Pig farmer building a wooden CNC. Crikey

[Bluebird]

Testing the rails and roller bearing for clearance and mounting option.
Thought about splitting the rails like have seen on many machines so the top and bottom can be adjusted separately but the goal is to have them perfectly parallel with each other so I took steps to do that and they are.





Came up with a box idea to fit between the main posts, gives me the option to move the rails up and down, in and out and tilt, once everything is set.... 4 – 4 inch heavy torx washer head screws on both ends of the box should hold everything in place quite nicely and can easily be readjusted if necessary.





Added a couple oak pieces just above and below the roller bearings. just didn’t like the way it looked with the open bearing, lol form and function.



Extremely happy right now, built the two bearing support boards for the gantry and clamped a board across the top to see how it would roll and I think I need to give myself a pat on the back. lol that thing rolls so smooth its unbelievable with no slop that I can tell whatsoever. Can you tell I'm smiling.



Here is a close up of the bottom gantry support with the bearings, Drilled holes in the bottom and tapped for a standard 3/8th inch thread. the hole goes all the way in the bearing bolt hole which is slotted up and down an extra 5/16 inch.
A 5/16×1-1/2 inch spring was loaded into the hole before the bolt threaded in, this is not to hold constant pressure on the bearing but to give all the bearing equal pressure before tightening, plus if the track ever wears a quick loosen and retighten of the nuts and all slop will be removed.



And just a couple of quick shots of both ends. Can’t wait to start constructing the gantry for real.