New Machine Build- Nutting out final design

[Greg Rutter]

I am at the stage now where I have collected everything that I need to build a CNC router apart from the steel and I am formalising my final designs. The rough diagram was done in sketchup and is really just to give myself an idea of what the final build may look like so that I can try and predict problems that I will encounter before assembly. One thing that I am worried about is preventing dust from getting into the main leadscrew. There will be a dust extraction system added to the final build and I will cover up as many of the gaps as possible but I still anticipate it being a problem.

One thing I wanted to ask was about the leadscrew protection that I have seen on lathes. I think that called the CS guards or somethng like that. They look like a spring of coiled plastic strip that compresses and expands as the nut moves back and forth thus giving a certain level of protection to the screw. I have also heard however that these can be bad as if something does get into the thread then you can never get it out.

Anyway I haven't ordered any metal yet so there is still plenty of time to make a design change.

[Gizmot]

woah! so you are using a bunch a small linear rails? Are they actually sections designes to be assembled?

[leafft]

Hi, we are in the line of laser engraving and cutting machine, please contact leafsheng@hotmail.com.

[Greg Rutter]

Originally Posted by Gizmot woah! so you are using a bunch a small linear rails? Are they actually sections designes to be assembled?

Ok this drawing is a bit deceptive. The rails are individual lengths but they will be fitted to a single length of steel flat for each side of the support. The picture makes it look like the steel flat is also cut up but that is just because I was copying and pasting to do the image more quickly.

The length of flat steel will have a grove milled in the middle from end to end to the exact width of the bearings rails then I will fit and drill the rail holes one at a time in the milling machine to get it spot on, testing all the time to make sure that block is sliding properly between the rails and checking that the alignment is good.

I know that this will take a long time but this router won't be subjected to a lot of use and will only need to hold a laminate trimmer. The rails were available and cheap so if they don't work I can simple remove the flat length and put something more expensive on there.

Speaking of which is it possible to buy long lengths of rail that will fit the 6 NSK bearing blocks that I already have on the rail segments. that may be the easiest way to do this?