Use of epoxy for levelling

[reefy86]

thanks clive really helped alot :) so the best epoxy to use is the westsystem 209?

cheers

ash

[reefy86]

so in theory i should get the frame as level as a human can by hand using adjustment castors on the feet, then once thats as level as you can get it i then place the dam ontop of the frame (im using 25mm rails so my dam will be 65mm wide) then pour epoxy into the dam and let it level out then wait for about 2 weeks (to be safe) and then i can now bolt my rails ontop of the epoxy assuming its flat level?

cheers

ash

[Clive S]

I doesn't really matter if the machine is not level on the floor as the epoxy will level out like pouring water into a channel it will find it's own level. What is important is that you do not have any leeks in the moat I put a very thin bead of silicone all around the inside.
You will need it about 5mm thick. If you use MDF for the moat after the silicone you could put some Vaseline on the insides of the moat to stop the epoxy from sticking.

[reefy86]

thanks clive, do you mean the silicone has to be 5mm thick or the epoxy? i was going to use about 5mm anyways for the epoxy if so.

cheers

ash

[Clive S]

thanks clive, do you mean the silicone has to be 5mm thick or the epoxy? i was going to use about 5mm anyways for the epoxy if so.

cheers

ash

The silicone is only to stop any leeks so a very fine bead between the MDF and box section. Iff you have any leeks the job will fail

[Jonathan]

I doesn't really matter if the machine is not level on the floor as the epoxy will level out like pouring water into a channel it will find it's own level.

Just make sure that if you're floor isn't level, it stays that way as if you move the machine the frame will distort slightly and in turn distort the epoxy slightly. That's why it's best to pour the epoxy with (ideally) all the machine mounting points (feet?) at the same height, so if you move the machine you can set them to the same height and be fairly confident of little movement in the frame.

[reefy86]

jonathon you have confused me there lol :) if the floor aint level it means adjusting the feet so all 6 feet could all be at different heights depending on how bad the floor is. so when you say if the floor aint level it stays that way do you mean to have the machine to just be as level as the floor and leave the epoxy to do its job or did you mean what my badly made drawing shows lol.

sorry if im being a little dumb here.

cheers

ash

[Blackrat]

id recommend caulk instead of silicone ... much easier to clean off

i tack welded 3mm flat bar for the epoxy bath , was super fast and simple to do with a tig welder

[Jonathan]

Your diagram is how I meant. You ideally want to make sure the frame sits such that there is no stress on it - e.g. in your drawing there are 6 feet and imagine the middle four were unscrewed so the frame isn't supported. The frame would then sag in the middle. If you poured the epoxy in this state, you would still get a nice flat surface, but if you change how the frame is mounted (e.g. adjust the feet, move it, add more feet etc), the frame will distort slightly and cause the epoxy to no longer be flat.
We're not talking much here - clearly the frame is quite rigid so wont flex much, but it's still something fairly easy to take account of which may help.

[reefy86]

ok thanks jonathan, so basically before using epoxy make sure the machine is in its final place and all 6 legs are leveled and in there permanent position?

cheers

ash