Second CNC table build, here we go again....

**Davek0974** · 28-07-2015

Here we go, down to 27mm distance now, thats a little less than my existing unit

The side effect is that to get the torch back on centre, I have to shift the Hiwin carriage to the left a fair bit, luckily this will be over the machine side beams and will not affect anything at all - perfect

**njhussey** · 28-07-2015

That should be fine Dave I would have thought, it's not carrying any weight and ther are no forces acting on it after all. For complete ease of maintenance could you not turn the torch mount through 90° (gap facing the front) and use one of the fixing bolts (now coming in from the right and tightening into tapped holes in the 5mm steel plate) to tighten the clamp? I'm not sure from the drawing if there's ease of access to get to the torch mount?

**Davek0974** · 28-07-2015

Yes, but then there would be a risk of losing the torch alignment when the torch clamp is released to remove the torch. Hopefully with the clamp mounted firmly from the base, it will stay fixed once aligned.

**Davek0974** · 30-07-2015

Got the floating head mount fitted to the Z-axis, probably work better when i fit a means to stop the carriage and torch falling off the bottom

**njhussey** · 31-07-2015

Dave, I'm probably being a bit thick....but how are you moving your Z axis up and down? From what I can see you've got your Z stepper mounted on the profile behind the fixed Z front plate? Is there something on the bolttom of your Z front plate that connects to the stepper behind the plate?

**Davek0974** · 31-07-2015

No, the round object sticking out of the top is the coupling for the stepper, it's just not fitted yet :)

It means i can move the z up and down by hand easily.

Inside its a standard screw type affair.

**njhussey** · 31-07-2015

Originally Posted by Davek0974

No, the round object sticking out of the top is the coupling for the stepper, it's just not fitted yet :)

It means i can move the z up and down by hand easily.

Inside its a standard screw type affair.

OK I'm still being thick

....but I'm still not seeing how you're connecting your stepper/screw to the front of the Z axis, your torch holder?

That's the front of your Z, how's that connected to your stepper/screw or whatever??