450x300 Aluminium extrusion build from scrap/used parts

[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.