WO2003092952A2

WO2003092952A2 - Personal manufacturing center

Info

Publication number: WO2003092952A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/013645
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeff Jordan
Original assignee: Jeff Jordan
Priority date: 2002-05-01
Filing date: 2003-05-01
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: WO2003092952A9; WO2003092952A3; AU2003239337A8; AU2003239337A1

Abstract

A box structure (12) encloses, aligns, and supports the motions along three or more axes (X,Y and Z) of a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine tool (64). The box structure (12) is formed by the assembly of six flat panels (36, 39, 40, 50, 81, 112), which may be wood, plastic, metal, or other material. The flat panels may be shipped flat for assembly by the end user, as is common in the furniture art field, because the assembly of the panels will produce a fully aligned box structure. The assembly may incorporate edge connectors (44, 45, 84, 85) to align the edges of the panels to achieve the precision box structure. The edge connectors may incorporate bearing surfaces (52, 58) to support the rolling or sliding bearings of the X, Y, and Z CNC motions, so that all cutting forces are delivered to the edges of the box structure, where it has the most precise alignment and the greatest rigidity from the support of the adjacent panels. The structure (12) has an elongated edge connector to connect edges of six panels to form a box structure and control motors (21, 22, 23) to transmit forces of computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining motions approximate to the connected edges. The connectors have a bearing surface to support linear bearings of the CNC machining motions.

Description

PERSONAL IV-ANUFACTURING CENTER

Technical Field

This invention relates to Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine tools, and more particularly to CNC Routers of an improved design, which are more economical both to manufacture and to transport to the end user.

Background Art

A typical CNC Router consists of an electric router mounted on a vertical slide, which is mounted on a cross slide, which is mounted on a gantry, which is mounted on guide rails along a platform or table. The vertical slide, the cross slide and the gantry are each driven by a ball screw or by a lead screw. Each of these screws is driven by a CNC stepper motor or servomotor, so that the three CNC motors move the router along the Z-, X- and Y-axes, respectively, under computer control, as is common in CNC machine tools. In an alternate configuration the gantry is mounted solidly to a supporting frame, and the table is driven beneath it by lead screws and CNC motor along guide rails on the frame. A router bit is mounted in the router collet, just as it would be for the handheld operation of the router, so that the CNC motion of the router results in the cutting of the material mounted on the table by the router bit.

These CNC Routers were developed to automate the cutting of patterns in wood, but they have been adapted to cutting parts in closed-cell plastic foam and in soft metals. Computer Aided Design (CAD) is increasingly widespread and leads a wider demand for Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems for prototyping both CAD parts and CAD patterns for metal casting. This field, which is sometimes called "Desktop Manufacturing," is also increasingly popular with hobbyists and artists. CNC engraving machines are very similar in form and function.

Numerous manufacturers are now offering CNC Routers, CNC engraving machines, and CNC foam cutters for sale on the Internet. These manufacturers have sought to develop Desktop Manufacturing Systems, which are economical both to build and to ship to end users, but this effort has been hampered by their common design strategy, which is described above. This prior art suffers several disadvantages:

The frames, tables and gantries of CNC routers have been constructed of metal parts, which must be precision machined and carefully assembled to maintain dimensional accuracy. This is a relatively expensive manufacturing process, and the resulting structure must be relatively heavy in order to hold proper alignment and to resist deformation and vibration.

This form and weight contributes to a relatively high packing and shipping cost, and additional cost can be incurred if the unit is roughly handled in shipping, because the alignment is easily upset by inertial damage. Checking and adjusting the alignment of the unit by the end user requires special gauges and is relatively complicated and time consuming.

A further structural problem arises from vibration induced by the router bit, as its flutes sequentially contact the part. The gantry frame configuration is prone to harmonic vibration, which adversely affects the surface quality and accuracy of the part being cut.

To avoid vibration, the gantry is commonly made lower over the table than would otherwise be desirable for clearance over the part being cut, which limits the depth of the part.

The environment and safety of the operator and others is adversely affected by the cutter noise and by the dispersion of dust, chips and shavings flying off the cutter, which can only be overcome by providing a separate environmental enclosure around the CNC Router.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved CNC Router or Desktop Manufacturing System or CNC Engraving System, which incorporates a box enclosure to enclose the cutting operation, to maintain alignment, and to resist distortion and vibration from the cutting forces.

