Cutting bed is out of plane with the cutter

[hualon]

Originally Posted by GeeksGoneBad I hear ya - that sucks... you should send a repair bill to the guy you bought it off of yeah - Shopbot rocks! I wish the wife would let me spend $6k on that hehe

I was talking to another hobbyist that had bought their $6000 machine. I asked him what he had made with it and he said "Oh just a couple of $1500 business card holders." We had a good laugh over that one!

[low_48]

MDF isn't known for it's strength. Unless it has some torsion box construction, or enough structure under it, it won't be known for it's flatness. Also if the MDF is tightly bolted to the steel, moisture (humidty) will try to expand the MDF and it can buckle a little.

If the lead screw is turning and the gantry isn't, it's a nut problem for sure.

Did they have the power stick option going on the "Buddy"? I think that's what they call it.

[hualon]

Originally Posted by low_48 MDF isn't known for it's strength. Unless it has some torsion box construction, or enough structure under it, it won't be known for it's flatness. Also if the MDF is tightly bolted to the steel, moisture (humidty) will try to expand the MDF and it can buckle a little. If the lead screw is turning and the gantry isn't, it's a nut problem for sure. Did they have the power stick option going on the "Buddy"? I think that's what they call it.

They DID have the power stick and that was VERY cool. That expands the capability of the machine considerably. I think that it sells for $900 or so.

So I'll replace the nut. The bed isn't made of MDF as pictured; it is made from 1/2" or 3/4" plywood. It could still be warped (probably is) so I'll mount some angle to it for reinforcement. Maybe I'll get to buy a grinder! Yay! Tools!

[hualon]

OK I'm at a loss. I figured out why the machine was kachugging though. The bolts holding the guide rails into the board were too long and they hit the underside of the gantry when it moved BECAUSE IT WAS WARPED!!!!!!!

So what material should I use for my new bed? I attached two pieces of angle lengthwise on the top of the bed but that wasn't enough to get the warp out of the thing. Sheesh!

J

[GeeksGoneBad]

The old material was just MDF? I'd just replace it with more MDF if it was me... stuff's cheap and easily replaceable

[hualon]

The current material is 1/2" ply. I might try some of that melamine-covered chipboard that they sell at Lowe's. Maybe some corian?

[GeeksGoneBad]

oh yeah - anything would be better than plywood I think

what are the dimensions of the table? and I guess there's no cross pieces at all for support - so what about getting some aluminum square pipes to make supports? would that be an option? then you would have to worry about sagging later on with whatever you chose

[hualon]

Originally Posted by GeeksGoneBad oh yeah - anything would be better than plywood I think what are the dimensions of the table? and I guess there's no cross pieces at all for support - so what about getting some aluminum square pipes to make supports? would that be an option? then you would have to worry about sagging later on with whatever you chose

I might just do that. If I got some of those and then clamped some MDF to the top of THAT then I'd really be cooking. PLUS I'd get to use my angle grinder so that makes it extra fun!

[thekm]

Originally Posted by hualon ...his, obviously, screws up the controller so it now thinks that it has moved X inches when, in fact, it hasn't moved a smegging millimeter.

woah... a Red Dwarf fan in the US?... how's that possible?

[hualon]

Originally Posted by thekm woah... a Red Dwarf fan in the US?... how's that possible?

I grew up in London. :-) Nice to find another smeg head!