found xy table... want to make into wood router

[randomeyes]

This seems like a pretty nice xy table, I think it came from an industrial sewing machine. The threads don't seem to be ACME, any guesses?

It has about 10.5x10.5 of motion. I think the motors (not shown) are 450 oz unipolar steppers.

I'm considering mounting it to replace the Y and Z axis on top of a Solsylva table with the the goal of routing dimensional lumber or making small parts out of plywood/mdf.

My motivation is purely for hobby purposes. Suggestions welcome.

[louieatienza]

Looks like multi-start rolled acme...

[randomeyes]

As best I can tell, it is 1 start. Regardless, I think I have a pretty solid plan for it.Embedded Acquisition Systems shows a nice example of mounting a wood router to a micromill z-axis. I'm planning to build an enclosure around it, swap the steppers with smaller Xylotex steppers then add the Harbor Freight z-axis and spindle.

[randomeyes]

Here is a pic of how they mounted a wood router.

[Benonymous]

I have scrounged my Y and Z axis off an old blueprint reducing machine so your hardware looks very doable.

Have you checked the nuts for backlash? If they've done a few hundred miles on an industrial sewing machine they might be a tad worn.

It would be a shame to build a machine around hese parts if they're worn.

The parts that I obtained had been used extensively but with extremely light mechanical loads, just moving lenses and stuff and subsequently have little actual wear and very minimal backlash.

[randomeyes]

One of the nuts has something hanging out of it. Not sure if I should leave it alone or dig in to see what's going on. Probably the latter.

I stuck a dial indicator on it and am trying to measure backlash by hand. No conclusions yet, other than it seems pretty smooth, I can make it go to any number I want on the thousandths of inch scale. I think I can simulate steps by making a mark on the timing gear then moving it forward a few ticks then back to its original position.

[johnmac]

I would be willing to bet the screw is multi-start. It is hart to tell if you can't see the end of the screw. The nuts are probably anti-backlash. If the nut has a small spring wrapped around one end, that's what it is.

John