It is another object of the invention to design the box so that it may be economically constructed out of plywood, oriented-wood-fiber board, plastic sheet stock, and/or other common economical sheet materials.

It is another object of the invention to design the box enclosure so that its side panels may be precut and shipped flat against one another, as is commonly done with cabinets, desks, tables, and other furniture.

It is another object of the invention to design the panels and assembly hardware so that the assembly of the pre-cut panels into the box enclosure automatically establishes the system alignment, so that the X-, Y-, and Z-axes are perpendicular and the resulting X-Y, X-Z, and Y-Z CNC reference cutting planes are not warped.

It is another object of the invention to utilize the natural vibration damping of the box enclosure and wood or plastic panels to suppress harmonics of the cutter vibration, which results in improved surface quality and accuracy in the manufactured part.

It is another object of the invention to utilize the rigidity of the box enclosure to provide greater Z-axis travel and adequate space under the router for the addition of fourth and fifth rotary CNC axes, as options.

It is another object of the invention to utilize the same box enclosure as an environmental enclosure, which reduces noise, dust, and cleanup costs related to cutting parts on the Personal Manufacturing Center. 75 These and other objects are met by providing a method for designing and assembling a rigid box enclosure from precisely cut panels, wherein the CNC cutting forces are delivered to the edges of said box, where the structure is best able to support loads without deformation. Any warp in a given panel is eliminated as it is drawn up against the precision cut straight edges of the four other panels, which are perpendicular to it in the box assembly. Locating grooves are provided in the cut panels to establish this geometry in the assembly, which guarantees that the edges of

80 the box enclosure will approximate parallel and perpendicular straight lines within the limits of precision with which the panels are cut.

To most efficiently use the structural properties of the panels, all of the panels must be firmly held in place during the CNC cutting operation. Common office furniture fasteners, such as screws and threaded inserts or posts and cam 85 locks are well suited to this purpose. One or more of the panels may be removed for attaching cutting stock to the table. Without significantly reducing the mechanical properties of the panels, holes may be cut into one or more panels for operator access to install bits in the router, to set up reference points, and to view the work in progress. Doors or removable panels may be provided for closing these holes for environmental enclosure during operation.

90 In the preferred embodiment, the X and Y motions are in the horizontal plane and are carried under the top panel. The associated cutting forces are delivered along the edges of the top panel, where it is tightly fitted to the vertical side panels. The Z motion is on a table, which moves up and down within the box. The table is supported vertically by four lead screws close to the corners of the table, and horizontally by bearing surfaces on its corners, which bear along diagonally opposite vertical edges of the box enclosure. 95

The optional fourth axis of motion is a rotary table device, which may be mounted on the table. Such rotary table device includes means for attaching or grabbing the cutting stock and means for rotating the part around the X-axis, as is common in CNC machining. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that said box enclosure provides rigidity and alignment over a greater Z-axis distance than the prior art, which results in the machining space

100 necessary for the motion of a useful part size along said fourth axis of motion. It will also be obvious that a fifth axis of motion can be added by a rotary device, which moves said fourth axis of motion about the Y-axis, as is well known in the field of CNC machining. It will also be obvious that the height of the box enclosure can be increased as necessary to provide space for said fifth access of motion, while retaining the other objects and advantages described herein.

105

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the box enclosure of the Personal Manufacturing Center, showing the top, front and the right side with the controller and the X-axis motor mounted upon it.

110 FIG.2 is an elevation view of the right side shown in FIG. 1, which shows the section line for FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is the section view A-A of FIG. 2 showing the router, the cross slide, the X-axis carriage, the lead screws supporting the table, and the belt drives and bearings between the Z-axis motor and said lead screws.

115

FIG. 4 is the section B-B of FIG. 3 showing the section view of said Cross Slide and its internal linear actuator, linear guide rails and linear bearings.

FIG. 5 is the section C-C of FIG. 3 showing the cog belts and pulleys that connect the motion of said Z-

120 axis motor to the lead screw nuts.

FIG. 6 is section view D-D of FIG. 3 showing the bottom of said table as it is restrained between the vertical edge extrusions of the box assembly.

