Build Thread- another 80/20 build question

[Drools]

My router has been working for a few months, nothing really wrong with the way is it working but I am thinking of upgrading the X-axis to FineLines CRP102-00 rollers and the FLA102-01 rails. Below is a picture of my router's DIY slide using skate bearings and 1/4"x1" AL angle. I want to remove the 1" round bar stock and bolt the flat-bar (FLA102-01) to the bottom of the frame. I was thinking one CRP102-00 per side. I can get the cold rolled 1/4"x2" bar stock for 3.50 per foot and I just need to drill the holes. I wonder if I can reuse my skate bearings on the FineLine slides, are they standard bearings?
Is my plan a sound one? Any comments...

[otto_pjm]

I'm not sure you could re-use them. If you look here.
http://www.cncrouterparts.com/produc...products_id=33

I think you'll see the carriages, and I believe you can buy just the bearings as well. Check out the sizes and see if they'd work. I haven't seen the carriages without bearings for sale, but it's possible. I'm looking at doing something similar.

The steel sounds pretty spendy. These are my local guys
http://www.midweststeelsupply.com/store/
they have the Cold Rolled 1/4 x 2" for 1.80 or so a foot, depends on how long you want it, I often find the "cut" charge tends to cost more than the material I want. I'd shop around on the Cold Rolled Steel, but I think it's a good plan. I want to be rid of my rollers too!

Good luck.

Pete

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by otto_pjm I'm not sure you could re-use them. If you look here. http://www.cncrouterparts.com/produc...products_id=33 I think you'll see the carriages, and I believe you can buy just the bearings as well. Check out the sizes and see if they'd work. I haven't seen the carriages without bearings for sale, but it's possible. I'm looking at doing something similar. The steel sounds pretty spendy. These are my local guys http://www.midweststeelsupply.com/store/ they have the Cold Rolled 1/4 x 2" for 1.80 or so a foot, depends on how long you want it, I often find the "cut" charge tends to cost more than the material I want. I'd shop around on the Cold Rolled Steel, but I think it's a good plan. I want to be rid of my rollers too! Good luck. Pete

Metal Express has no minimum order and no cutting charges. I've also used Speedy Metals a couple of times for my rails. Steel prices change daily and sometimes there is no cut charge if you buy the standard lengths they list. UPS will also jack up the shipping charges for anything over 59".

CarveOne

[Drools]

I was hoping Aren might see this thread and make a comment. I think there is enough 80/20 builds to have its own area. I'm not sure why the price of steel is so much here, maybe it is dure to our local steel plant where we make the stuff (Algoma (Essar) Steel)
I have done the drawings with the FL bearings and they do fit but I was just making sure that one per side would be good enough. I have seen some builds using 2 per X-axis. I would really like to reuse my bearings if its possible.

[otto_pjm]

Drools,

I've seen both single and dual trucks per side as well, it depends on what you are doing and how long the axis is. This is on your gantry right. You might want to consider the shorter carriages, I believe you are looking at the extended. On the cncrouterparts site you can down load pdf and dxf files with all the dimensions, you should be able to size the bearings there.

CarveOne, can speak much more knowledgeably about using them as he did a build, actually rebuild if I'm not mistaken, with them. Check out his build thread, it's incredibly detailed and very helpful.

CarveOne's Work Table CNC Router Build

Pete

[Drools]

Hi Pete, actually I want to do both eventually but it is the X-axis (long axis) which is about 40" long with a usable travel of about 30" which I want to do first.
Here is my build thread. Everything is the same except for the Z-axis which now uses THK SHS15V bearings.
moving along

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by otto_pjm Drools, I've seen both single and dual trucks per side as well, it depends on what you are doing and how long the axis is. This is on your gantry right. You might want to consider the shorter carriages, I believe you are looking at the extended. On the cncrouterparts site you can down load pdf and dxf files with all the dimensions, you should be able to size the bearings there. CarveOne, can speak much more knowledgeably about using them as he did a build, actually rebuild if I'm not mistaken, with them. Check out his build thread, it's incredibly detailed and very helpful. CarveOne's Work Table CNC Router Build Pete

Ahren's design uses the shorter carriages, two on each horizontally oriented rail. Mine uses two of the longer carriages on each vertically oriented X axis rail, two of the shorter carriages on the Y axis vertically oriented rail, and two of the shorter carriages on the Z axis rail. Ahren actually recommended using the shorter carriages for my X axis rails, but neither of us (at that time) expected the gantry to weigh around 100+ pounds. I'm now glad that I went with the longer carriages in spite of losing a few inches of travel.

In my case, the lower carriage serves to prevent gantry lifting during the plunge cuts. The more weight I pile onto the gantry, the less this carriage is needed. A shorter carriage would work just as well in this regard and I considered doing that back when I ordered the carriages.

Then Ahren came out with the pinion drives and I just had to have those too. Sigh, it never ends does it? (He's probably in his shop today cooking up something else I just have to have.)

CarveOne

[Drools]

I just asked Nate for a quote for the longer carriages with and without bearings. As well I ordered the steel @ slightly over 2.00CAD per ft. I was looking for information on the steel, hole size, how far apart and how far from the edge, 1/4" x 2" flat bar.
CarveOne, you upgraded to the R&P what did you do with the original carriages? Are you selling them?

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by Drools I just asked Nate for a quote for the longer carriages with and without bearings. As well I ordered the steel @ slightly over 2.00CAD per ft. I was looking for information on the steel, hole size, how far apart and how far from the edge, 1/4" x 2" flat bar. CarveOne, you upgraded to the R&P what did you do with the original carriages? Are you selling them?

I'm still using the carriages. They are not affected by removing the lead screw drive and installing the R&P drive upgrade. CarveOne

[Drools]

ya I see, the R&P replace the screws not the slides. Sorry I had a dark moment.

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by Drools ya I see, the R&P replace the screws not the slides. Sorry I had a dark moment.

Maybe not. I think that in some situations the pivot bolt is connected to one of the extended carriage holes. My mounting scheme uses a plate that connects the upper and lower carriage together, and I put a threaded hole higher up on gantry support tube for the pivot bolt instead.

CarveOne