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View Full Version : Deflection in precision rod rails



irving2008
31-08-2008, 11:49 PM
Just by way of interest for prospective builders there is always discussion about what rod should I use... 12mm or bigger...

Well here is the measured deflection of both 12 and 16mm rod (500mm long in SK type mounts) under 5kg load.

In this experiment the mounts were not clamped up nor were they bolted down so the deflection of the rails themselves will, in reality, be less than this although the MDF base will deflects some as does the MDF 'table'.

2 x 12mm rod = 0.25mm (theory .08mm for rigidly fixed ends to .3mm for unfixed ends)

2 x 16mm rod = 0.1mm (theory .025mm to .1mm as above)

(i.e. if the clamps aren't tight and the supports not bolted down the rod flexes more)

Lee Roberts
01-09-2008, 07:40 PM
Whats on the dials as read outs mate?

irving2008
01-09-2008, 08:46 PM
errrmmm... 0.25mm and 0.1mm :)

Smiler
01-09-2008, 10:04 PM
:rofl:

Pretty bendy stuff but average joe probably wouldn't be bothered (or know to be)

Quite. I think it depends on the intended purpose of the machine too. For instance, I'm not going to be bothered about even .25mm deflection when I'm routing a house sign. On the otherhand, I would like good precision if I'm milling a mold for a modelling project. I'd like to see the results of the same experiment done with the ends properly clamped and bolted down to a firmer surface than MDF. I bet a clamped rail bolted down to a steel base would fare better.

Since I'm running 1m unsupported 20mm rails on my machine I may well do just that.

irving2008
01-09-2008, 10:08 PM
:rofl:

Pretty bendy stuff but average joe probably wouldn't be bothered (or know to be)I'm surprised how rigid that stuff actually is...

12mm probably good enough for a PCB miller on the X-axis supporting the table, with 16mm on the Y axis and 12mm on Z. I think 20mm is prob required for a lightweight ali miller on X and Y with 16mm on Z

Fully supported rail with open bearings is best but harder to work with...

irving2008
01-09-2008, 11:49 PM
It'd be fine for a machinable wax router...cheap as chips too.... How bendy are 30mm supported rails 1.64m long mounted top and bottom on 75mm 4mm wall thickness 356? If you like numbers ;)

not very... fully supported rails are very solid....

Lee Roberts
01-09-2008, 11:57 PM
12mm probably good enough for a PCB miller on the X-axis supporting the table, with 16mm on the Y axis and 12mm on Z.

I'm about to start work on a mill i plan to use for PCB's and 12mm rail was the choice, i have rail to hand and so i can use other sizes at what point would we not see any deflection, with this info i could work out if the weights i plan to move would be a problem on 12mm rails ;-) keep up the good work !

CM

irving2008
02-09-2008, 12:19 AM
there will always be deflection.... the question is at what point does the deflection become to small to be of interest.... clearly if you are aiming to mill Ali to .01mm tolerance you need something that wont deflect more than .005 under cutting load.... remembering that deflections combine... movements in gantry, table, etc all add up...

irving2008
28-09-2008, 12:35 AM
Just to answer the point made previously, now the rails are fitted and bolted up tight with the table attached, the deflection of the centre of the table (16mm rails) under 4.5kg of load is <0.05mm (so that is the combined deflection of the rails, the MDF table and the MDF base the rails are mounted on).

shulio
12-03-2009, 01:23 AM
I want to build table 1.2x0.8 meter.I will use supported 16mm rails on 1.2m long side.On 0.8 what have to use to have no deflection - supported rails 16mm or 20mm unsupported.

irving2008
12-03-2009, 11:47 AM
I want to build table 1.2x0.8 meter.I will use supported 16mm rails on 1.2m long side.On 0.8 what have to use to have no deflection - supported rails 16mm or 20mm unsupported.Depends on the load - two 20mm unsupported rails will each deflect 0.5mm approx under a 10kg load. Supported rails are better (they do deflect but its tiny compared to unsupported)

shulio
14-03-2009, 12:01 PM
The load will be 10kg so i must use supporter rails to have smaller deflection