[crash416]

Creating this post to chronicle the build process of the XzeroCNC's latest version of the Predator. Our order was placed in October 2016 and most of everything arrived by February 2017.

Thanks to Skcncx for the awesome post template.

Here's the quick specs for the build
- Predator 25 x 60 .
- Eazy Servo 1133oz.
- UCCNC w/UC300ETH
- Tekno Electrospindle C41/47-C


Purchasing
- Xzero was quick to respond. Usually immediately via FB Messenger since we are both on the same timezone.
- 50% of the frame components and ballscrews arrived within a few weeks. The last pieces to arrive were the Y & Z profiles since they were so new.
- due to some possible confusion at the shipping center, the fasteners shipped for this machine were actually for the older version. Once notified, Xzero made good on them.

Mechanical Assembly
- Last I've checked, the manual for the new Predator was not complete yet. Assembly of the machine was 90% guess work based on the Raptor manual. That and messaging Xzero almost every weekend during the build.
- The more complicated parts were put together based off of Xzero's cad renders on the FB page.
- Since this is our first machine, we don't have any others to base our experience off. As perfect as the machine can be, we were missing fasteners and bearings which we had to purchase separately during George's absence. The ballscrews for the Y and Z axis were also too short (possibly due to off spec of the newer profiles)

Tips
- Have a big bottle of blue loctite handy
- Have some scrap wood around for leveling the parts
- The sliders for the rails have nipples on them for lubrication and should be removed and capped off with a set screw.
- This might just be us, but do not try to test the gantry for bottoming. The Z axis did not look correct to us since the ballscrew seemed too short (which it is) upon testing, the ballnut bottomed out and rained a few bearings out before the spindle plate even bottomed.

2016 Shipment


70% Completion for Mechanical Assembly


Back brace for new profile


Slider nipple protruding from Gantry


Gantry height of 7" Xzero says that 9" might be in the future as originally indicated


Unfortunately, this is where we stop now. Since George is still out, I'm hoping forum members can help us resolve our issues.

This past weekend, we tried mounting the EazyServos to the machine only to be met with this:

Zaxis


Y Axis


X Axis


Since there aren't any instructions, we are also at a lost with these (qty:8)


-The motor shafts are keyed but the resilent couplings are not. They are also too short for the application. Considering this is a kit machine, we can't tell if the supplied couplings are the wrong spec or the supplied motors are wrong.

-Two of the sensors we can assume goes to the Gantry support. But we can't locate mounting holes for the others.

Thanks

- - - Updated - - -

Can't seem to get any of the photos to work. Any ideas? Followed the FAQ and they're still showing up broken.