I thought it would be useful to have a list links to other gantry-type robot projects on the internet. This should help people evaluate the "state of the art" of hobby CNC robots, and give them ideas on how to customize their own robot.

Please add links to any sites you find interesting.

This isn't really a router-type robot, but it is based upon a gantry and it performs some interestinig operations
http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/sustainabilit...ts/incremental/

4, 5, and 6 axis gantry robot, and software
http://www.doughtydrive.com/products.html

Adding additional axes to a mini mill
http://www.hossmachine.info/

Large gantry router
http://www.mechmate.com/

Large gantry router
http://www.shopbottools.com/

Long gantry router
http://www.happymonkeysnowboards.com/mike/CNC/index.htm

3D printer
http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome

This guy has videos on building a gantry out of MDF on his kitchen table!!
http://buildyourcnc.com/default.aspx

Plans and parts for building a gantry router
http://www.hobbycnc.com/

Addding CNC to a mini mill
http://www.balbots.com/article_info.php?articles_id=10

CNC software
http://www.machsupport.com/artsoft/index/index.htm

Lots of CNC resources
http://www.thewarfields.com/cnccookbook/CCResourcesInd.htm

CNC mini mill conversion
http://stickman4.homestead.com/CNCProjects.html

Convert mini lather to CNC
http://www.dakeng.com/lathe.html

Multi-axis milling head
http://www.pro.com.sg/Z-HTM/5TH-AXIS.htm

5-axis machining
http://numeryx.com/cnc/5axes.htm

Creating a 5th axis
http://www.indoor.flyer.co.uk/5thaxis.htm

Building a multi-axis mill from scratch
http://www.modelbarrels.com/MacineLog.html

-Brian

Cool, thanks for the survey. I spent a pleasant evening going through them all, trying to steal the best ideas. I ended up dreaming about torsion boxes all night.

Jeez, I had the same dream, too. Moment arms, torsion, triangles, flexion. Sort of a Fantasia for mechanical engineers. Not much real sleep!

-Brian

I ran across a few more:

Very good design and implementation of a CNC router, with great info on strengthening the frame and reducing vibration
http://oneoceankayaks.com/madvac/madvac_index.htm

Qualitative methods for determining the flatness of your work surface
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=18917

Laser alignment
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-19883.html

Another CNC router
http://www.ecmarsh.com/cnc/router/router1.htm

And yet another
http://www.id3145.com/id3145/pages/gallery.asp


-Brian

Good links, all. I wouldn't call these sites "competitors" though.

(Esp since the LL TOS excludes competitors.)

I just meant that many are similar in function or purpose to the RoGR and micRO, and would useful resources for people to see how others build their robots, and as a source of inspiration. I have visted dozens of web sites for building gantry-type robots, and from what I've seen so far, Robin's and your design is definitely one of the best.

-Brian

Thanks Brian. I'd never deliberately exclude any useful information that wasn't abnormally "hostile" or "greedy" toward me or Lumenlab; so please feel welcome to share ideas, or links...

Starting a thread called "Competitors of RoGR and MicRO" however, may make me a little "defensive".

That's why the word competitors is in quotes, to indicate that they aren't really competitors; just similar

-Brian