[CarveOne]

Just to show what a rail will look like installed, I placed a 3/8" x 2" x 8' piece of aluminum bar stock on the support rods and snugged the nuts up to hold it in place for a photo. The actual rail will be 6' long unless I find a way to get a pair of 8' rails here without paying stupendous freight charges. The more I look at this thing coming together the more I want 8' rails on it. The 8' rail is just begging to be installed.

I'll do some research this week and see how much that will cost. This will cost additional money that I can't really afford right now.

CarveOne

[CarveOne]

I'll do some research this week and see how much that will cost. This will cost additional money that I can't really afford right now.

CarveOne

Never mind, false alarm guys.

I forgot that I'm still limited to using the 6' lead screws. The best I can do is to make extension shafts for each end of the lead screws and maximize the usable lead screw length that is normally lost to the mounting of bearings and other parts. I'm now considering turning down the ends of the x axis lead screws, making extension shafts, and cross pinning them to the ends of the lead screws with roll pins. I can probably get a little over 5' of working length this way.

I'll have to bore a hole through the wall of my utility building to put the lead screws through the wall and through the lathe head stock though. I just knew that was going to eventually happen and have planned ahead for it.

1. Cut a hole in the wall for 3" ID PVC pipe.
2. Insert a piece of PVC plumbing pipe in the hole, leaving ~2" sticking out on both sides of the wall.
3. Caulk well on both sides of the wall.
4. Put PVC end caps on each side of the wall when not machining long rods.

I could even make a cheap ball bearing center rest to plug onto the pipe for additional support for long rods to minimize whipping.

CarveOne

[CarveOne]

I thought some more about turning down the ends of the lead screws and figured out a way to add extensions without turning the ends of the lead screws. More info on that thought later.

Today I picked up a piece of 1/4" x 3" x 24" steel I ordered from the local Fastenal store that I thought was going to be regular cold rolled steel for making the Z axis slider plate. It turned out to be that size - but was precision ground flat stock. It looked too good to let them have it back even at the price I was having to pay for it.

I also ordered 8 linear carriages from www.cncrouterparts.com today. I should have the work table stiffened up by end of this weekend - just in time to start making steel parts again.

CarveOne

[CarveOne]

I updated my drawings this evening with the following changes.

1. The Y axis rail changed from 3" to 4" width.
2. Added a spoil board.
3. Raised the gantry.
4. Added a second Y axis rail stiffener tube. Not sure there is enough room for them yet. Will know when Ahren's carriages arrive next week.
5. Added longer carriages on the X axis.

I scaled the jpg image up by 20% but I doubt that it will be any easier to read.

CarveOne

[CarveOne]

I have two outside thermometers fighting over whether it's 0.5 degrees F or 5.5 degrees F this morning, :boxing: so it looks like I won't get much of anything done out in the workshop today. The temperature won't get above freezing all day. May have better luck Sunday afternoon. At least there is no likelihood of snow or freezing rain.

Meanwhile I'll spend some time in CAD drawing stepper mounting plates and other things today.

CarveOne

[CarveOne]

The weather did not follow my prediction for today, making me as good a weather forecaster as the local TV weatherman. Light snow flurries and a cold rain later in the day. Too cold to mess around in the work shop.

I made a few drawings this weekend though. Maybe the .gif images will look better than the previous .jpg images. These drawings are subject to change as needed.

CarveOne