Oozenest WorkBee

Workbee 750x750mm

There are many different types and makes of CNC Routers. There are many good USA built machines but when you factor in shipping costs and import costs they are significantly more expensive than the alternatives. I chose the Oozenest Workbee because they are UK manufactured and based and have Screw Drives rather than belt drives which most people consider preferable - for accuracy and durabilty. The WorkBees are available in a range of sizes and is delivered as a self-build kit - which might be a bit of a challenge but their website has some very good instructions. Theres several YouTube videos of peoples builds available online too. The WorkBees are available in sizes from 500x500 upto 1500x1500. I chose the 750x750 due to the limitations of my workshop, but it should be sufficient for all the things I plan to make. More information about all available versions can be found here: -
https://learn.ooznest.co.uk/Wiki/Critical_Machine_Dimensions

ABOUT THE ORIGINAL WORKBEE CNC MACHINE

The WorkBee is our flagship CNC Machine and a culmination of all our experience, feedback, and suggestions from designing CNC Machines over the past 5+ years. The WorkBee is capable of accurately cutting foams, woods, plastics or aluminium at depths greater than 25mm and to a 0.1mm accuracy or greater. With a WorkBee CNC Kit you can manufacture engineering parts, toys and signs. In fact, you can make anything you can imagine without leaving the workshop.

The WorkBee makes full use of the V-Slot Extrusion system. On the X and Y Axis, C-Beam extrusions are used. C-Beam allows the drive systems to be concealed from debris. The screws on the WorkBee CNC Kit are inside the ‘C’ channel and therefore shielded from the cutting area.

The WorkBee CNC Machine uses Xtreme Solid V Wheels which are manufactured from super hard polycarbonate. This reduces wheel compression, and keeps wear to a minimum. The plates are manufactured from 6mm aluminium and have a protective anodised coating.

SCREW DRIVE SYSTEM

The WorkBee CNC Machine is a screw drive system, the first of it’s kind in this price range. One issue with a screw drive system is that it could be limited in size to 1000x1000mm. This size limitation was not acceptable. Therefore we have designed a screw tensioning system for the WorkBee. This tensioning system is used on sizes above 1000x1000mm and allows us to provide a screw drive system for WorkBee sizes up to and including 1500x1500mm.

THE FULL KIT

The WorkBee is a self build kit. It includes everything you need to build a working CNC Machine apart from the spoiler board.
The CNC Kit makes use of the extremely powerful Duet 32bit controller. The Duet is a fully featured motion controller, it comes equipped with 5 TMC2660 stepper drivers which have enough power to run the 175oz NEMA23 Stepper motors included with the CNC Machine. For easy repositioning, three homing switches are included (one for each axis) and their corresponding mounts and wires.
The WorkBee CNC Machine comes with a complete cable carrier system on the X and Y-Axis. For safety and good cable management.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Motion

• Drive System - ACME Lead Screws.
• Linear Guides - Polycarbonate wheels on anodised C-Beam V-Slot Extrusion.
• Motors - NEMA23 Stepper Motors (X, Y & Z)
• Accuracy - 0.05 - 0.15mm

Electronics

• Controller - Duet 32bit ARM Controller, RepRap Firmware, Dual Y-Axis Stepper Drivers.
• Power - 24V 350W Output, Switchable 110-220V Input.
• Software - Duet Web Control.