Ready Steady Eddy

[EddyCurrent]

Metal ordered, ball screws etc. ordered (Chai), pondering HIWIN or similar guides but Zapp is easiest to order these from and they have exact lengths I need without having to cut them. Also I (re)decided that I didn't really want a challenge building this machine, I just want it to work as planned so I can use it. With this in mind then I reverted back to the L gantry which I earlier said I didn't like but it simplifies the making of it quite a bit. It will be something like Matt's (kingcreaky) machine with a few changes.

[Jonathan]

Metal ordered, ball screws etc. ordered (Chai), pondering HIWIN or similar guides but Zapp is easiest to order these from and they have exact lengths I need without having to cut them.

Since it seems you're happy to get the rest of the linear motion parts from China, I'm surprised at your choice of supplier for the linear guides. There are quite a few sellers on aliexpress which sell them for a lot less. For example:

BST AUTOMATION - Small Orders Online Store, Hot Selling Ball screws,ballscrew,linear guide and more on Aliexpress.com

Just send them a message with the lengths you want, and make sure you get the right preload - i.e. not zero.

[EddyCurrent]

I didn't ask Chai about the rails because on ebay he seemed to be selling only round rail. I looked at Aliexpress and that's why I'm pondering, sometimes I just like it easy rather than cheapest.

[EddyCurrent]

Ball screws etc. arrived from Chai all machined exactly to my spec. with dimension F extended to 30mm for pulley.
Decided to get Hiwin rails and blocks from UK but not from supplier I was thinking about, arrived within 2 days, great !

[EddyCurrent]

This weekend got the Ethernet Smooth Stepper, BOB (DIYCNC), Spindle board (DIYCNC), 5v and 24vpower supplies.
Lashed them together and plugged into PC, it took a while to get it sorted as this is the first time I've used Mach3 and the hardware but by afternoon had everything working and the inputs set up as per my drawings. Need to get the control cabinet layout finished so I can order the right size box. Having to wait for the AM882's coming in.
Also got the main power supply transformer, 22000uF capacitor, bridge rectifier, aluminium plate to mount it.
Nearly got the bottom frame design finished and have all the metal ready to start cutting, Brother-in-law booked in with his MIG.

[EddyCurrent]

I've just been reading about roof truss design and used the info to finish my frame.
All box section is 50x50x3 steel except that in blue which is 100x50x3.
Red plates are 10mm steel
Yellow gussets are 6mm steel

Any thoughts ? and keep in mind the fairly small overall dimensions.

[JAZZCNC]

Looks good Eddy Only thing I'd change is to add another support for the bed.

Be careful when welding the diagonals where they meet in the centre, don't weld both at same time has you'll be putting a lot of heat in one spot.