Did some more work on the machine. Mostly on the bearing slides. I'm not satisfied with the job I've done in making them - I'm contemplating scrapping them and starting over. They got progressively better as I made them, the Z axis first, not so good, Y axis better, and the X I think are usable. I want to get these right before I go any farther as they are crucial to the accuracy.
I did order the 5-start Acme rods from McMaster and the Dumpster nuts from Tim. Of course, when UPS dropped off the tube containing the Acme screws, I could see it had been bent. Sure enough, both screws are bent.
I'm pretty sure I can straighten them out but a hassle.
I also tested the Dumpster nuts on them - very tight. Too tight to thread on by hand. I read the threads here about it and talked to Tim. I'm going to try making a tap out of a section of Acme like others have done and that should do the trick. I'd rather have them on the tight side than too loose I guess.
One thing I'm not sure of is how to mount the nuts. I see that Joe made a new block to mount them in. I don't have a way to do that. I'm contemplating two courses of action: drill out the existing block to match the flanges and mount it, sort of straddling where the other leadnut pocket is, or go ahead and build it with the original leadnuts, then when it's operational, make new blocks to fit the Dumpster nuts, and upgrade it. I guess a third option is to do option #1 and then make the new blocks, and retrofit. At least that way it's already set up for the 5-start.
I guess that's what makes all this so much fun -!?
-G