AeroModeller – June 2018

45

router and bought the DeWalt as it has

power to spare, and if it performs like

other DeWalt power tools I own, should

give long service and prove reliable.

What Next

I had drawn up a very long to do list of

things to cut during the build process

and as soon as my mates found out I

now owned a CNC router the requests

started coming in. Have a look at what

is achievable using various materials.

The C Beam is the smallest machine

Ooznest sell, there is a larger twin Y

axis C Beam version available but

they also sell a larger machine called

the OX. The Ooznest OX is a modifi ed

and improved version of the original

OpenBuilds OX and again uses the very

popular V-Slot extrusion system; this

provides the machine with extremely

smooth and accurate linear motion. It

has NEMA23 stepper motors driving

all axes, with GT3 belt motion on the

X & Y axes, and an ACME lead screw

driven system on the Z. The machine

uses the CNC xPro controller for motion

control with included cable carriers for

safe machine operation. No build video

with this one but two well written printed

manuals are included in the kit covering

the mechanical assembly and electronic

setup. The OX is available in a range of

sizes from 500 x 750mm up to 1500 x

1500mm. It can also be purchased as

just a mechanical kit providing a base

platform for people to build the machine

they want using diff erent electronics and

motors to fi t their needs. The price point

of the kit makes it an attractive option for

many people and applications, ranging

from hobbyists, to woodworkers, to

researchers. If you are feeling particularly

adventurous there is no reason why

you can’t just buy rails, stepper motors,

carriage plates etc. and dream up your

own design.

Indicative Pricing

Ooznest C Beam:

Mechanical kit £550

Full kit f £770

DeWalt D26200 Router £135

The C Beam has behaved fl awlessly

and this is no surprise as the quality of

the kit parts was excellent. After many,

many hours of use it still works just as

well as the day I fi red it up. It’s clear

a lot of development and thought has

gone into this product; the exceptional

assembly video proof of this. Backed

up by the superb technical support from

Ooznest I doubt I could have made a

better choice for my fi rst CNC Router but

never a company to stand still, Ooznest

have already released a new machine,

the WorkBee, that is easily scalable if you

need a larger cutting table. Along with

the Ox I’m certain you will fi nd they have

a machine to suit your requirements and

price range.

Ribs and formers in balsa are possible, without

the slight charring you get with laser cutting, but

they still need sanding and the width of the router

restricts some intricate detail.

Glassfi bre parts have many uses such as local

strengthening and control horns Make sure you

use a suitable extractor system and don’t breath

the dust.

For a quick and cheap fl ying fi x, Depron can be

used instead of balsa for your latest creation. You

wouldn’t cut Depron or thick ply with a laser, so if

you are serious about mass producing parts you will

probably want both a laser cutter and CNC router.

The WorkBee is a high specifi cation

CNC router designed from the ground

up to incorporate as much feedback and

suggestions Ooznest accumulated from

selling their previous kits. The WorkBee

CNC machine gives makers a tool to

manufacture their ideas. It can make

functional parts from woods, plastic and

even aluminium to 0.2mm accuracy or

greater.

About the WorkBee

What makes the WorkBee unique is

that it can be either a lead screw driven

CNC machine, or a GT3 belt driven

machine. Opting for a lead screw driven

system the WorkBee will yield a more

robust and accurate machine, however,

it comes at extra cost and is limited

to machine sizes 1000 x1000 mm or

smaller. The other option is for a GT3

belt driven WorkBee and this tried and

tested method opens the possibility for

a 1500 x 1500 mm machine. The overall

machine design for the two options is

the same, so the machine can be easily

changed between the two. The WorkBee

CNC machine uses the C-Beam V-Slot

Extrusion system for all axes; this is a

super beefy extrusion that also allows

the drive systems to be shielded from

cutting debris. NEMA23 Stepper motors

are used to drive all axes, with a CNC

xPro Controller V3 running GRBL 1.1

controlling the machine. Highly quality

printed manuals are provided that walk

through each step of the assembly

process with written instructions and

superbly detailed assembly diagrams.

Many of the components on the

WorkBee are a made in Britain, the main

part being the aluminium extrusions.

Indicative Pricing

Work Bee:

Mechanical kit £840

Full kit 750 x 750mm £1195

http://www.ooznest.co.uk

Tel 01277 523171

Ooznest WorkBee

Ooznest Company Overview...

Ooznest is the brainchild Cambridge University

engineering graduate Ryan Lock. First stumbling

across 3D printing during his studies, he just had

to get involved. Buying his fi rst 3D printer then

building his own, he knew this was going to be

something big. Ryan started Ooznest during his fi nal

year of studies, four years ago, and wanted to do

his bit in helping bring 3D printers to the masses.

Running Ooznest from home and studying away at

the same time stretched him to the limit, but upon

leaving university it has now become a full-time

venture. Since then, Ooznest has grown one by one,

expanded in to new markets and moved three times

to keep up with growth. Ooznest has made a name

for providing excellent personal customer service

and products. Their kits have gained many positive

reviews, with their Prusa i3 3D printer kit featured in

the Tech Radar top ten for two years running. They

are now doing the same in the CNC market.

COMPUTER ROUTER.indd 45 26/04/2018 15:45