Re: FLA Saturn 4' x 4' Questions
Originally Posted by
HighDesert
Thank you for the prompt reply, and link to the Saturn 2 announcement. I hadn't come across that while visiting your site.
The only other question that comes to mind at the moment, is how do you insure the X and Y rails are perfectly flat and on the same plane? I understand that fixtures are used and internal stresses from welding are relieved, but cold/hot rolled steel is not necessarily flat, at least to the extent needed over a 4 or 8 foot span. Are the rail mounting surfaces machined or ground flat? Do you check for +/- tolerance over the rail length and between the left and right Y rails, or have you found the steel to be flat enough without additional work? What sort of end to end variance should one expect on the X and Y axis?
Thanks again,
Ed
Ed,
To keep the rails parallel with each other and square with the frame, we use a series of jigs for attachment that hold the rails. As far as the height variance, we have found the steel to be flat enough without additional work. The biggest variance is actually between the cross spar heights. I would expect less than 0.010" variance over the length. All of this can be taken out of the system by installing a spoil board and surfacing it.
Fine Line Automation
www.finelineautomation.com