Offset Rail Idea.

[georgeburns]

Just got my X axis rails in. Had fun sliding them back and forth like a kid on Christmas Morning.

I placed them on the workbench offset to one another and had an idea.



The above image shows the rails offset to one another with the pillow blocks offset as well.

I'm thinking... this gets maximum length usage of the rails as well as helping to prevent sag in the future if it should occur due to the weight of the router.

Does anybody see any drawbacks of this design?

[harryn]

That is a clever idea. If I am looking at it right, the rails are set so the pillow block slide part will extend past the uprights - motion not limited by the Z mount block.

It is not going to save you if the rails are not supported (sag will still be way too much for unsupported rail).

Maybe you can tell us a little more about exactly what rail / slide arrangement you have in mind. Those linear bearings vary a lot in capability.

[ger21]

Does anybody see any drawbacks of this design?

Depending on what you're mounting the blocks to, it may allow some flexing or twisting.

And just a note. Images on Imageshack take forever to load, and bring popups along with them. Quite irritating.

[georgeburns]

Sorry about the imageshack...didn't know it brought popups with it.

Yes, the blocks slide past the uprights. I'm using Thompson 1" linear rods with some nice bearing pillow blocks. Not even sure if sag is going to be an issue.

As far as flexing and twisting... I'm planning to use some sort of steel plate or angle reinforced plywood or MDF.