BuildingAfloat

[BikerAfloat]

Jazz is the man, you won't go far wrong if you have faith and simply do everything he says.

I have followed Jazz's inputs on varied posts and have to say from what I have read I do have faith in his advice, however I was brought up to question everything where you have doubts, so I wont follow anyone blindly :-)

Incidentally, putting 2 steppers on one axis usually ends in all sorts of problems.

I have read that this idea can cause problems, yet one of my favourite machines out there is the Heiz from CNC-step, This was the inspiration for this feature being included in my build. They can't be that bad (well at least I hope they aren't) as their sales are in the 1000's now!

Advantages I see are:

1) Open bed design, this is important for me as I will want to get awkward shaped engine components in the machine for engraving.
2) More grunt for moving the heavy gantry.
3) Even loading of gantry to prevent, or at minimum reduce, racking.
4) Reduced component count
and 5) Possibly better accuracy when compared to a single central motor & belt system?

Disadvantages I see are:

1) Increased cost, but this should be a one-off.
2) Synchronisation/Alignment of the screws at the assembly stage, again this should be a one-off.
3) Machine ties itself in knots if one motor looses steps
or 3.5/4) Worst case scenario machine goes completely to peices should one motor stall or stop all together.

Prepared to accept any more Pro's and Con's before I freeze the design.

1 & 2 aren't my biggest worries, as a) this is an expensive tool anyway and I think (hope?) the advantages are worth it & b) this b@rst@rd is going to have so many adjustments required to get it straight and true, one more won't really matter :-)

3, 3.5 & 4) Scare the living daylights out of me!

Any advice to how best to go about reducing the risks and or providing the single motor & belt drive within my construction requirements would be gratefully received.

Cheers,

Geoff.