What me worry build

[oldhack]

I purchased joes new 4x4 plans and started building with a few tweaks of my own. I thought maybe everybody here might learn from my mistakes and get a chuckle or two out this build. I liked Joe's easy to understand plans but decided to mod a little. I went 4x8 instead. here are some pics of my build as I stumble through.
Started with 2x2 1/8 wall tubing, then 2x4 14 gauge tubing on sides.
It echoed a lot in the garage with my mockup rollers, so i filled the 2x4 tube with foam to quiet it. Last Pics is the rail system i used. its 1x1 hot rolled cheap angle iron and i welded 1/4 x 2 inch cold rolled flat stock for the rail.
Im using Ahrens skate rollers. Ill show them in future pics. I have 4 inch wheels and 1-inch rod for levelers.
So far so good. Im a large 32nd off from one side to the other but i dont think thats gonna make a difference. Ill try to keep this post current as i work on things. Im trying to make my gear reduction box for the rack and pinion. Rack will go in the center of the 2x4. All I can do is mess it up.

[FandZ]

Man the machine looks bigger than your tracker. What you plan on making? Also does the foam quite it down a lot? When you tap on the side is it just a dull thud?

[oldhack]

Its not that much bigger than a sheet of plywood.I will be able to do over sized 4x8 sheet goods. (49x97 etc) Im not sure what ill do with it. Maybe rubber stamps/foam/signage/trophies/cabinets/musical instruments/toys etc. who knows, but it will be a destination to look forward to.
Yes its a dull thud instead of a pipe ringing echo.

[FandZ]

I look forward to your progress. I'm designing my next cnc and I may just have to use your foam technique on it

[oldhack]

very cheap insulating foam (3 us dollars) for filling cracks. It took 2 cans per 10ft .

[oldhack]

Heres a pic of my rack in place. . It a 1/2/ inch away from the frame. Anybody do it this way before? I couldnt find anything when searching. Will it twist without support behind it or should I fix it?

[ahren]

That's quite a beast of a machine! Very clever with the foam. I definitely should have done something like that for my initial test videos of my new R&P setup (or at least covered the mic It also looks like you have a good span on the rollers -- should be a really stout machine.

I'd love to see some pictures of your gear reduction. What motors are you planning on using?

Ahren
www.cncrouterparts.com

[oldhack]

Originally Posted by ahren That's quite a beast of a machine! Very clever with the foam. I definitely should have done something like that for my initial test videos of my new R&P setup (or at least covered the mic It also looks like you have a good span on the rollers -- should be a really stout machine. I'd love to see some pictures of your gear reduction. What motors are you planning on using? Ahren www.cncrouterparts.com

Well im back
here are some pics of my progress. Ahren, im using your rollers and their rolling fine they are 10 inches apart. keling 640oz 4 wire 4amp with a 3:1 gear reduction.heres the pieces of the gear box. and you know those bearing blocks are not all square! so I had to shim some of them to make them work. Im using xl gears 20 /60 tooth gears/20tooth pinion and 80 tooth xl belt from belt palace .

[oldhack]

so heres the gantry side. You can see what I started with and what I ended up with. We have lots of alum scrap, so that saves me a bunch of money. And to think I started with Joes 4X4 plan and this is what it looks like now. If it wasnt for Joes plans, I never would have attempted this. His plans are so simple to understand, that even a dummy like me figured it out.(grin)
The top bridge is 10inches wide and on top of that will be a 4x6 aluminum tube which ill arrange all the z-slide stuff. If I dont screw it up. Im making this up as I go and so far nothing has fallen off!!!(grin) Next msg is about the z slide and some parts I found.

[oldhack]

Here is where I really dont understand the concept of a backlash nut. I found these parts at work. Its a 10 per inch screw with a backlash nut i think. I just dont know how Im going to use them and what parts i need to make them work. Ive seen a few pics of z slides using this springy type nut but nothing definite or clear enough for these ole' eyes to discern. Anybody know which side is up or a way i can use these? I assume the nut has to be screwed to something. If you have a pic, id like to see it.

[FandZ]

Originally Posted by oldhack Here is where I really dont understand the concept of a backlash nut. I found these parts at work. Its a 10 per inch screw with a backlash nut i think. I just dont know how Im going to use them and what parts i need to make them work. Ive seen a few pics of z slides using this springy type nut but nothing definite or clear enough for these ole' eyes to discern. Anybody know which side is up or a way i can use these? I assume the nut has to be screwed to something. If you have a pic, id like to see it.

Glad to see you making progress on your best.

I haven't seen one of those anti-backlash nuts before, but that doesn't mean much coming from me. I would think the threaded side would be the bottom on a Z axes. Run it through a bearing block on the bottom and use a nut to hold it on tight. You could then use the top non threaded side with a another bearing block and a coupler to connect it to your stepper. Best I can come up with on the spot. Hopefully someone else can give you some better ideas.

[ger21]

The nut's usually screw into a flange that can be bolted in place.

http://cgi.ebay.com/15-16-16-RH-Flan...d=p3286.c0.m14

http://www.roton.com/Flange.aspx?line=Recirculating