Cover for gear rack?

[samualt]

I'm using rack-n-pinion on my long axis (X axis). I have an 8 foot long rack on either side of the table with a gear on both sides that travels their length (Both gears are mounted on the ends of a shaft).
What could I use to cover the racks so that saw dust and chips don't gather on them and thus make the gear travel messed up?

Thanks for any ideas..........Sam

[HuFlungDung]

Does it have to be cheap?

What does your machine look like in that area? Can you post a pic of it?

[trent2530]

On a shopbot the rack is up side down.

[sdwilson]

the wood router at work the rack is upside down at the edge of the table just above the linear slides

[turmite]

samualt I have a 5'X12' machine that has rack and pinion along with Bishop Wisecarver Dual Vee guide systems. I have run this machine for 12 yrs without covers and all I do periodically is clean the racks after the buildup is noticable. I have only had a problem one time and that is when I was machining Dymond Wood, which is a laminate that is impregnated with some type of plastic then cooked. It is way more abrasive that aluminum and the shavings that I was creating would get in the rack and pack so hard I could hardly dig them out.

I am by no means saying you don't need the covers but.......well on the other hand I am not saying you should be as careless about keeping the machine either.

Mike

[ninewgt]

Sam

If ya want Ill send you a detail of the rack cover - very easy to make and works perfect.

Hows your machine coming anyway ??

[samualt]

ninewgt:
"Hows your machine coming anyway?"

Me and friend were walking down the street one day, talking about making money.
"You know, I'm working on my second million!" he exclaimed.
"How do you figure?" I asked.
"Cause I done give up on my first!" he said with a grin.

Well, I haven't given up on my Cadcut CNC router. But I have put it off till we move at the end of next summer. So I'm actually working on my second router before the first one got built. I will probably use my current machine as a backup after I build the Cadcut.
My current machine is made of 8020 T-Slots. It will be light, cheap, collapsable, and easy to move. With my living circumstances the way they are, it's just a better choice right now. It won't have the accuracy of a Cadcut though. It will look a little like a PracticalCNC machine. Although I'm using parts that are more heavy duty. I hope to have this baby slapped together within a month.

About the only thing I haven't figured out is how to mount the gear-racks. They should be facing down. But then the axle with the gears would have to hang lower than the gantry, on this design. I hate that idea. So I may just mount them facing up and see what happens. That way my axle can be higher than the lowest part of the gantry (Better gantry clearance).
Perhaps a simple brush on either side of the gears will keep the rack clean enough (simple, cheap, easy to do.)

[ballendo]

Hello,

How about posting a picture, or a description? I'm sure it would be much appreciated...

Thank you in advance,

Ballendo

Originally posted by ninewgt Sam If ya want Ill send you a detail of the rack cover - very easy to make and works perfect.

[ninewgt]

Sam

Drop me an email............. not a PM though......