Phoenix

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. . . . . . . . . . . . The Phoenix came out of the ashes of Scrappy . . . . . . . . Scrappy got it's name because I was building it out of my left over scrap parts . . . . . . . . It was the first machine to use my Centering Blocks . . . . . . . . It also used Roller Blade Bearings mounted on an angle . . . . . . . . After seeing a weird phenomenon with the bearings on an angle I scrapped Scrappy . . . . . . . . I kept the Centering Blocks and went with my aluminum channel design and other ideas proven on the 7th and Pipe Dream . . . . . . . . The copycats of the world kept the bearings on an angle while others added my Centering Blocks to their cobbled designs . . . . . . . . I received lots of Emails asking why I dropped the bearings on an angle . . . . . . . . That's for me to know . . . . . . . . And for them to obviously never figure out! . . . . . . . . In any event the Phoenix was born . . . . . . . . It rose from the ashes of Scrappy . . . . . . . . The machine was designed to cut larger RC balsa parts . . . . . . . . While still being movable by one person . . . . . . . . Very quicky someone converted their 7th to a Phoenix and he cut out guitar parts . . . . . . . . I then put the Center Blocks on my 7th . . . . . . . . I used to show people my new designs as I was building them over on the RC group and then on my forum when it was public . . . . . . . . Big mistake! . . . . . . . . The copycats started pumping me for info and losers start telling me how I should do things . . . . . . . . Years later I am still here and I guess they have died or moved on to be a Want-to-be somewhere else! . . . . . . . .

               01/18/03 Three months to the day, this project is finished! Out of the ashes of the Scrappy project comes a Gantry style hobby CNC machine for RC modelers. The machine will cut Balsa, Basswood and Pine at 8 to 12 inches per minute using a 1/8" bit. It will cut 1/4" high quality Plywood (no knots) in one pass at 6" per minute with a 1/8" bit. Lots of people asked me if my machine could cut 1/4" plywood in one pass. I finally got the chance to do some test cutting. The machine has a 9" X 24" usable cutting area. This machine can be built for around $150 minus the motors, Controller and Software.
               This design has two outstanding features found nowhere else. The Centering Blocks let you adjust the two main Rails easily. This is a big time saver! The second feature is the removable Cutting Deck. Most gantry style machines have the main Rails hidden under the Base of the unit. This makes building and adjusting a gantry style machine very hard for a beginner. With my design all building and adjustments are made with the cutting surface off.   The machine was designed for cutting longer balsa wood parts. The machine can be used for other things! In this design I once again bring roller blade bearings, Gass Pipe,MDF, PVC, and aluminum window channel together. Feedback from people building my 7th Sojourn was so positive I decided to use similar design techniques. Feel free to replace the Gas Pipe with more expensive bar or tubing.
               Look at the photo above! There are people out there who can build this machine by just looking at that picture. For those of you who need more help the plans have 22 pages of drawings. A drawing for each part with dimensions and subassembly drawings. There is no Parts List. The plans are step by step. Each page has simple instructions on them. You should buy the parts as you build. Most parts you have to make out of MDF or PVC plastic. I built this machine using simple tools like a Scrollsaw, Drill press and hand tools.
               Lets talk money! This machine is real special! I could really get greedy, but I won't! Instead I am going to do something special! The Plans are only $36 which includes free shipping,handling and Perf-X Project to the US and Canada Only! For best results the machine should not be built bigger it has a 9" X 24" cutting area with a 2" plus Z range. Again $36 to US and Canada Only!

Email: John a quick question

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