Since photobucket is holding all my photo's for hostage.. I thought I would make a new post with the images here:

Just click the imgur link for the synopsis of  the pictures.  Screw photobucket.   Just screw them hard.
 
 http://imgur.com/gallery/gCWYq
 
 

This thread is so full of WIN!!!

Wow!
 

z3r0t0l0rence
Nate the scope of craftsmanship you do amazes me all the time.  Nice work.   

+1 definitely agree!
I'm glad that you share with us what you do in your little spare time. In the picture of the milling head, the yellow belt is it a synthetic type or something? Next question on the table, what is the purpose of the white nylon inserts?
I wish I had a quarter of the knowledge and could do some of the projects you do. I know it would be something I would enjoy. 

Very, Very Nice Nate!
Is that being controlled by your original X58 Platform?
 
Now I can see why you don't have the time anymore for Benching or anything else for that matter.
Good Luck on Building your New CNC Machine, Please keep us updated and posts some Pics along the way. 

 
That's awesome Nate. Thanks for putting the time and effort in just to show us that.       

That's awesome man

RBIEZE
Great job !!!
 
Looks like a really rigid setup.
Ive looked at Tormach milling heads before, great choice
 
The motor drives look like G203v's, but what type pf breakout board did you use?
 
anyway...
I'm sure the pictures do little justice to the amount of painstaking work you did.
 
Congrats.
 

Thank you all for the kind words!  i will try and answer everyones questions.
Yup, 203V's and the C11 BoB.  Yes... its PAINFUL how much work it took.  The next build I am working on as we speak.  Sizing up motors (probably a 2HP 56C style, and a 2HP Sensorless Vector drive from automation direct). 

Rudster816
Wow, that's quite the setup. I still remember when you were using cheap drill presses and milling vises to make your blocks. May I ask how much that setup set you back?  

Its hard to say.  Everything I had to pay for.  Each bolt used.  Normally you could by the Tormach premium mill for like 9K http://www.tormach.com/product_pcnc_1100.html
That would A, be too easy... and B, a LOT to drop at once.  It took me 2 years to make this build, so the costs were done long term.  The knowledge, experience (and confidence) that comes with building a machine from scratch can't be calculated. 
Sometime nights just sitting... and staring at it for hours trying to figure out how to make it work.  That mill I linked above has travels of 18X, 9.5Y, 16.25Z.  Mine has 18X, 18X, 18Z.  I build it as I wanted it.  machines take so little consideration with the Y axis for some reason. 
 
Here is a 22 THOUSAND dollar machine http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mill-10-x-54-with-DRO/SB1028F that has 16" of Y axis.  2" less then mine.  Its hard to compare these machines, since that one has 35" of X travel, vs my 18".  I don't need all that to make most parts that I make.  I don't do more then work on 12x12" slabs of copper.  So its hard to compare apples to apples in terms of CNC machines. 

thanks!  oh yea... plus there is a certain amount if pride in making something yourself

So, what'd the wife say when ya told her the total cost!
 
 
 
 

Cool!
Ya sound like a good husband Nate!  And budget better than most.....
 
Anyways, looks great. $9K_ish can go quick. I ever get my woodshop, even though Id do mostly hardward/handtools, I could spend $10K in a few mins.....
 
 

Your Air Cooled CPU  Waterblock, still my fav Nate Block.
 
 
 
 
 
 

awww, some of the links are not working on your sig Nate. 
Way to go though on the CNC, I wish I had that kind of time, well that kind of focus. When I get home I spend most of my time doing nothing, and it occupies all of my time doing it. hehe
I have so many projects that are in various stages of not done. Heck, I have trim work on my house I stopped 4 years ago.

Thanks!  Its VERY hard not to rush a project like that and take shortcuts.  You may think I have all the patience in the world, but that's so far from the truth.  I just want to be done most cases, so I tend to go in huge spurts until I come to the next impasse that I have to figure out how to solve.