cncrouterparts.com carriages on MDF

[Drools]

Has anyone gone this route? If you have can you include some pictures or a link to some pictures I would really appreciate it? Bolting the CRS to MDF and keeping the MDF from deforming is a major concern.

Thanks

[CarveOne]

Has anyone gone this route? If you have can you include some pictures or a link to some pictures I would really appreciate it? Bolting the CRS to MDF and keeping the MDF from deforming is a major concern.

Thanks

I think it can be done on the smaller machines under 3'x3' if aluminum plates are embedded in pockets in the MDF using epoxy glue. The plates would give a harder surface to bolt the carriages to, but make the plates considerably wider than the carriages to help spread the loads. Bolts that need to go through the MDF and through the plates and into the carriages would need a second plate on the other side of the MDF for the same reason. 1/8" thick plates may be enough thickness. I don't think I would want to use this idea on a very heavy gantry. The pockets can be cut with a router and a homemade template. Use 30 minute or 60 minute epoxy. Clean the plate with acetone, and scratch up the side to be glued with 80 grit sand paper.

The only way to find out how well it will work is to build it and see how well it holds up with time. Try it on a scrap piece of MDF and mount a carriage to it to see how stiff it is and how easily it will crush when bolts are tightened. You could even add some 1/2" thick aluminum spacers between the plates to prevent the potential for crushing.

CarveOne

[Joe Cleary]

Why not use some large steel washers? Or even washers on one side and steel angle on the other?