New to Cnc

[CraftyGeek]

I did quite a lot of looking around at linear bearing/rail options before starting my design process...if you look at the price of decent V-bearings for the Maker Slide type system, they're actually quite expensive. Given that your cutting area isn't particularly large, I think the price difference between the Maker slide route & Chinese supported rail will be minimal (see Chai) - particularly when you consider the difference in quality.

When I started the design process for my machine (which i'm currently building) I wanted to get it built as quickly & as cheaply as possible...i've now changed my approach to taking a bit more time & accepting the fact that its better to spend a little more as the end result will be worth it.

[TastyRabbit]

Thanks for the replies.


I didn't realise Chinese supported rail was so cheap....


As for the drive, what are your thoughts on using a mod 1 Rack and Pinion instead of Ballscrew (as its less fiddly) and just using the ballscrew on the Z?

Also if the rails come in Aluminium, what do you think about brazing them onto an Aluminiuim Frame.

Aluminum Welding at 600 Degrees, With Any Torch - YouTube

I quiet adapt at it now... unlike when I started (its a lot harder than you think to braze aluminium).

[JAZZCNC]

Nope don't do that either.? Rack and pinion again needs gearing with a ratio of between 2:1 and 3:1 and special attention to keeping pinion engaged into rack, so it's actually much more fiddly. It's also very inefficient compared to ballscrews with much higher backlash.
R&P is really only suitable for larger machines where fitting long ballscrews becomes troublesome, it's more suited to wood based machine with lower resolution.

Regards welding the rails then again wouldn't do that has you'll need adjustment so bolting allows shims to be inserted. Also the heat , even low heat, will affect accuracy and possibly warp or twist the rails.