Hi geoff p:
Thanks for the description of your machine. My design that I am currently working on is much more robust than your design. To start off I used alot of scrap / left over materials in my shop especially aluminium sheet and bright drawn mild steel (BDMS) rectangular bar. My machine bed is actually a piece of precision pre-milled alu sheet of 12 mm thick, it is supported under with 3 pcs of 12mm x 38mm BDMS bars. Both end of the bed has a 25mm thick x 100 width BDMS screwed. These two end pieces carries a dia 25mm hardchromed plated hardened shafts. On these two shafts a gantry build up from various thickness of alu sheet is being build up. All these slides on two pieces extra long linear ball bearings. The Y and Z-axis also slide on similar but smaller dia hardened hardchromed shafts. All thick BDMS components has being lightened by milling hollow or holes. The total cost of the machine? I dun have any idea yet cos I have yet total all my cost. I intend to drive my Z-axis using timing pulleys with the motor, the reason is that I found out that I may need counter balance if I mount the motor direct onto the drive shafts.
My drive shaft for X-axis is M20 x 4mm pitch and the other two axis is M14 x 3mm pitch.
Since you mentioned that your motors setup is more or less acceptable to you, I want to use your setup as initial stage for experiments. Can I know what brand of motors you are using? I am thinking of using Oriental or Sany Denki motors. These two manufacturers has sales offices in Singapore. Any suggestion?
Btw, what are you using the machine for, also are you staying in Bangkok? I always travelled to Bangkok for buisness. I was thinking maybe I can visit you on my next trip there.
Cheers and happy cutting!  |