Plate Maker V-slot Table

I decided to upgrade my original c-beam plate maker to a "T" slot type bed system using scrap pieces of 20x20 , 20x40 , and 20x60 V-Slot and some aluminum plate off cuts.

I started by gathering what parts I thought I would need to get started.



As I went though all of my 1/4" (6.35mm) 6061 off cuts. I found two pieces that would be perfect for this task a 6"x8" plate and a 12"x12" plate.

Around the same time I began this upgrade project I started to notice a number of folks ask how can custom plates be made when you do not have access to a cnc to build your cnc! The smaller of the two plates will make for a excellent example of what can be down with a very limited set of tools.

Check out my video on the manufacture of Aluminum plates without a cnc





With the smaller plate taken care of we can now turn our attention to the V-slot extrusion. We need each length to be 12" long but more importantly each needs to be the same length.





The larger of the two plates, the 12" unit. Was made in much the same fashion as the smaller of the two. However given the plate is larger then a standard sheet of paper and only requires a simple layout no template is needed. Take the smaller plate and center it on top of the larger plate, transfer the eight mounting holes! I like to mark , drill , tap and bolt two corners before marking all eight. Finish by drilling and taping the holes to a M5 thread.

To layout the large number of 5mm holes that are used to secure the V-slot to the larger aluminum plate mark out three lines. One in the center and one on each side about 15mm in from the edge. In the opposite direction measure in 10mm from the edge and layout another line and then repeat from that line fourteen additional lines 20mm apart. Taking the time to properly layout your lines on your plate will guarantee perfect alignment with the V-slot channel. This can be followed by center punching and drilling out all 45 holes

Now to test fit the two plates and check for alignment. We use 9mm aluminum spacers between the two plates to give us just a little extra clearance.



The rest of the assembly process is much the same as the original plate maker build. Gather your parts.



And begin the rebuild process, depending on if you are rebuilding your whole machine as I am doing or only a table upgrade. This can be a total rebuild or a simple Y-axis reinstall. A complete tear down of your machine is not needed to upgrade your Y-axis to a aluminum table.

With this new table assembly you want to mount your Y-axis back a additional 20mm on the center most V-slot "slot" on the base front 20x60. taking the extra step to do this will give us over 12" x 12" of cutting volume without having to order more C-beam. The table is also much more stiff on the outside edges thanks to the all aluminum construction.

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