New Build, Aluminium Frame Router/Mill

[Davek0974]

Little more progress, started getting parts ready to assemble the Z axis...



All the motion parts arrived today, along with the spindle and VFD :)

[sinnsvak]

Looking great so far! In this last picture, will that stick out be for the X-axis movement?

If i may ask a question about the Z-frontplate, that cutout for the Z-axis nut, how thin can the wall be in that area before one can notice any weakness?

I dont have a fog buster, but a simple mister from aliexpress, and alcohol works great for my projects. No cleanup needed afterwards, but if you need more lubrication to handle i.e. gummy alu, you gonna want something oily.

[Davek0974]

Yes, thats the plan, it protrudes enough to get me over the screw so i can fit a drop bracket for the nut. The cutout clears the Z axis motor body.

The Z front plate and the very front plate where the tool mounts are 20mm thick and needed 7.5mm taken out of each to align the rails and screw. I don't feel that will make any difference at all to strength - the tool mount plate is also reinforced by having the linear rails bolted to the back of it. The rear Z plate is has the Z axis linear carriages aligned directly with the support plates (shown in the pic) for the X axis linear carriages - the forces are transferred directly from Z to X.

Having built two plasma tables out 3mm steel which were still very sturdy, this thing is being built like a mini battleship!

[sinnsvak]

Yes, thats the plan, it protrudes enough to get me over the screw so i can fit a drop bracket for the nut. The cutout clears the Z axis motor body.

The Z front plate and the very front plate where the tool mounts are 20mm thick and needed 7.5mm taken out of each to align the rails and screw. I don't feel that will make any difference at all to strength - the tool mount plate is also reinforced by having the linear rails bolted to the back of it. The rear Z plate is has the Z axis linear carriages aligned directly with the support plates (shown in the pic) for the X axis linear carriages - the forces are transferred directly from Z to X.

Having built two plasma tables out 3mm steel which were still very sturdy, this thing is being built like a mini battleship!

Thanks, I also think the forces are pretty much directly transferred from Z-carriages to X-carriages. One important task the z-plate also does is keeping the rotational forces at bay, and I agree, 7,5mm less wont make a speck of difference.

I will look over my own drawing and see if I cant do the same.

[njhussey]

.......this thing is being built like a mini battleship!

I know that one, my Z front plate is 40mm thick...think I only took a similar amount out of that, overkill??!!

[Davek0974]

Better over than under ;)

[Davek0974]

Day off today so hit the project...

X / Z axis finshed...


Rear face of the tool mount plate with the linear rails...


Front of the Z axis with some linear rail carriages in place...


Back of the Z axis with the X axis carriages in place...


Rear frame support plate fitted to the main beams...


Next up is the front frame plate and mount for the Y axis motor. :)

[Davek0974]

Bit more today...

The bare frame - extremely rigid, surprised me!


Inside of the front plate (maybe the back, not sure yet) idler bearings to shift the belt path...


The Y axis screws temporarily fitted...


The gantry being built up...


The Z axis in place...


Z axis lifter screw and motor fitted...


So far, my CAD efforts have been 100% perfect, every single part drawn has fitted just where it should be Torsionally, the gantry is very stiff - pushing on one side brings an immediate response from the other which is good, the Z axis looks like it will be just as tight.

Now i need to fabricate an idea for a method of joining the Y axis nuts to the gantry cross-beam.