'Otter'. Build log.

[Blazing Black Beard]

Some NEMA 23 stepper motors came today

[mekanik]

Most people just use the standard box section, if you are welding there will be distortion you can reduce this somewhat by just stitch welding it, doesn't have to be full weld. the distortion in the base (X) axis is is eliminated with epoxy grout levelling.
Regards
Mike

[Blazing Black Beard]

Most people just use the standard box section, if you are welding there will be distortion you can reduce this somewhat by just stitch welding it, doesn't have to be full weld. the distortion in the base (X) axis is is eliminated with epoxy grout levelling.
Regards
Mike

How can the face on the side of the box section be used to keep the rails parallel though? These can't be poured with epoxy as it would just run down and onto the floor.

If you look at RoboCNC you'll see he just uses the straight vertical face on the side of the aluminium to keep his linear rails parallel and straight.https://youtu.be/YOVHtjXi07Q?t=2m02s

[mekanik]

The epoxy goes on the rail mounting surface, the guy in the video is using the ally profile as a reference, dont like this unless it's been machined to be flat, you should be using a precision straight edge to set the rails.
Regards
Mike

[Blazing Black Beard]

The epoxy goes on the rail mounting surface, the guy in the video is using the ally profile as a reference, dont like this unless it's been machined to be flat, you should be using a precision straight edge to set the rails.
Regards
Mike

Yes, that's what I thought. I need to find a precision straight edge then. Any suggestions?

As for the stepper motors I received earlier, they do not have the D shaped shafts. A friend of mine said it was a shame but they look like quality motors. I'm going to take an educated guess that round shafts aren't as good for this particular application, is this the case? Can anyone see any issues with them being round shafts as opposed to D shafts?

[Neale]

Unless you are using very fancy pulleys with D-shaped holes, then the flat is only for a grub screw to bear against. It's not critical and you could always put a flat on with file (if soft enough) or small grinding point. That's what I did with the ends of my ballscrews which did not have a flat as supplied.

[Blazing Black Beard]

Unless you are using very fancy pulleys with D-shaped holes, then the flat is only for a grub screw to bear against. It's not critical and you could always put a flat on with file (if soft enough) or small grinding point. That's what I did with the ends of my ballscrews which did not have a flat as supplied.

Ah well I'm worrying for nothing then. I'll keep these on the shelf until the physical build is done. Still waiting for the steel to arrive, then hopefully I will have some idea what I'm doing with it.

With the top of the steel box section being the bed for my linear rails, would skimming a very tiny amount (possibly 0.1 mm or less) from them with an end mill give a flat enough surface to mount on so the epoxy can be skipped altogether?

[Voicecoil]

Yes, that's what I thought. I need to find a precision straight edge then. Any suggestions?

Vogel is a brand I've heard bandied about a bit - made in Germany so likely good kit. We ought to work out some way on this forum where such tools can get passed from person to person as they do builds.

[Blazing Black Beard]

Vogel is a brand I've heard bandied about a bit - made in Germany so likely good kit. We ought to work out some way on this forum where such tools can get passed from person to person as they do builds.

Wow, sounds like a plan. I'd be up for it even if it involved tracked delivery, smart contracts and whatnot. You know, the blockchain and escrow or something similar.

Tool and instrument decentralised repository maybe? T.I.D.R. Sounds cool.