Was about to get a toy- then I did some research...

[Juranovich]

It does not matter as far as you use Hiwin 20 size or comparable rails.

20mm is the plan, but not sure yet about going full hiwin or not...

If it helps I use 300mm wide plates with this design.! Anywhere between 250 and 300 will work ok.

The idea crossed my mind. Would help bring the cog slightly forward + more stability.

I could also get creative and hang a 5kg weight from the spindle :D that should balance it up!

[JAZZCNC]

20mm is the plan, but not sure yet about going full hiwin or not...

If you want the best machine then you must bite the bullet and go with Profiled linear rails. If not then you are wasting your time worrying about things like COG or plate thickness because Boyan is 100% correct that the machine is only as good as the weakest link and round rails will by far be the weakest link no matter which axis you put them on.!

[Desertboy]

If you want the best machine then you must bite the bullet and go with Profiled linear rails. If not then you are wasting your time worrying about things like COG or plate thickness because Boyan is 100% correct that the machine is only as good as the weakest link and round rails will by far be the weakest link no matter which axis you put them on.!

It was because of you and Boyan I never used the SBR 25 rail I have and bought Hiwin's and clone hiwin's.

One day I might use them for a plasma cutter, I did buy new bearings for them they do feel "nice" but very glad I went with rail instead.

One really annoying thing about them the mounts are 46mm apart.

[AndyUK]

I could also get creative and hang a 5kg weight from the spindle :D that should balance it up!

Someone hasn't yet gotten into the theory of their motor calcs yet! More mass on the Z axis means everything has more to accelerate! NIGHTMARE!!

Personally I think we should all just make them out of bamboo and some twine, powered by hamsters, and tamagotchis as control interfaces to just be done with it :)

[Juranovich]

Someone hasn't yet gotten into the theory of their motor calcs yet! More mass on the Z axis means everything has more to accelerate! NIGHTMARE!!

Personally I think we should all just make them out of bamboo and some twine, powered by hamsters, and tamagotchis as control interfaces to just be done with it :)

Interesting point! But you still have to considered the torque drop when hamsters get hungry and be sure to size the running wheel according to your choice of hamster, too small and your hamster will simply get stuck and start doing loops...Other than that you should be sweet

[JAZZCNC]

Interesting point! But you still have to considered the torque drop when hamsters get hungry and be sure to size the running wheel according to your choice of hamster, too small and your hamster will simply get stuck and start doing loops...Other than that you should be sweet

Arghh but you'll always struggle if you use hamsters, what you need with a heavy Z-axis is Guinea Pigs...