Really like the z-axis idea Jazz, thanks for that. As suggested I've...

  • Moved the bearing z-axis blocks down to almost the bottom of the plate.
  • Increased the spacing between the z-axis bearing blocks to 250mm.
  • Beefed the z-axis up to 20mm plate all round (except the bottom spacer plate, will this be ok?).
  • Upgraded the motor mounting brackets to 15mm as they looked a bit weedy up against the 20mm back plate.
  • Put holes up the z-axis plate so the brackets can be adjusted up and down, in the lowest setting shown I have about 45mm of cutting depth with a 50mm bit. I'm sure this will be enough for the vast majority of the time.
  • Added the chip plate for the y-axis ballscrew (still need to actually attach the z-axis to the screw)


Click image for larger version.  Name: 2013-08-17 new front.png  Views: 523  Size: 63.5 KB  ID: 9532Click image for larger version.  Name: 2013-08-17 chip plate and thicker z-axis.png  Views: 819  Size: 156.0 KB  ID: 9533

I've got to get back to fixing the house (plastering, one of my least favourite jobs) but I'll try to draw up the other ideas tonight.

P.S. I was thinking the gantry back plate would have to stay because the screw is mounted to it but now I think about it I could mount the screw on one of the gantry beams. I'm tempted to still lock the two beams together vertically but with a small plate in the middle of the span. I'll have to have a think about the cover idea as I'm not clear how it would work (I think I've seen what you're talking about in another thread though).

Cheers.