a few satisfied Mechmate customers according to the home page. Here is the 'plan ordering' page http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376 and a place to order parts http://www.cvsupply.com/servlet/the-MechMate/Categories . I don't know much more.

I thought Regnar's MechMate looked familiar... I've seen it on the mechmate site .

Here's the machine I built (MechMate serial #83):
Quick answers:

Yes, it's a full DIY build. Cost is somewhere between $6k and $10k, typically. It's all welded steel. Fussy bits (gantry car, notably) are laser-cut and bent, and then welded. Average time to build is about 9 months. Several machines have been built within 3 or 4 weeks.

Rules me out. I don't have the time, nor the welding skills necessary. I used to, but welding is a skill you have to maintain. I'll keep shopping. They look spectacular btw.

Very interesting... I wonder what the cost would be if you can source the steel at cost? (My dad owns a steel fabrication shop. Comes in handy for my speaker grills )

Steel cost wasnt that bad its the electronics that kill ya. That and all the grinding dust from making the rails.

Today was slow. I had a few guess to the garage and well didnt get as far I would have liked to. Tomorrow I will cut out the braces and install them and glue everything together. I think I will keep the door closed and people out then I might be able to get done. Well anyways here is what I got done and a picture of the worse joint. I think PL glue will fill it in perfectly.

I don't see dados for bracing... You are going to be installing braces right?

Yeah no dado's for the bracing. I was thinking about it but will end brad nailing them in. Should take a lot less time.

Finished putting it all together. I am waiting for all the glue to dry and will router all the outside edges. Truly this was a really fun build and cant wait to listen to it. I went through 2 tubes of PL glue so I am hoping I don't have any leaks. I had a lot of squeeze out and putting on the last panel I had some hydraulic resistance getting the side down. Just meant I had to screw down slowly.

Well for some photos and maybe some Harley points.

Getting all the braces sized up...


Final glue up looking down the horn...

Some squeeze out....

Garage Right Side

Garage left side

Is there such a thing as a 10 Harley award?