The build has begun
If anyone is out there, I have finally gotten back tot he CNC build. Its been too long. For those that are counting, its been 4 years. The kids are moved out, The shop has grown, and I am sick of moving the ball screws. I ordered rails and a ball screw for the the "Z" axis last week. Xmas break I plan on getting the "Z" built. I put the frame together over the last two weekends.
What I have found so far:
1. Plans can not be left in your head. haha I had a hell of a time putting some of this back together.
2. The "Y" axis (right and left) needs to be reworked. I am sure it was my welding but I would like to blame it on the moving it from one place to an other. The "Y" uses a 1.5 x 1.5 _1/4 wall cross bar. The ends have plates welded on them. This has 4 nuts welded to mount it to the "X" uprights. These plates are not squared to the bar. Enough that it is one inch out over the five foot run.
The fix will take pulling it apart and milling the ends of the bar flat and square.
3. The price of steel is out of control.
4. I will need to find a new (newer) computer. The one I was planning on using is so outdated it is having problems just running windows.
I did a lot of pushing on different parts after I got it on the legs. The ball screw mounts are strong. There isn't any flex on the mount end. The bearing ends allows for the bearing to float. Looking down the side of the 1.5 x 1.5_1/4 bars look like it has a small bend in all three. I plan on hitting it with the laser to see how bad. I can always shim the aluminum out to make up for that. I just have to figure out how to measure it. The side upright supports don't flex much. Well they flex. I think I will end up bolting a side brace on the outside. I could even run one on the inside too. The legs are going to get some cross supports. .5 x .5_.18 stock. It only has to tie the legs together. As they sit, there is not much flex but if I push, I see the table cross supports twist.
The table cross supports still need to be drilled and tapped for the table/tank. I plan on doing a wooden table first. I might have to weld in some table supports too. The cross supports are about four foot apart and I am sure the wood would flex. The tank will not have too much weight until it is filled with water. That will be a whole new problem. The shop is not heated.
The thought for water for the plasma cutter is a tray full of water. There is the issue. I don't want water always in the shop. My thought is two barrels set up outside. When I need the water I can use air pressure to move the water from the barrels to the tray. When done, I can let the water drain back into the barrels. That way I can remove the tray and put the wooden deck back on.
What I have found so far:
1. Plans can not be left in your head. haha I had a hell of a time putting some of this back together.
2. The "Y" axis (right and left) needs to be reworked. I am sure it was my welding but I would like to blame it on the moving it from one place to an other. The "Y" uses a 1.5 x 1.5 _1/4 wall cross bar. The ends have plates welded on them. This has 4 nuts welded to mount it to the "X" uprights. These plates are not squared to the bar. Enough that it is one inch out over the five foot run.
The fix will take pulling it apart and milling the ends of the bar flat and square.
3. The price of steel is out of control.
4. I will need to find a new (newer) computer. The one I was planning on using is so outdated it is having problems just running windows.
I did a lot of pushing on different parts after I got it on the legs. The ball screw mounts are strong. There isn't any flex on the mount end. The bearing ends allows for the bearing to float. Looking down the side of the 1.5 x 1.5_1/4 bars look like it has a small bend in all three. I plan on hitting it with the laser to see how bad. I can always shim the aluminum out to make up for that. I just have to figure out how to measure it. The side upright supports don't flex much. Well they flex. I think I will end up bolting a side brace on the outside. I could even run one on the inside too. The legs are going to get some cross supports. .5 x .5_.18 stock. It only has to tie the legs together. As they sit, there is not much flex but if I push, I see the table cross supports twist.
The table cross supports still need to be drilled and tapped for the table/tank. I plan on doing a wooden table first. I might have to weld in some table supports too. The cross supports are about four foot apart and I am sure the wood would flex. The tank will not have too much weight until it is filled with water. That will be a whole new problem. The shop is not heated.
The thought for water for the plasma cutter is a tray full of water. There is the issue. I don't want water always in the shop. My thought is two barrels set up outside. When I need the water I can use air pressure to move the water from the barrels to the tray. When done, I can let the water drain back into the barrels. That way I can remove the tray and put the wooden deck back on.