[LorenBMS]

Putting the first column together with the bolt plates installed and loose tenon joints holding it all together.

[LorenBMS]

Little by little it is coming together. Test fit of the first gantry side plate, column and beam connect plate are looking good, I put the second column together this evening, so glue is drying on it now.

[LorenBMS]

Had to through the cut panels for the beam up on the columns just to see how it is going to look.

[mactec54]

Hi Loren - Like those big washers what are they from? Peter

You should be able to find them any good fastener supply should have them, Fender Washers

[peteeng]

Hi Mactec - In Oz the are called mud guard washers and although large in dia they are thin and can bend when cranked up on timber. I use large square washers used for timber framing they are 3mm thick or 1/8" and they work well. Peter

[mactec54]

Hi Mactec - In Oz the are called mud guard washers and although large in dia they are thin and can bend when cranked up on timber. I use large square washers used for timber framing they are 3mm thick or 1/8" and they work well. Peter

Fender Washers can be any thickness, normally they are standard washer thickness which are the same thickness as what you are using like this snip, square is good though will have a little more surface area

[LorenBMS]

I made some good progress over the weekend. I finished building the gantry beam, installed the linear rails, and the rack on the beam. Then mounted the beam and and got it level and plumb. Then muscled the Z-axis up and installed it on the beam rails.

On Friday I ordered motors, cables, a power supply and some electrical drag chain.

[peteeng]

Hi Loren - The monster is coming to life. Peter

[peteeng]

Hi Loren - You used four rails for the gantry any particular reason? Usually only two? Regards Peter

[LorenBMS]

Hi Loren - You used four rails for the gantry any particular reason? Usually only two? Regards Peter

Four rails?? There are two on one the table, one and each side. Then two on the gantry beam front face, one upper and one lower.

[peteeng]

Hi Loren - you have 4 rails under the gantry, usually only one each side? You have two each side? Peter

edit - opps I see now that photos on its side!! Peter

[LorenBMS]

For some reason, the forum flipped the photo when I uploaded it.

[LorenBMS]

Paint….lots of paint.

[LorenBMS]

Paint is complete, even the belly of the beast was painted.

I ordered a 2.2 KW G-Penny spindle and a Hitachi WJ200-022SF VFD to power the spindle. I need to make a spindle mounting tram plate to fit the spindle. I ahve it designed, just need to program it and get the big vice set back up on the Tortoise to cut it. The one I already made was for an ATC spindle, and just could not justify that cost right now.

The main power supply landed today. I'm getting the other electrical components ordered as I sort through the rest of the electrical build.

[LorenBMS]

I installed the X &Y axis hard stops today and started working on the spindle mount plate.

[peteeng]

Hi Loren - Those timber thread inserts are really good. When do you think sawdust will happen? Peter

[LorenBMS]

Hi Pete, I’m probably another 4+ weeks out to having it cutting. I have all the electrical, and still have some components to fabricate for the rotary axis.

[LorenBMS]

Cutting the spindle mounting plate on the Tortoise. Slow but steady!

[LorenBMS]

Finished up the new spindle mount plate.

[LorenBMS]

This is a tie plate between the gantry column and the gantry beam. I had a little bit of gap between the tie plate and the beam. The beam is masked off and epoxy buttered the mating side of the tie plate common to the beam to create a perfect fit shim.