1800 x 1500 x 500 work area CNC build log

[marbles]

X & Y steel frame build.

I’ve designed a frame which can taken apart including the gantry and supports. The advantage is the flexibility of the design but the downside is the loss of rigidity which will need compensated by additional cross bracing in all directions. (certain interior sections of the steel had been packed out with timber where theres cross bolting to reduce compression).

All mild steel in the following profiles
60x40x3mm, 40x40x2.5mm, 100x30x2.5mm, 60x20x1.75mm ERW & 40x40x1.75mm ERW

Steel advantages: infinitely adaptable, cheap, long lengths, readily available.
Disadvantages: profile deformity, heat distortion when welded, 3mm wall thickness for rail bolts is a bit thin, takes longer to prepare than alu extrusion.

The uprights have 10mm holes at 50 and 100mm centres which allow the bed to be lowered. As I carve blocks of PU this is a requirement. The disadvantage of this system is that the x rails need bracing which I have still to put in but will be essential.

As i’ve never worked with profile rail or R&P before I wanted to see how everything would run on the build and then adapt the framework accordingly. Then take the whole thing apart, spray it and put back together. I hooked the machine for its first time up to the controller and ran it through mach3 and it worked fine but obviously there is much still to verify and add before i can confirm all is within the limits I require.