2000mm x 1300mm Steel

[Oddysey]

I thought I might as well start on a project log. The original plan was to make something smaller but it ballooned a little. There was no real plan to it so its a on fly build. I have not spent a cent on it so far the materials were acquired from place of employ all with their blessing.

The rack is seconds from the HPR plasma beds we have. They replace the whole lot when they need replace a section. The maintanence fella's and I went through the old racking to find good stuff to work with. I originally thought I was going to have to join 2 sections together to get the full length but it turns out each length is 2000mm.

I had originally planned to make it so I could remove the legs for ease of moving but decided that the weight of it could be moved only just with 2 people (there is some weight in it). If I had known that the legs wouldn't have added a great deal of extra weight then I would have assembled it differently.

I havern't decided on gantry materials yet, beyond that it will be aluminium. The extruded stuff you can buy for the size I want is 300 ish AUD compared to 109 AUD for C channel in aluminium. I havern't decided on the linear motion yet. I am swaying towards ahrens but I am also holding out hoping they will replace the linear rails on one of the plasma's soon.

I am holding off bringing what I have done so far home, I just know once I get it home I wish I had left it at work as there will be something I can't do to it at home.

I still have to decide how I going to mount the rack as it is predrilled through the side of it not through face (teeth side) plus some sorta gear reduction and what motors.

[Oddysey]

I ordered the aluminium C Channel this arvo. Its 200 x 90 x 12mm x 1500 long. The linear bearings rep was in today so I had a chat to him about some cheaper linear rails and trucks and a ball screw. I said if you do me a good deal I will use them from now on to purchase our bearings etc for work

[milhead]

......I said if you do me a good deal I will use them from now on to purchase our bearings etc for work....

Great strategy! Think it will work for me... "If you cut me a deal I'll buy my next set from you in oh say 2012...." Wait! I don't have a rep... Rats!