On Patrick's website, the assembly instructions begin with the Z axis, so I set out to find all the pieces comprising the Z axis. Luckily, most of them are wrapped up in their own bundle of shrink wrap, but you're going to have to fish the smaller pieces out of the bigger bundles.
It's a really good idea to reference the assembly videos several times before starting this step. Because there are no printed instructions (yet- a manual is in the works) and the parts aren't labeled, it's easy to get it wrong.
For example, in the picture, I thought I'd identified and laid out all the Z parts, but that nut holder is wrong- that part is for the X axis.
Also, there are several different sizes of bolts included in the kit- save yourself from disassembling and reassembling everything by noting what size bolt goes where as you build.
The backbone of the Z axis is a small I-beam that came pre-assembled in my kit. There are tooling marks all over most of the parts, so for this reason and that I'm a super-precision junkie, I sanded the ends of the I beam flat and square.
Patrick came up with the idea of using angle-headed countersink screws to hold down the aluminum angle used as bearing surfaces. During this build I've found that if you tighten one side more than the other, your angle irons will be forced slightly off center in places.
Use a caliper and make sure all your angles are nice and straight, as well as offset by the same amount. I have advised Patrick to machine guidance grooves in all parts that will have angle irons mounted to them, so future kits will go together more easily and precisely. |