This is my first BUILD please help.

[DigiSoft]

Tomorrow I will be cutting the aluminum pieces for the Z gantry.

For now I have two questions.

1. What type of bolts should I use? What is preferred size for bolting 20mm aluminum?
2. There are two screws on the Linear ball sliders. One is on the top in the center and one on the side of it. Why are those used for? I heard for tightening the bearings but why two?

[DigiSoft]

Here is some progress i made so far. Everything is made of steel except the font panel of the Z axis, that is 20mm alu.
Please comment.

[kingcreaky]

wow! -- excellent work.

keep the pictures coming

[DigiSoft]

Thank you, I'll make new more quality pictures. These were taken with my phone :)

[EddyCurrent]

Looks good, how did you join the side plates to the ends of the big box section ? I can see there are 6 bolts used somehow.

[DigiSoft]

Looks good, how did you join the side plates to the ends of the big box section ? I can see there are 6 bolts used somehow.

The big box section (140mm x 60mm x 5mm) has welded 12mm steel plates on the both ends. Then the ends are machined to get 90 degree. I used 6 bolts M8 to bolt the sides.

[JAZZCNC]

Here is some progress i made so far. Everything is made of steel except the font panel of the Z axis, that is 20mm alu.
Please comment.

Nice Job and like colour it must be heavy thou with those big lumps of steel what weight is it.?

[DigiSoft]

It is around 100 Kg +-10

Tomorrow I'll make quality pictures and I'll take some pictures of few unmounted new parts.

[JAZZCNC]

It is around 100 Kg +-10

Tomorrow I'll make quality pictures and I'll take some pictures of few unmounted new parts.

So with Spindle and other attachments like X ballscrew mounts and cables etc you'll probably be pushing 120Kg+.?? . . .At this weight your going to have to be careful with motor tuning using slaved stepper motors. The inertia of this thing at higher feeds will try pushing like crazy so if your thinking to use machine for router type wood work then you may need to consider servo's.?

You'll certainly need to keep plenty of torque in reserve with slaved stepper motors otherwise your open to racking. What do you plan to use machine for.?

What pitch screws.?

[DigiSoft]

YES YES I will be using slaved steppers for X axis. 1 stepper at each side. I use 425Oz 3A NEMA 23 stepper motors. I bought 42V 750W / 15A PSU. I would like to be able to work on steel too. Do you think it would be possible?

Today I ordered steel working table. They will be making T slots in it. I have access to CNC shop with big cnc 2000mm x 2000mm working table. My table will be 1500 x 900mm and around 200KG.

The gantry complete like you said will be around 120kg.

I use RM1605 (5mm pitch / 16mm diameter).

I do not need fast machine. I just want to be stable and precise.