450x300 Aluminium extrusion build from scrap/used parts

[driftspin]

Thank you for your kind words :) I've moved the x axis linear rails to the top of the gantry as suggested. I've also rotated the base plate to give me more usable space in the x direction. If I can find a bigger base plate I may use that, or even welding a steel frame....We'll see soon.
I've also added bracing from the y axis rails to the base plate. Do you think it would really help on the x axis too? Those braces also serve as the new plates for the bearing supports for the ballscrews.

As for the z axis, I've moved the linear rails to the moving part of the axis and added side supports to give a bit more strength.
Anything else that jumps out at you?

Hi Nealieboyee,

Yes like that. maybe make a full box around the gantry... just make sure no play can occure... i think you have draw side plates for that.

So what size materials would you like to machine? Z is kinda low..
Clamping solution and spoilerboard accounted for?


So is there a butget reason to go stepper direct mount on the bascrews?


If not, 1610 with belt pully reduction 2:1 is popular for several reasons.
15 teeth on stepper, 30 on ballscrew.


BTW what are the cutouts for in the base plate? now they reduce rigidity and make the endplates redundant.

So is the size set or still looking for the right parts to come by?


The best advice ever offered by this forum:

Dont buy any electronics kit / balscrews / rails , before plan is completely done and everything fits in cad.

More experienced forum memeber can help you pick steppers psu and so on.


I only bought stuff when i ran out of work on every step.
This saved a lot of money for me.


Grtz Bert.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A320FL met Tapatalk

[Nealieboyee]

Hi Nealieboyee,

Yes like that. maybe make a full box around the gantry... just make sure no play can occure... i think you have draw side plates for that.

Done and done :)

So what size materials would you like to machine? Z is kinda low..
Clamping solution and spoilerboard accounted for?

I'm not too fussy on size of material. Obviously the larger the better, but space will become an issue. I've resized the machine, as shown in the images. Final footprint is now 1000x700mm..ish. Thats about as big as I can go. The spoilboard...I was thinking of 25mm MDF? Maybe incorporate that tooling plate full of holes into there somewhere. If, IF I can get my hands on enough free 40x40mm extrusion for a surface, then I may make bolt-through hold downs using inserts.

So is there a butget reason to go stepper direct mount on the bascrews?

Not really. I didn't even think of using belt reduction. What would be the reason to go for that over direct coupling? Resolution? As for budget, I'm putting most of it into decent linear rails and bearings, as well as the electronics. I'm trying to build the frame and mechanical side of the machine as cheaply as possible, using mostly offcut 10mm and 12mm aluminium plate.

BTW what are the cutouts for in the base plate? now they reduce rigidity and make the endplates redundant.

Yeah I've gotten rid of the base plate now. It was just a bit too small to give me enough cutting area for the size of the machine.

So is the size set or still looking for the right parts to come by?

As of now, the size is set at 1000x700. I'll be using 80x40mm extrusion that I may be able to get my hands on for free. If not, I'll weld the frame from 50x50x3 steel box section.

[Clive S]

I'll be using 80x40mm extrusion that I may be able to get my hands on for free. If not, I'll weld the frame from 50x50x3 steel box section.

If you can get 90x45 extrusion you will find that the spacing holes on the BK12 and BF12 bearing blocks will line up with the slots in the extrusion

[Neale]

Even if you use 1-1 belt drive, it can let you tuck the motors almost entirely within the machine envelope - reduce space and remove vulnerable sticky-out bits. There is also a feeling that it can reduce resonance effects although I have no experience of this myself. I went belt drive for space reduction, plus thought that it would allow me to change stepper-ballscrew ratio if needed. I found that this was one design decision I did get right, though, and I have stayed with 1-1. Works well for me (similar size machine).