Ready Steady Eddy

[ba99297]

Eddy very good work.
I would like to ask you a couple of things about your construction.
I saw that the rectangular beams that you have applied the epoxy resign are not welded but bolted with the frame. What is the purpose of this choice? After applying the epoxy resign, is there any way to adjust the beams with the screws?
Then i would like to ask if everything is ok with the resign and how much did it cost? Is it much cheaper than west system epoxy?
Finally what plan are you going to apply for your gantry? You will go with steel or aluminium?
Keep trying very good job so far.
Thank for your time

Vagelis

[EddyCurrent]

I saw that the rectangular beams that you have applied the epoxy resign are not welded but bolted with the frame. What is the purpose of this choice? After applying the epoxy resign, is there any way to adjust the beams with the screws?

There seems to be two main ideas, one is to bolt the beams like I did then level the top using shims between the bolted flanges. The other idea is to fully weld the frame then use epoxy to level the top.
What I found was that after welding the flanges to the top beam it made it bend, this was expected. I bolted it to the frame and got it almost level but there was a downward dip at the overhanging end. I decided therefore to epoxy the top. Once the epoxy has set you do not want to be doing anything with the bolts holding the beam otherwise you could make it not level again.

Then i would like to ask if everything is ok with the resign and how much did it cost? Is it much cheaper than west system epoxy?

The resin appears to be identical to the West System in this application, Epoxy Resin ideal for fibreglass repair and general use
21.85 GBP + VAT + shipping

Finally what plan are you going to apply for your gantry? You will go with steel or aluminium?

Aluminium, L shape using 100x50x6 aluminium box, faced with a 6mm x 150 aluminium plate. All glued with Gorilla Glue then bolted. (thanks to kingcreaky for ideas and info, http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/gantry...ine-month.html)

[Clive S]

The resin appears to be identical to the West System in this application, Epoxy Resin ideal for fibreglass repair and general use
21.85 GBP + VAT + shipping

I'm sorry Eddy but how can you say it is identical unless you have tried both types, I seem to remember you had a small problem with sinkage after about 3 days and you had to refill the surface I did not have that problem at all, I did not have any surface problems, the cure did not start for about 6 hours so plenty of time for it to settle. I am not trying to dis you by any means but I think it is only fair to others that are reading this to know the facts and it is up to their choice which to use. The Wests System is about twice the price but you only use it once so you take your chance. I spoke with the people at Wests about the suitability of their product regarding the shrinkage and cure times etc they were more than helpful. Rant over, nice job by the way ..Clive

[Jonathan]

I'm sorry Eddy but how can you say it is identical unless you have tried both types, I seem to remember you had a small problem with sinkage after about 3 days and you had to refill the surface I did not have that problem at all, I did not have any surface problems, the cure did not start for about 6 hours so plenty of time for it to settle

+1

I'd consider the epoxy 'squashing' slightly when the rail was attached a bit of a disaster, but it all depends on what accuracy you're striving for.

[longy]

Aluminium, L shape using 100x50x6 aluminium box, faced with a 6mm x 150 aluminium plate.

Looks great Eddy, where did you get 100 x 50 x 6mm aluminium box profile from ? I can only seem to find 3mm

Mike

[EddyCurrent]

It's a while since I logged in, the problems I've had with computersand internet since a lightning strike several weeks back have been unbelievable, still not out of the woods yet so just a quick reply.

Here, but you might have to phone them for that size as they don't keep all sizes in stock.
http://www.thomas-graham.co.uk/aluminiumboxsection.html

[longy]

Thanks Eddy, for the link I'll give them a call. Sorry to hear about your PC + IS problems, is there anything we can do to help ?
Mike

[EddyCurrent]

Thanks Eddy, for the link I'll give them a call. Sorry to hear about your PC + IS problems, is there anything we can do to help ?
Mike

Thank's for the offer but I seem to be okay now, just letting things 'soak' for a few days to make sure.

Lighting strikes destroys phones and router, waiting for repairs, computer playing up, waiting for new parts, new parts fail after a week but only after reinstalling eveything and activating Windows, failed motherboard renders hard drive as 'Raw', manage to use PartedMagic to retrive stuff off drive, 10 day wait for replacement board so after 5 days decide to get another make/model next day delivery, eventually get everything running and installed, decided 32bit OS not good anymore so order 64bit and more memory, get it all installed and activated when hard drive comes up with bad sectors, find out new system is UEFI and not so simple to clone so order Paragon software which works great, order SSD and clone system, wating to see if all okay before reinstalling everthing this time.

[JAZZCNC]

Tony you are correct the stall detect on the AM882 only works above 300rpm. In real use that's fine because thats when your post likely to stall motors as torque is lowest. It's also when you need it most as it's the speed and inertia that does the damage.

Regards the one home switch with twin screws then like Eddy it's a preferance thing but don't be fooled into thinking your Gantry is strong enough it's not going to rack because it most certainly will and more so over time with eddy's setup of using one switch.? . . . Problem comes from the fact you will be accumulating lost or missed steps that never get reset this will eventually cause racking or binding that will cause stalled motors.
Also don't think just because you have the motors tuned well below there threshold your safe from lost steps because your not.? . . . . Every time you E-stop the machine at any resonable speed you have the potential to lose steps due to inertia pushing the gantry/motors. Now unless you always bring the machine to a controlled stop then you have to presume you have lost position and reset your home position.! . . . With eddy's setup only the one screw/motor is effectively reset and any error in the other remains! Do this often enough and It's definate fact you WILL get racking and stalled motors along with premature wear.

[longy]

failed motherboard renders hard drive as 'Raw', manage to use PartedMagic to retrive stuff off drive

That will only put the partition back so your system can see it, try http://www.roadkil.net/index.php for their data recover software brilliant software as it tries to fix bad sectors and recover the data. Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier + other stuff and what's more it's FREE.

Glad to see your back online, just remember to unplug during a storm, I've had to fix several PC's over the years, the flash down the line normally kills some of the ram you wont know until that blue screen shows when you least expect it, or it fails to boot.