[sparkness]

supporting frame painted, X-Y frame painted, I used Acrylic Urethane automotive paint, ready for assembly. Bolted all together. The Y direction seems a bit flimsy, it feels like I will need to add a diagonal support



I used extra thick and high strength washers and bolts it only added a little the to total cost









Did a final sanding where the linear rail mounts using a 1/2" block


Mounted Linear Rail, Motor and Ballscrew

[sparkness]

here is the X axis Home /limit switches installed



here is the microswitch cover



and here is the Ball Nut mount ready to attach to the X axis side plate

[Nacs Fab]

Could you give us your source for home switches and their covers? Great build! Thanks!

[ajclay]

Sparkness, you've got a nice build that's for sure... Going a little deeper than most with the details..

I can't help thinking about the ball screws.. I mentioned this on another post, but most didn't give it a second thought..

Ball screws will not tollorate any plamsa dust. A guy just can't wipe them enough to keep off the dust. Mine locked up in a couple of hours of operation.

By hook or crook..... you will have to cover them sooner or later, or install some kind of serious wipers.

Just a "heads up".. That dust is a killer for a lot of things...

aj

[sparkness]

Ball screws are mounted on the outside of the plasma table and I will install an aluminum angle on the frame and the gantry to help keep dust out. Well see what happens. As far as the covers for the micro switches I used potting cases from http://www.polycase.com/ cost was about a $1.00 each

[sparkness]

I opted to use ball screws because of the cost and simplicity, the 3 ballscrews,nuts and supports cost $438 delivered with ends machined, if I used gear rack I would have had to drill and counter bore x number of holes and make a reduction belt drive mechanism for a little less money, but more time,thought and labor.And as we Know the first design gets built then scraped for the third unbelievable great design which still needs a little tweaking!

[4R8]

I might be reading the chart wrong but isn't the critical distance for a 10mm shaft at 1000rpm shown as being 36"s? (when mounted "rigid/simple")

I'm guessing your screws are @ 54" long between which only gives about 450rpm?

Or am i misreading something?

[ajclay]

I think you've got it right.... 72in long screw max rpm is about 700.... That's still spinning the hell out of them.. He'll just have to rapid slow that's all.. Cutting speeds even for thin sheet metal is down around the 180 - 200 ipm...

Aj