X Axis - gas pipe/bearings - who sells?

[Jerry In Maine]

a couple years ago i built a cnc wood router that worked well enough to get me some work with a local cabinet shop doing routine tasks like cutting recesses for lock sets and engraving designs on doors. only trouble was that it was too short for some of the jobs they wanted me to do, so i disassembled it with the intent of increasing the X axis length...then before i could rebuild a series of life events occurred that put the machine on a back burner until recently. now that hings have settled down and i'd like to get started again.

the first X axis set up was carriages using skate bearings bolted to alum angle rolling on black iron gas pipe. X length then was 3'. this worked well, but the carriages were a pain to adjust and would need tweaking every few jobs.

i remember wishing that someone made a nice tight carriage assembly that i purchase. i've been out of the hobby for awhile and wondered if anyone was making something like this now at a reasonable price. i want the new X length to be about 5'.

I'm hunting now but figured i'd ask here to increase my odds of finding something. if not its back to the alum angle and skate bearings.

thanks

[RossMosh]

Look at the CNCRouterParts stuff. It's not exactly what you're talking about but for not a lot more money it might be a wiser direction.

You can also look into using Joe's CNC's rail system. It's another popular, but cost effective machine design.

One other thing to throw out would be using something like these: Glacern Machine Tools - Linear Rails and Bearings. Definitely more costly, but since you're making money from the CNC machine, it would probably be wise to design a better machine.

Otherwise: Bearing Trials~Solsylva CNC Plans Should be what you're looking for as far as using black pipe.

[Jerry In Maine]

thanks ross!

i took a look at those glacern linear bearings and rails and they're scratching me right where i itch.

[RossMosh]

thanks ross!

i took a look at those glacern linear bearings and rails and they're scratching me right where i itch.

I'd seriously look into the CNCRouterParts stuff as well. It's very affordable and it's a complete system. With the Glacern SBR, it's a good bit more work to get everything going.

The Prototyper: 4x8, 8020, cncrouterparts

MountainCrafts Router/Plasma Build Thread

Also building a CRP4848

CRP full 4x4 kit by Euro3D

CRP 4x4

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/open_s...nc_router.html

[Jerry In Maine]

yes, i'll take a look at other options. i have the y & z axis all ready to go - just need to get the x going and i'll be routing wood again.

thanks for the links...good concise info.