Having to move from one state to another forced me to disassemble my cnc router. I had been planning to mod one axis by replacing my unsupported rails with supported rails as well as making the axis longer and replacing the lead screw with a ball screw.
So I purchased all the parts as well as the blank metal stock.
This was the easy part. Now I am wondering how I should proceed to mod the axis. How do I measure and drill exactly so that all parts match perfectly.
Can someone lead me to must have measuring equipment and simple tools with which to accomplish the task?
When I looked at Mcmaster catalog for transfer punches, I got overwhelmed by the different types as well as the potential cost.
Or should I simply go to a machine shop and let them do it?
Essentially, these are the tasks:
1. transfer holes from the existing( short ) gantry plate to a longer plate, using the old plate as a template.
2. mount the new gantry plate to the old side gantry plates. Check for perfect alignment.
3. line up the supported rails on the new gantry plate and drill so that both are parallel to each other and the gantry plate.
4.Make a new, wider z axis adapter plate to compensate for new hole positions.
5.. add a ball screw mounts and make sure that all parts are parallel and at the same level.
6. build a new z axis plate for the ballscrew nut and the 4 bearing mounts on the supported rails
7. build a new motor mount.
I realize that the process is linear, meaning that one precise step will lead to another precise step.
Since I don't have a milling machine and the cnc router assembled, I am trying to figure out if all of this can be done by hand, with good measuring practices , a drill press and a few other tools, or I will soon find myself over my head.
tony