Comments sought on new build: A CNC Router for RC Gliders and Planes

**njhussey** · 12-02-2015

Second rail is squared up and drilled, tapped and bolted down. I can't notice any tight spits but as Jonathan said you've got to really get them out of line to notice any tight spots.

Tapped the holes on the top of the gantry and used the straight edge and DTI to get it as near straight as possible.

Just going to do the same for the bottom rail....

Edit: The DTI is running along the front if the aluminum plate not the rail itself...

Painting the frame tomorrow...

**Jonathan** · 12-02-2015

In the video is your indicator tip running along the other rail - not the rail you're pushing the bearing along? It's hard to see in the video... you will want to indicate from one rail to the other to get them parallel (ish).

Edit: Just realised, looks like you're indicating against the straight edge?

**njhussey** · 13-02-2015

Yes indicating along the front of the top piece of Ali. Checked it with a straight edge, feeler and light first. Will indicate off the second rail once the gantry is together.

The Ali top, bottom and front pieces were CNC machined to size in one go (I sent them out to someone with a bigger table than me....cheating I know but more accurate than making a jig and moving the plate along to machine a bit at a time

) and clamped together (not the front plate) so I'm hoping that once it's put together it won't need too much tweaking to get them parallel (ish)

**njhussey** · 13-02-2015

Did a bit of painting this afternoon for an hour....

Click image for larger version.

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**njhussey** · 16-02-2015

More machining today, got a couple of new M4 spiral flute taps which make light work of the tapping for the 15mm THK rails on the front plate.

**njhussey** · 18-02-2015

Set the Z axis rails parallel by referencing off the plate side for the master rail then referencing the secondary rail off the master...

**EddyCurrent** · 18-02-2015

Flying along now and looking good.

**njhussey** · 18-02-2015

Originally Posted by EddyCurrent

Flying along now and looking good.

Cheers...going to order a couple of CSIMO IP-M's and some Nema 34 4&8Nm steppers, 240v N series drivers today for the mill conversion (that's next to do) one's for the X axis on this...

**njhussey** · 18-02-2015

Had to "tweak" some machining on the Z axis stepper mount and also the Z axis back plate...will also have to machine a small pocket out of the Z axis front plate for the ballnut mount as it's not quite (0.6mm) right...

It's going together quite nicely...so far!

**njhussey** · 18-02-2015

OK so Z axis is together now, couldn't resist a little test with a cordless drill

The machining on the ballscrew is not 100%, there's a wobble on the drill but it's not too bad and I'll be able to live with it.

For the eagle eyed among you you'll notice that there are 8 holes for the ballnut holder....erm not much to say apart from oops