New CNC Mill on the horizon

[fvfdrums]

Ok, so today started with me making a 5 mile trek with these linear bearings on my shoulders all the way across nottingham becuase the other half has the car and is away for a week and there was no one around to grab a lift from (I know I could have got a taxi but that would have been some of the cnc fund ;) ) Anyway I would not recommend it.

Having said all that when I finally got back home and inspected the package it was extremely well packaged and I would not hesitate from ordering from FA Systems from ebay again or recommending them. They were extremely easy to deal with even had a bit of negotitations with them for a better deal on price and postage and they arrived in 5 days from Korea. I got stung for a little Import duty but overall it was a great deal.

The bearings themselves hardly look used, they are well greased and run smoothly up and down the rails which also are mark free so all in all very happy indeed.

@ Mike - Thanks for the offer but I have just placed an order with Chai so I already have these parts on the way otherwise I would have been in touch. I look forward to seeing your build come together.

So due to the dimensions of the rails it has meant we have a slightly different sized machine now, its 1130 x 1060 with a cutting area of 940 x 940. The redesign of the machine is going well and even though I would have rather had the original files to work from its bee refreshing to tackle the design from the ground up and incorporate some of the great ideas people have come up with over the last year since I put the original together.

[fvfdrums]

More ordering done from overseas!!

We got a great deal on the motors and drivers so now we have 1 x nema 34 and 2 x nema 23 plus 3 of the 7.8amp drivers coming in the next 5 days or so.

Also the order from Chai has been processed now and is also enroute so once everything is here and checks out I think its time to get on to Aluminium warehouse and start the gantry build!

btw: Chai was extremely patient and helpful even pointing some things out I missed and I did not feel the language was a barrier at all. Hopefully what arrives is as good as the service

[JAZZCNC]

btw: Chai was extremely patient and helpful even pointing some things out I missed and I did not feel the language was a barrier at all. Hopefully what arrives is as good as the service

Chai is a top bloke and he's saved my bacon a few times when ordering stuff because I've forgot to add BK/BF bearings and he's sent them anyway. Suppose that's because he knows I always buy them together but still good to know he's got my back.!!

[fvfdrums]

Chai is a top bloke and he's saved my bacon a few times when ordering stuff because I've forgot to add BK/BF bearings and he's sent them anyway. Suppose that's because he knows I always buy them together but still good to know he's got my back.!!

Ha ha! exactly the same things with me, so concerend with getting the sizes right of the ballscrews that I didnt even put the BK on the order low and behold the quote came back with the relevant number of bearing housings on the list! The guys great

[fvfdrums]

Another question?

In peoples experience what is the best size bolts for joining 20mm 6082 plate together in this case for the gantry of the machine? I am thinking of fitting dowel pins in place once the whole assembly is together to aid with reassembly should it need taking apart in the future?

[Jonathan]

Not much point using bigger than M8, so most people use that.

To aid alignment when assembling you could machine reference edges on the relevant plates, if you've got a milling machine?

[fvfdrums]

I have got a mill but its not big enough for the cross pieces at 1100mm long to do that. I could maybe do reference edges on the side plates.

Thanks for the info on M8 :)

[JAZZCNC]

I use M8 for bolting together the Gantry your copying. M5 for fastening profiled Linear rails.
In general you'll need an assortment of M5,M6, M8.

Depending on how your fastening Steppers then you may want M4 But I tend to use M5 and tap the stepper. If your bolting thru stepper then some times depending on stepper frame M5 socket head will touch motor side, not always but does happen. I just whiz head against bench grinder rather than use M4. I try to keep different bolt sizes to minimum, fewer tools needed and less variety of bolts required.
If tapping the stepper you can use M6 without any problems but M6 is no good for bolting thru stepper has head is much too large.