125 FIG. 7 is an alternate view of Section A-A of FIG. 2 showing a rotary table mounted vertically on said table to provide the optional 4^th axis of motion.

The following list of Reference Numerals is provided for the drawings and descriptions:

10 System 46 Protruding ridge 12 Box enclosure 47 Groove 86 Protruding ridges 14 Supporting stand 48 Groove 88 Grooves 16 Personal computer 49 Tongue 92 Grooves

18 Data cable 50 Back panel 102 Protruding ridges

19 Power cable 52 Linear bearings 104 Grooves

20 Electrical control box 54 Cross slide structure 106 Side panel brackets

21 X-axis control motor 56 Two parallel linear guide rails 108 Protruding ridges

22 Y-axis control motor 58 Two linear bearings 110 Grooves

23 Z-axis control motor 60 Cross slide mounting plate 112 Front panel

31 X-axis lead screw 62 Cross slide lead screw 114 Flat head screws

32 Motor mount 64 Router 116 Top panel bracket

33 Radial bearing 66 Router bit 118 Protruding ridge

34 Lead nut 68 Collet 120 Groove

35 X-axis carriage 70 Table 122 Bottom panel bracket

36 Top panel 72 Pulleys 124 Protruding ridge

37 Tongues 74 Cogged belts 126 Groove

38 Grooves 76 Lead screw pulleys 128 Front panel window

39 Left side panel 78 Lead screw bearings 130 Rotary table

40 Right side panel 80 Table lead screws 131 Work piece

41 Machine screws 81 Bottom panel

42 Threaded inserts 82 Tongues

43 X-axis linear guide rails 83 Grooves

44 Front top edge connector 84 Back vertical edge connectors

45 Back top edge connector 85 Front vertical edge connectors 130 Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

In the accompanying FIGs. 1-7, there is shown an improved CNC (computer numerical controlled) router system, or Personal Manufacturing Center, generally referred to as 10, designed to utilize the alignment and strength features of a box enclosure to support and enclose the CNC router system.

135 The system 10 includes a box enclosure 12, a supporting stand 14, and an electrical control box 20, which communicates with the personal computer 16 through the data cable 18 and is connected to an electrical power source through the power cable 19. Said electrical control box 20 is connected through cables to the X-axis control motor 21, the Y-axis control motor 22, and the Z-axis control motor 23. As is well understood in the CNC art field, said electrical control box 20 contains means for interpreting the control data it receives from the personal computer

140 16 over the data cable 18 to control the direction, acceleration and velocity of said control motors 21, 22, and 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, said X-axis control motor 21 is connected to the X-axis lead screw 31 through the motor mount 32. As is common in the CNC field of art, said motor mount 32 contains the lead screw bearings and coupling means to connect said motor 21 to said lead screw 31. The end of said lead screw 31 is supported by a radial

145 bearing 33. Said X-axis lead screw 31 passes through the lead nut 34, which is tightly fastened to the X-axis carriage 35 , so that said X-axis carriage 35 is driven along said lead screw 31 as a result of the rotary motion of said motor 21. Hence, the direction, acceleration and velocity of said X-axis carriage is controlled by said personal computer 16. Said X-axis carriage 35 moves along under the top panel 36, which incorporates the tongues 37. Said tongues 37 are drawn tightly into the grooves 38 in the left side panel 39 and the right side panel 40 by machine

150 screws 41, which operate on the threaded inserts 42 in said top panel 36, as is well known in the art of furniture and cabinet manufacturing. It will be appreciated by those schooled in the art that posts and locking cams, or other common fastening means could also be used for this purpose.

FIG.4 shows the section view of X-axis linear guide rails 43, which are solidly fastened to the front top edge 155 connector 44 and the back top edge connector 45. Said front top edge connector 44 and back top edge connector 45 have protruding ridges 46, which fit tightly into grooves 47 cut into said top panel 36, creating a tongue and groove joint to locate said top edge connectors 44 and 45 along the edge of said top panel 36. Said back top edge connector 45 incorporates the groove 48, which tightly captures the tongue 49 on the edge of the back panel 50. Said tongue 49 is drawn tightly into said groove 48 by said machine screws 41 operating on said inserts 42, as described above. 160 As is common in the art, linear bearings 52 are solidly fastened to each side of said X-axis carriage 35 and slide along said X-axis linear guide rails 43, so that the motion of said X-axis carriage 35 is tightly constrained by said linear guide rails 43.

