1.7*0.74*0.4m Mill / Router building...

[Jonathan]

The first of many upgrades to come:



I'll be fixing 20 meters of 2"x1/2" aluminium strip under the bed in a grid to make it a bit stronger, since it's only 20mm thick aluminium. I've got 6m of the aluminium angle to go round the perimeter to enclose flood coolant, which will be the next upgrade. I'll have the router drill an array of holes to tap M8 for clamping. I elected not to go for strips (to imitate T-slots) as the difference in price is not that great in the whole scheme of things and this should be stronger although either would have been sufficient. Need to get it at the right height too...

[JAZZCNC]

That looks like an expensive piece of Ali make sure you don't Fubar .!! At least with strips if you do then it's a cheap repair.!

After fitting the strips are you going to fly cut it.?

[Jonathan]

That looks like an expensive piece of Ali make sure you don't Fubar .!! At least with strips if you do then it's a cheap repair.!

Ascmetals are to blame for the good price. Not that bothered about marks to be honest - if I do mess up it's unlikely to cause more than aesthetic damage, which luckily I don't care about!

After fitting the strips are you going to fly cut it.?

Not sure yet since the issue is I can't reach the full area with the spindle in one go. Once they're fitted I'll height map it and see how close it is. I can always put some aluminium 'sacrificial' strips on top (which could even make T-slots), but I think I've spent enough.

[JAZZCNC]

Not sure yet since the issue is I can't reach the full area with the spindle in one go. Once they're fitted I'll height map it and see how close it is. I can always put some aluminium 'sacrificial' strips on top (which could even make T-slots), but I think I've spent enough.

90% sure you will.? . . . When I did mine I height mapped it with 45mm grid and was surprised at the differences.!! Thou mine was an easy surface has I only had to do the strips.
I had the same problem regards cutting the whole area but actually it works out good because the shoulder it leaves acts has a parallel reference edge for X & Y.

[Jonathan]

I tend to a agree with the 90%...

I reckon if the spindle on there, or the one I made, can support a big enough fly cutter I can easily get over both sides by moving the spindle to either side of the Z-axis especially since 2" wide around the border will be occupied by the aluminium angle unless I mill that down. The problem then is maintaining an accurate height between passes, but that shouldn't be too bad. On the previous bed it was very handy having the ridge left from surfacing for a parallel reference