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Ordered from Sam today.
Price is higher than from McMaster to be sure, but no border fees and reasonable shipping rates.
Cheers and thanks.
Colin

Thanks guys, will give snbinc a visit.

Hi guys,
Just wondering if anyone has ever found Acme 5 start leadscrews north of the border.
Cheers!
Colin

Any controller recommendations or input?
Never used a controller, but plan on integrating one into my upcoming system. I am not set on using Mach3, but thus far, I plan to. Also plan on using...

Honestly, my experience with Canada Customs has been discouraging. It is hit and miss, sometimes things come through quickly with no issues, other times they take weeks and come with additional...

I require several parts cut from 1/16" G-10 sheet. This would be ongoing, but limited quantities. Prefer someone in Canada to ease shipping woes.
Please reply here.
Colin

Pitch is the one thing that MUST match for rack and pinion to work. Using different pitches is the same as using the wrong nut on a leadscrew.
Colin

I haven't compared prices, but I hope they are the same or less than US prices now with the high dollar.

http://www.syil.ca/

Like Ger said, you can not use linear bearings on cold rolled steel.
If you really want to use the CRS, you will have to come up with a skate bearing or v groove bearing type of set-up.
The other,...

For $600 you are going to build yourself a hobby sized CNC machine like Joe's machine.
Colin

It depends on your stepper voltage and max current ratings.
I believe the magic number is 20 X the steppers voltage rating, and you would need a power supply that could safely cover the max current...

I just checked out my bill, I have 480 oz in motors, so I am laughing!
This machine will be my fourth, I have learned a lot and will incorporate all I can in this machine.
I am certainly open to...

You can not use anything but hardened rod for linear bearings, sorry. You can do a search on it and read up for info, or just trust me that people have tried it and the balls always dig into the...

Roughly equivalent to 5 tpi. Ballscrews may be down the road someday. I am building this machine to be my last (unless I ever decide to turn this into a business again..) and am leaving the design...

Welcome!
In your post you said you will be running 1/2 and 1/4" aluminum, do you mean this is what you will be cutting? If so, a router is not the right machine for you, you need a mill.
I am sure...

Hi Andy.
We will have to see, I guess. I was running this set-up on another, smaller, machine with good results. My Z axis is going to be quite light, ie. not over built but certainly somewhat...

Thanks for keeping this rolling guys.
Geof's thinking is the same as mine, I am wondering about the tube torqueing and what that would equate to in deflection at the tool tip. I imagine my machine...

Thanks for the info.
Being driven by two steppers, I am less worried about the added mass, however I do agree that overkill in mass is not the way to go. I am not keen on using more than one tube...

Cuts will be MDF and plywood with 1/2" bit at the most. I want a very rigid machine, and I expect to use feeds around 60 ipm with rapids in the mid 200's. Gantry will be supported and driven at each...

Thanks for that. Will that be stout enough for my 4+ foot wide gantry? My Z axis will be fairly light, but I will be using an 11 amp router (heavier than the roto zips or trim routers)
I would plan...

Hi guys, it has been a while since I posted, but I sold the old machine and am about to embark on a steel machine.
This machine will have a 4 foot gantry (x) and 3 foot Y. It will be driven by...

He is likely talking about "T" slotted mdf on the tabletop for workholding. Do not use it for your table top. the mdf is very weak and you wont be able to clamp anything to it.
Colin

My experience is that the large majority of accuracy issues can be blamed on machine flex or poorly adjusted linear slides. If your machine is rigid enough, then you can simply map the screws in Mach...

I have ordered from YiTong, but they changed their prices on me and would only accept a bank transfer or cash.
Real pain in the .... in the end, but the bearings are nice.
Colin

Goose, depending on the weight of your gantry and router, the 425's should work fine. The biggest question will be, how fast can I go with them. I will be running 480 oz-in motors on my 3 foot square...

Hi Manolo.
Where in Canada are you?
I would strongly suggest reading through these forums a bit more. There is a lot to learn, and you are starting with a very large machine here, educate yourself...

Simon, I really like your design. I have a very similar one on the drawing board to replace the machine I just sold.
I will be running two leadscrews for the Y axis, each with it's own stepper.
I...

Vegeta.
Your machine looks like it will be very wobbly. Long unsupported rods will flex a lot, the plate you have holding the rods will flex too.
Also, it will be difficult to load and unload your...

I have heard nothing but bad news about maxNC. Do a search here and see what you come up with,
Colin

The IGUS system just doesnt work well for our application. Adjusting the carriages so they dont bind is a bugger, and there is just no way to get rid of the slop.
It took me easily as many hours to...