[joecnc2006]

Well I got tiered of using a wrench and nut to clamp down my parts so I made a few of these, Knobs like that with 1/4" thread inside are almost $3.00 at the hardware store (must be proud of them or something) so i made a few of my own.

Here is a picture of some and also the g-code if people want to make their own, (.25 end mill 3/4" stock) Rename the *.Zip ext. to *.Tap can not upload the file otherwise.

[joecnc2006]

Got the Z Axis Carriage done, I think i pushed my HP motors to their limit, I cut these at 40ipm with no problem.

[joecnc2006]

Z Axis Carriage assembled, will have 4 - 1/4" threaded rod through sides, top and bottom to make sure the pressure of the bearings on rails do not start to push assembly apart.

[joecnc2006]

I got my 1/2"-10 acme threaded rods, and my 36" drill rods (i cut them to the proper lenght)

I desided to use the same type of Anti-backlash nuts I made for the 5/16" rod and nuts.. so here is its big brother....

[joecnc2006]

recieved my LoveJoy couplers today to go from the 1/4" Motor shafts to the 1/2"-10 Leadscrews, These things are tough to put together...

[joecnc2006]

Here is a look at the gantry so far...

[Lionclaw]

Joe, are you bolting the sides onto the torsion boxes? Or using threaded rod? I ran 6 pieces of 1/4-20 threaded rod through the whole thing and I'm pretty sure it's responsible for a lot of the gantry strength. You can buy big 10ft pieces at Home Depot for less than $3 a piece. At my local HD it was near the electrical conduit.

[joecnc2006]

Joe, are you bolting the sides onto the torsion boxes? Or using threaded rod? I ran 6 pieces of 1/4-20 threaded rod through the whole thing and I'm pretty sure it's responsible for a lot of the gantry strength. You can buy big 10ft pieces at Home Depot for less than $3 a piece. At my local HD it was near the electrical conduit.

Yes i will be using 4 all the way through it i bolted it for now and as soon as i get ready to put it all together i will get the rods and cut them to the right lenth, the bolt place i get everything from they are 2.50 for 10ft. I agree it will increast the strenth, and i will place them as well on the X axis slide carriage.

[ger21]

Are the skins on that gantry torsion box screwed on, or glued? It looks like they're screwed on, but I believe gluing them makes the box much more rigid.

[joecnc2006]

Are the skins on that gantry torsion box screwed on, or glued? It looks like they're screwed on, but I believe gluing them makes the box much more rigid.

Everything is glued even the rib sections then drill and tapped, the bolts may help a little but does give it that industrial look... lol

[Trainhound]

Looks great Joe!

[joecnc2006]

Here are the Z Axis Slide Bearings I made.

[mvaughn]

I had already recieved my 1/2" inside dia. bearings for the acme 1/2-10 leadscrews i ordered. (you could use 1/2"-13 standard thread also but I want to maximize speed), So i drew up a Leadscrew Bearing Support which has same bolt pattern as the Nema 23 motors.

Joe,

I'd like to get some of these 1/2 inch inner diameter bearings. Do you still have the part numbers?

[Lionclaw]

I got mine from someone on ebay named "gem_supply".

Here's a link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-1616-ZZ-Shiel...QQcmdZViewItem

$16 shipped for 10 bearings, you can't go wrong.

[joecnc2006]

Joe,

I'd like to get some of these 1/2 inch inner diameter bearings. Do you still have the part numbers?

got mine from VXB.com

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7556622868

Joe

[mvaughn]

Thanks gentlemen!

[Lionclaw]

recieved my LoveJoy couplers today to go from the 1/4" Motor shafts to the 1/2"-10 Leadscrews, These things are tough to put together...

Joe, where did you order those from? I've never seen any where the spider sticks out past the coupler. Those spiders might have been made for a larger coupler.

[sdantonio]

Hi Joe,

Do you (or anyone else following this thread) have any experience with using oil impregnated bronze bearings as slider bearings? I see you made yours out of what looks like HDPE, I have seen some people make them out of wood (which doesn't seem like it will make a very good bearing to me). McMAster-Carr sells the oil impregnated bronze for about $5 each (though they have some going as high as $30 if you want them to have grease grooves cut in them.

[joecnc2006]

Hi Joe,

Do you (or anyone else following this thread) have any experience with using oil impregnated bronze bearings as slider bearings? I see you made yours out of what looks like HDPE, I have seen some people make them out of wood (which doesn't seem like it will make a very good bearing to me). McMAster-Carr sells the oil impregnated bronze for about $5 each (though they have some going as high as $30 if you want them to have grease grooves cut in them.

I have never used any, mine are tight enought but slide with a little sillicone spray.

[joecnc2006]

The X-Axis Carriage finished and painted.

You have to make sure the bearings are installed before assembling and glued together, I painted the pieces seperately the areas that would be on the inside, making sure not to paint the cut groves and outside edges of pieces so the glue would adhere to the wood for a tight bond. then used news paper to mask off the bearings aqnd then painted the outside.