Re: X Rail Material
Ref772 & Andrew,
O1 Tool Steel is relatively soft in its native as shipped state before a hardening process is performed, a 10 Rockwell is slightly tougher than a wet noodle or a soft grape.
Jeff...
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Originally Posted by
ref772
I've been trying to figure out why my cut depth when engraving varies about 006" from one side of my table to the other. I have machined my spoil board a couple of times, but that didn't help. I found that the X rail on the right side is worn where the top bearings run. Other rails are OK. So I blame this on overtightening the bearings. The rails were ground O-1 tool steel tight precision flat stock from McMaster-Carr. They were used in as bought state and not hardened after maching. The bearings are the normal skate bearings. Does anyone know of a better material to make the rails out of or should I have hardened the rails? If I go back with the same material, I'll pay more attention to the bearing adjustment and try not to get them so tight.
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