Rockcliff Router Build, MDF

[Lee Roberts]

So the sun was out, Jackie (wife) and Hanna (daughter) went shopping and I was left to get on with the build. Sweet!
Right I’ve got a few ideas on things I’m going to change with the default rockcliff plans, you don’t have to do what I’m about to show you, but you may as well as it will make for a better machine in the end. (I think)

I’ve decided to add skate bearings to my threaded rod to support them, as I say the plans don’t suggest to do this but when your machine is doing rapid movements you can get what’s called "whip" in the threaded rod if it’s not supported. At first I was only going to support my threaded rod at the opposite end to the motor, but then I thought well why not do it both ends. It will only make it better anyway, so that’s what I did.

You can see I’ve cut out a 22mm diameter whole to receive the skate bearing, the skate bearings are 8mm inside diameter by 22mm outside diameter and they are 7mm deep. I’ve bored 10mm so the bearings sit 3mm from the surface. Before I did this I drilled all the way through with a 14mm bit so the threaded rod and nut can pass through and spin, that would be the smaller hole you can see in the pic viewing from the leadscrew side.

I’ve also drill out two 14mm holes for the rails to pass through.