Also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is the cross slide structure 54, which is tightly fastened to said X-axis carriage 35 165 perpendicular to said linear guide rails 43. Said cross slide structure 54 has two parallel linear guide rails 56 mounted within it. Two linear bearings 58 slide along said linear guide rails 56 and are solidly fastened to the cross slide mounting plate 60. Said Y-axis control motor 22 is solidly attached to said cross slide mounting plate 60 and contains within its rotor a female lead screw thread, which is active on the cross slide lead screw 62. Such devices 22 are commonly available from Eastern Air Devices, and are well known in the CNC art field. Said lead screw 62 is solidly attached on one or both ends to said cross slide structure 54. Hence, the rotary action of the internal thread in said control motor 22 drives said motor 22, said solidly attached cross slide mounting plate 60, and said solidly attached linear bearings 58 along said guide rails 56. This produces the Y-axis CNC motion.

The router 64 is solidly attached to said cross slide mounting plate 60; so said router 64 experiences both the X-axis and the Y-axis motions. Said router 64 is electrically powered either from said electrical control box 20, or from an external source. The router bit 66 is mounted in the collet 68 of said router 64.

FIGS. 3-5 show the coupling of said Z-axis control motor 23 to cause the vertical motion of the table 70. The shaft of said motor 23 has two pulleys 72 mounted on it suitable for driving the cogged belts 74. Said cogged belts 74 drive the lead screw pulleys 76, so that all four of said pulleys 76 and said control motor 23 share common rotary motion. Said lead screw pulleys 76 have an internal lead screw thread, and are solidly mounted in the inner race of the lead screw bearings 78, as is well understood in the CNC field of art. The table lead screws 80 pass through the internal thread of said lead screw pulleys 76 and are solidly attached to the table 70, so the rotary motion of said lead screw pulleys 76 and their internal threads act on said table lead screws 80 to raise and lower said table 70, thereby creating the Z-axis motion. Said motor 23 and said bearings 78 are solidly fastened to the bottom panel 81, which incorporates the tongues 82, which fit tightly into the grooves 83 on said left side panel 39, said right side panel 40, and said back panel 50. Said tongues 82 are tightly drawn into said grooves 83 by said machine screws 41 operating on said threaded inserts 42, which are mounted in said bottom panel 81, as described above and as shown upper left in FIG 3.

The horizontal motion of said table 70 is constrained by contact with the back vertical edge connectors 84 and the front vertical edge connectors 85. Said back vertical edge connectors 84 incorporate the protruding ridges 86, which fit tightly into the matching grooves 88 in said back panel 50. Said back vertical edge connectors 84 also incorporate the groove 92, which tightly traps the edges of the left side panel 39 and the right side panel 40, when they are drawn tight against it by said machine screws 41 operating on said threaded inserts 42, which are mounted in said panels 39 and 40.

Similarly, said front vertical edge connectors 85 incorporate the protruding ridges 102, which fit tightly into the matching grooves 104 on said right side panel 40 and said left side panel 39.

The side panel brackets 106 incorporate the protruding ridges 108, which fit tightly into the grooves 110 in the front panel 112. Said side panel brackets 106 are solidly fastened to said front panel 112 and fit tightly over the front edge of said side panels 39 and 40, trapping the front vertical edge connectors 85 tightly against said side panels 39 and 40, when said front panel 112 is drawn tight against the front edges of said side panels 39 and 40 by said machine screws 41 operating on said threaded inserts 42, as discussed above. Similarly, the top panel bracket 116 incorporates the protruding ridge 118, which fits tightly into the groove 120 in said front panel 112. Said top panel bracket 116 is solidly fastened to said front panel 112 and fits tightly over the front edge of said top panel 36 and said front top front edge connector 44, when said front panel 112 is drawn tight 210 against the front edge of said top panel 36 by said machine screws 41 operating on said threaded inserts 42, as discussed above.

The bottom panel bracket 122 incorporates the protruding ridge 124, which fits tightly into the groove 126 in said front panel 112. Said bottom panel bracket 122 is fastened to said front panel 112. Said bottom panel bracket 122 215 fits tightly over the front edge of said bottom panel 81 , when said front panel 112 is drawn tight against the front edge of said bottom panel 81 by said machine screws 41 operating on said threaded inserts 42, as discussed above.

