New Machine Build- Well, I've finally started my TM 1 Build.

[Shapenfab]

Hello Everyone, I am finally into my TM 1 build. I got started last week in between work, and now wish I cold get a block of time, with some warm weather to bring it up to actuall running status. This being the first time that I have ever been around, or tried to build a precision machine of any kind, ( I am a structural steel fabricator and welder for the past 27 years), and used to working within tolerances of 1/16" this is all really fun and head scratching at the same time. As I work my way through this thing I have spent almost as much time questioning how things go together and the end results that I am looking for, as actually fitting and welding things together. As you get into one of these things you can really understand the reasoning behind making these machines out of extrusons and not your standard steel mill products like tubing, flat bars, and cold rolled shapes. The close tolerances just arn't there, at least not for a machine that you would want to keep within .000 of an inch tolerences. But no matter, for the kind of things that I will want to do with it, it will be just fine, and make cutting standard structural parts fun and productive in the process. It hopefully will be my stepping stone into the whole cnc tool thing. I am going to first set it up for oxy-fuel use as that is all I do right now and then eventually try to get my Cutmaster XL 80 plasma runnin with it.
Blackhollowmfg's TM 1 build log has provided me with a large amount of helpfull info all the way along, and the pictures he provided online are invaluable. Thanks again Blackhollow.
Some of the things that I am going to need to do now are.

Square the gantry (y axis) travel with the table (x axis) by using shims so as to keep the 1" cam followers running straight the full length of the table, 12' plus. I've got a good shim pack from Grainger that will work fine.

Set the proper gear lash between the drive gears and the racks. This I will just have to experiment with till all runs smooth the full length of the table.

I ordered a couple more brackets to install 4 more cam followers onto the y axis trolley for reinforcement, I just think it will be stronger that way.

I am going to have a water pan broke up for the table that will be 12'-2" long, by 5'-8" wide, by 6" deep. I will run three lengths of inverted 2x2" angle the full length of the pan 12'-2",one on eather side and one down the middle to support the 1/4" by 3" flat bars that will run across the width of the table at a 30 degree angle. These will be set at probably a 4" to 6" spacing for the actual material to set on. This will give me aproximatly a 5" deep water table if i bring the water level up to just under the material that will be cut. I wish I knew how to illustrate this for you and attatch it buy I don't. Sorry. Here are a few picts so far, please jump in with any questions or suggestions, besause I'm open to anything that will make this better. Thanks

By the way, Torchmate has been very helpfull all the way along, anytime that I had a question on something.

[DRL]

Great job so far. Thanks for sharing your build we us. Wish I was a little closer, (Vancouver WA area here), I would volunteer to help for the education.
Keep the pixs coming.
DRL

[DRL]

Well, I'll try again. Posted this reply couple of hours ago and now its gone.
Great job so far. Thanks for taking us along on your build. I wish I was closer (Vancouver WA area here), I'd volunteer to help as the TM 1 is what I've had my eye on.
Keep the pixs coming.
DRL

[millman52]

looks like you are off to a good start. Keep us posted on the progress.

[PlasmaGuy]

Shapenfab,

I have owned a TM1 for 8 years now. I would HIGHLY suggest you follow Blackholes method of improving the y-axis. Cam followers are mariginal at best.

I have to continually clean and adjust mine rig. You are at a point that is perfect for making this improvement. Had someone made this suggestion years ago I would have jumped at it.

TM uses cam followers to keep their price affordable IMO.

I made this suggestion to Blackhole and he followed it and has been well satisfied as far a I know.

Best of luck on your build!

Tom

[millman52]

Yeah I gave Blackhollow a few suggestions on working out other issues in the conversion. I have talked with him a couple times off list he seems pretty satisfied with his table.

I am fairly positive even Mike form TM suggested to someone here on list that they follow Blackhollow's improvement(s).

I agree that most likely TM is still supplying them that way as a entry level cost leader with the cam followers. They will work but there will be constant tinkering with them.

[Shapenfab]

Thanks for all the input everybody, I think the Hiwin's linear slides that Blackhollow installed really look like the ticket, and I will probably do that in the future but for right now I'm just gona try and find the time to finish things to the point that I can actually run it. At present I dont own a mill so really dont have a precise way to drill all of the holes that would be necessary to attatch the rail to the top of the cold roll bar. I will try and get more pictures over the next few days.
Between maintaining my work equipment on the weekends and work itself I can't seem to get an extra minute to finish this and get it running. But Thanks again .......

[plain ol Bill]

Guess I missed something somewhere guys. Could some one put up a link to the improvements by Blackhollow if you could. Thanks --

[millman52]

Originally Posted by plain ol Bill Guess I missed something somewhere guys. Could some one put up a link to the improvements by Blackhollow if you could. Thanks --

Bill,
My Torchmate 1 build log post # 31 is where discussion begins on adding a linear slide to the Y axis

[Mike@Torchmate]

Well you can put it this way, there is a reason every other table we use runs the Y axis with an slide and cassette.

Anything I can do to help, let me know.

[Shapenfab]

Well I'm getting close now everyone. I now have the table set in place and all leveled up. I'm just waiting for the water pan to get broken up, and then it will get the angle and flat bars for supporting the material. I was working at setting the gearlash on the main X axis rack today and was flustrated with how hard it was to carefully move the bracket up or down without having it just drop into the rack. Even with the 5/16" bolts just snug it was hard to adjust the drive gear up and down. I made a little 1/4" by 1" Flatbar bracket,and drilled and taped it for a 10X32 screw to adjust the up down movement of the bracket. It works perfectly. With the bolts just snug you can fine tune the drive gear bracket up or down and be in full controll the whole time. I also tacked a 3" piece of 1/4"X1/4" square bar along the back edge of the bracket so it will slide up and down without rocking while adjusting things.I'm sure this will come in handy when I inevitabley have to fine tune it in the future. I think the pictures will be self'explanitory. I mounted the Bugo torch mount to one side of the trolly so that in the future I can mount the plazma torch holder on the other side.
I loaded all the software on both computers tonight and hope to actually get things hooked up tomorrow for a trial run around the table. I will let you know how things go tomorrow. Thanks

[PlasmaGuy]

Your vertical adjustment assembly is nice!

Tom