New Machine Build- Some questions for a new build

[cncneame]

Hello everyone! I've been lurking on the forums for a while and I've finally started assembling my own machine for some light woodworking. (allthread leadscrews, a 20' by 30' gantry-style made of MDF.) I've got a few questions that hopefully aren't totally outlandish:

A. I've picked up the probotix 3-axis kit and it suggests placing fuses in the power connection before the driver for each axis. I've picked up and wired up the fuse holders, but I'm not sure I picked up the right strength fuses. How do you determine what is appropriate?

The power supply is 24V, the drivers say they support 0.5 - 3 amps, and the stepper motors are Nema 23, 168 oz/in. I have some 3-Amp fuses, Slow-blow. Are these ok or do I need more safety margin? What parameters would be key in picking something else?

B. Is there any benefit to putting some sort of heat sink on the stepper motors? Heat of the steppers seems to be a concern, and I've seen lots of people using sections of steel or aluminum square as motor mounts - is this partly to use them as heat sinks?

C. What kind of lubricant should I be using on allthread leadscrews? I've seen suggestions of white graphite and bike chain oil - is there any one that's better than others? If I'm doing woodworking, is it necessary to keep sawdust off the leadscrews?

many thanks!

[ger21]

A. I'd contact Probotix and ask them.

B. It's unlikely they'll get very hot running on 24V. I wouldn't worry about it.

C. You might need to try different lubrication to find what works best for you.

If you get a lot of dust building up, it could cause binding in the nuts. What nuts are you using?


Be aware that an allthread machine will be painfully slow. If you plan on using the machine a lot, you'll probably want to upgrade to acme rather quickly.