FIG. 7 shows the installation of a fourth axis of motion in the rotary table 130 holding the work piece 131.

220 Operation

As can be seen from the above description and FIGS. 1- 7, the alignment of the box enclosure 12 is established in the assembly of said panels 36, 39, 40, 50, 81, and 112, said edge connectors 44, 45, 84, and 85, and said panel brackets 106, 116, and 122, as will be appreciated by those schooled in the art of solid geometry. All of the edges of said panels are straight cuts. The intersection of any two panels along straight edges and is aligned by one or

225 more tongue-and-groove joints, which establish and maintain a straight-line intersection along both panel edges. Each panel straightens the other. Hence, all of the edges of all of said panels are straight lines. All of said panels are cut square, so all of the three edges that meet at any corner are perpendicular in three dimensions. The tongue and groove alignments on opposing panels are matched dimensionally, which requires that the opposite pairs of connecting panels must be parallel to one another to fit tightly together along all of their edges, as is assured in the

230 assembly.

In particular, said top front edge connector 44 and said top back edge connector 45 are parallel to one another, which establishes the flatness of the X-Y reference plane, and perpendicular both to said back vertical edge connectors 84 and to said front vertical edge connectors 85. Hence, said X-axis of motion and said Y-axis of 235 motion are perpendicular to said Z-axis of motion, as is well known in the CNC art to be essential to accurate part production.

The flatness of said table 70 is established by sequentially placing said router bit 66 close over each of said table lead screws 80, then loosening said cogged belts 74 to allow said lead screws 80 to be independently turned by 240 hand, so that each corner of said table 70 is sequentially brought to a uniform distance under said router bit 66 by sequentially adjusting said table lead screws 80. This procedure leaves the plane of said table 70 parallel to the plane of said top panel 36, and said system 10 is thereby aligned. In the normal CNC operating sequence, a block of the material to be cut is fastened to said table 70 by screws or 245 other common means, as is well known in the art. In the CNC cutting operation, said router 64 is turned on and experiences simultaneous X- and Y-motions in response to the data from the personal computer 16, as is well understood in the CNC art. Similarly, said table 70 and said block of material to be cut experience the Z-motion relative to said router 64. As a result of these motions, said router bit 66 is brought into contact with said block of material from which the CNC part is to be cut. By this contact said router bit 66 cuts away unnecessary material to 250 leave the finished part, as is well understood in the CNC art.

This cutting action of said router bit 66 requires a cutting force, which includes high frequency variations caused by the cutting edges of said router bit 66 sequentially striking said block of material. The equal and opposite components of said cutting force are transmitted to the points of attachment of the X-, Y-, and Z- mechanics. In 255 particular, the components of the force delivered to the table 70 are conveyed to said vertical edge connectors 84 and 85, and to said table lead screw bearings 78. The components of the cutting force delivered to said router 64 are conveyed to said front top edge connector 44 and to said back top edge connector 45.

A useful feature of the design is that all of the aforementioned components of force are delivered approximate to the 260 edges and corners of said box enclosure 12. In addition to utilizing the alignment accuracy along said edges described above, several structural advantages result from this design feature. The box enclosure is strongest at its edges, where it is reinforced from two directions, and at its corners, where it is reinforced from three directions.

Forces delivered to the edges are resolved into components that act to stretch and compress the panels in their long dimension, in which the panels are best able to resist stress with little strain. This makes said box enclosure 12 rigid 265 in support of the CNC cutting operation. The strength of this structure combines with the natural tendency of wood component panels to damp the high-frequency vibrations of the cutting action, partly as a result of the energy absorbing elastic response of said wood component panels.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, said front panel 112 has several design features that allow the operator to 270 access the table 70 for setting up work and for viewing the work in progress. When it is installed as shown in the

FIGS., said front panel 112 allows the operator to change the router bit 66, to fasten said block of material to be cut to said table 70, and to make setup adjustments through the front panel window 128. To replace the shear strength lost by cutting out said front panel window 128, said front panel 112 is made larger than the other panels so that it extends beyond said edge brackets 106, 116, and 122. This geometry makes the front panel 112 the last panel to be 275 added in the assembly of said enclosure 12, which also results in the easy removal and reinstallation of said front panel 112 to allow maintenance and major setups, like the installation or removal of a 4^th axis rotary table.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the linear motion bearing art field that other forms of rolling bearings or plastic sliding bearings might also be effectively used.

