Assortment of questions on design

**Nr1madman** · 07-07-2017

Nice Mr Current!! What kind of grease are you using for those bearings?

**EddyCurrent** · 07-07-2017

Some of the links I used a while back are now dead but at the time I found some cross reference charts and worked out that for light duty use Lithiun EP1 and heavy duty use Lithium EP2
this is the one I use ; http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Auto...0/sd180/p89691

Read this; http://www.intercom.si/web/dokumenti...LI_EN_V1_1.pdf

**Lee Roberts** · 07-07-2017

Nice little manifold would be easy to nock up:

Click image for larger version.

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You can buy them in various flavors as well: 1/4" PT Threaded Ports 3 Way Quick Connect Air Hose Manifold Block Splitter

Or another member did his with one of these push fits: Pneumatic One Quick Push to Connect Union Manifold Connecter 5 Way OD 8mm

**routercnc** · 07-07-2017

My current machine uses 15mm rails on Z and cannot recommend it. Lots of reason including stiffness , packaging ball screw
Go 20mm

If you want to do steel convert a mill else you really need to go to town on a router

**Rainbows** · 08-07-2017

The beginer moving gantry pinned thread mentioned that you if desperate could skimp out if desperate on unsupported rail for the Z axis, now realise though thats probably because it has a short span compared to the other axis rather than it being under low load.

**Clive S** · 08-07-2017

Originally Posted by Rainbows

The beginer moving gantry pinned thread mentioned that you if desperate could skimp out if desperate on unsupported rail for the Z axis, now realise though thats probably because it has a short span compared to the other axis rather than it being under low load.

The Z axis gets the most load although 15mm rails will do the job there are good reasons to use 20mm and they are not much different in price. You will find it difficult to get the ball nut in using 15mm as you have read most people that have used 15mm say they would not do so again.

**EddyCurrent** · 08-07-2017

Also if you did use unsupported rails of substantial proportions then the moving Z plate might end up some distance from Z back plate thus creating a cantilever and increased turning moments.