its a start (8x4)

[AndyUK]

Looks pretty beefy.

Can't seem to see how the X axis is driven, would be nice if that was in the CAD. I'd also decoouple the X axis bearings from the gantry with an additional plate (I use the same setup you've drawn and adjusting the angle of the gantry and getting to the bearing blocks is a nightmare). Having another plate between the bearing blocks and the gantry extrusion will give you much more flexibility. Also be careful of how you attach the drive here; you want to be able to twist the gantry without forcing the ballnut to rotate too.

Oh and naming conventions seem a little off, just like mine is. Most CAD and CAM software treat X and Y as if you're looking at a graph. Decide where you want to stand when using the machine. Away and towards you should be Y. Left and right should be X. At the moment it sounds like you want to stand off to the side to use it. Eaiser to fix now then when it's built and all labelled up.

[reefy86]

Looks pretty beefy.

Can't seem to see how the X axis is driven, would be nice if that was in the CAD. I'd also decoouple the X axis bearings from the gantry with an additional plate (I use the same setup you've drawn and adjusting the angle of the gantry and getting to the bearing blocks is a nightmare). Having another plate between the bearing blocks and the gantry extrusion will give you much more flexibility. Also be careful of how you attach the drive here; you want to be able to twist the gantry without forcing the ballnut to rotate too.

Oh and naming conventions seem a little off, just like mine is. Most CAD and CAM software treat X and Y as if you're looking at a graph. Decide where you want to stand when using the machine. Away and towards you should be Y. Left and right should be X. At the moment it sounds like you want to stand off to the side to use it. Eaiser to fix now then when it's built and all labelled up.

Hi Andy there is 2 plates like you have suggested but in the 3d render it looks like its just one plate but the 2d photos you can see 2 plates. yeah ive not finished the design yet still have the x axis to do and a few other bits. not quite sure if i should go 32mm on the x axis screws or stick with 2525 yet. i always get mixed up with the x and y lol but yes y axis is the view i will be using it at (away and towards as you say)

thanks

[Kitwn]

Looks pretty beefy.

Can't seem to see how the X axis is driven, would be nice if that was in the CAD. I'd also decoouple the X axis bearings from the gantry with an additional plate (I use the same setup you've drawn and adjusting the angle of the gantry and getting to the bearing blocks is a nightmare). Having another plate between the bearing blocks and the gantry extrusion will give you much more flexibility. Also be careful of how you attach the drive here; you want to be able to twist the gantry without forcing the ballnut to rotate too.

Oh and naming conventions seem a little off, just like mine is. Most CAD and CAM software treat X and Y as if you're looking at a graph. Decide where you want to stand when using the machine. Away and towards you should be Y. Left and right should be X. At the moment it sounds like you want to stand off to the side to use it. Eaiser to fix now then when it's built and all labelled up.

On the choice of which is X and Y, Andy is absolutely right, but one thing to consider is the fact that on your computer screen the horizontal X axis is longer than the vertical Y. If you match this on your machine then the screen real-estate is better used when displaying your drawings, especially if you tend to cut objects that fill most of the bed of the machine such as full, half, quarter etc. sheets of ply. I stand to the side of my machine so making X the long axis was the obvious choice.