1st CNC Router: Overwhelmed - Some advice please?

[wallyblackburn]

After carefully milling end to be square and make pieces equal length, I can tell when clamping them up that, distortion or not, there's no way these will be flat and square enough. Sure many out there could've already told me, but steel like this just isn't clean enough as is.

There's a shop close that has huge Blanchard grinder and would grind for reasonable price. But, I think if you start grinding on this stuff it's going to spring all over the place as stresses get relieved.

Time to start reading up on epoxy!

Regards,
Wallace

[wallyblackburn]

Welded up the base and added legs.

Milling ends to be square and even:


My Strong Hand jig. Very handy for getting things square:


So, here's where I'm at now:


Got these for X (Y?) axis. They are 35mm NSK and 756mm long:


These things are beasts! Weigh about 25lbs. each.

So, here are my next decisions. Any advice appreciated:

- Putting another 2" square tube on top of existing ones for added stiffness. I can either mount rails on top (using epoxy to level), or mount rails to sides and use bolts for tubing to provide adjustment for parallelism. Leaning towards welding tube on and using epoxy...

- Using only one of the trucks per rail. Given the size of these, would that work?

All for now. Thanks!
Wallace

Going to add leveling feet today.

[m.i.k.e]

Hi wallace,
Are the linear rails and bearings new or s/h ?

mike

[wallyblackburn]

New. Automation Overstock has some NSK stuff they bought as surplus and it is priced low:

http://www.automation-overstock.com/...ts.asp?cat=146

I got both rails and 4 trucks for $199US.

Regards,
Wallace