280

It will also be appreciated by those schooled in the manufacturing art that a highly automated and economical operation can produce said system 10. Said panels 36, 39, 40, 50, 81, and 112 and the four panels for said stand 14 are well suited to production on common CNC cabinet making equipment. Said panels may be economically finished on common commercial CNC routers, which have high accuracy for trimming panel edges, cutting said

285 tongues 37 and 82, and cutting said grooves 38, 47, 48, 83, 88, 104, 110, 120, and 126. From the disclosure above, the accuracy of these production methods will be expressed in the assembly of said enclosure 12. Said edge connectors 44, 45, 84, and 85 and said brackets 106, 116, and 122 are economically produced as aluminum alloy extrusions, which are commonly cut to length and drilled for mounting screws on accurate CNC equipment. Most of the remaining components are commonly available in economical mass production from several manufacturers.

290

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art of designing office furniture or home cabinetry that said system 10 is designed with unskilled assembly in mind. In particular, said system 10 may be delivered with the panels flat together in a carton with the hardware and instructions. The first stage of assembly is a matter of pressing said edge connectors and brackets into groves. Then the panels may be assembled just like office furniture using

295 familiar fasteners. The mechanical assembly may also use common fasteners and require nothing more than an Allen wrench and a screw driver to attach the self aligning parts, as is well known in the mechanical art. The electrical connections may be made by plugging each of the color-coded axis control cables into its color-coded socket on said electrical control box 20, as is well known in the electrical art. The adjustment of the table lead screws 80 is described above. Then the operator is ready to plug said data cable 18 into said personal computer 16;

300 and said power cable 19 into a wall socket, and said Personal Manufacturing Center is ready for operation, as described above.

Claims

Claim

1. A box structure for enclosing, aligning and supporting Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machining motions, comprising six panels, a first means for connecting the edges of said panels to form said box structure, and a second means for transmitting the forces of said CNC machining motions approximate to the connected edges of said panels.

2. A box structure for enclosing, aligning and supporting CNC machining motions as claimed in Claim 1, in which an elongated edge connector is employed to position one or more edges of one or more of the panels in the assembled box structure.

3. The structure of Claim 2, in which one or more of the edge connectors incorporates a bearing surface for supporting the linear bearings of one or more of the CNC motions.

4. The structure of Claim 2 or 3, in which one or more of the edge connectors is manufactured by the extrusion of aluminum or other material.

5. The structure of Claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, in which one or more of the panels incorporates a hole to allow the operator access to the work piece and tooling.

5. The structure of Claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, in which the X-axis and Y-axis CNC motions are carried on parallel top edges of the box structure and the Z CNC motion results from the vertical motion of the table on which the work piece is mounted.

6. The structure of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, in which the table supports a CNC rotary table having a horizontal axis of rotation to provide the fourth axis of CNC motion.

7. A method for manufacturing a CNC machine, comprising the steps of: a. manufacturing six panels b. assembling the six panels into a box structure c. mounting linear bearing supports for CNC motion on the interior edges of the box structure d. mounting CNC carriages to the linear bearing supports e. attaching lead screws or ball screws to the CNC carriages d. connecting CNC motor shafts to the screws e. mounting the CNC motor frames on the box structure f. electrically connecting the CNC motors to CNC motor controllers g. providing a common computer interface for coordinating the motions of the CNC motors.

8. The method of Claim 7, in which edge connectors are used to facilitate the alignment of the six panels in the assembly.

9. The method of Claim 8, in which the edge connectors incorporate a bearing surface for supporting the linear bearings of one or more of the CNC motions.

10. The method of Claim 8, in which one or more of the edge connectors is manufactured by the extrusion of aluminum or other material.

11. A method for packing and shipping CNC machines of Claims 1 through 10, comprising the steps of a. placing the six panels flat together in a carton b. packing the other components of Claim 7, 8, 9, or 10 in a carton c. include instructions for assembling the components.

12. The method of Claim 11, in which the six panels and the other components are packed in the same carton.