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Where to get the 2020 style bed T-slot?

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by codysmith105, Jul 28, 2020.

  1. codysmith105

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    3QuarterView.jpg

    I'm sorry, I don't know what this is called but I'm looking for this style of CNC bed slotting.
     
  2. Gary Caruso

    Gary Caruso OpenBuilds Volunteer
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    Something like this? Wish Openbuilds carried it!, it's hard to find. Probably cheaper to use 2080 from Openbuilds.
    Gary
     
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  3. codysmith105

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    Thanks Gary,

    So backstory time! I bought a SMW3D R7 kit from a guy on Craigslist for $650. It's an OK kit, and a darn good price but I'm very unhappy with the bed among other things. I have a bunch of 2020 and hardware laying around from another 3D printer monstrosity I bought from someone else on CL a year ago and ended up parting.

    IMG_20190719_183653.jpg

    I'm looking to take what I have, the kit, the 2020, the 2020 hardware and buy a few components and if need be fabricate a few plates to get something more like this. I work at Google and am on the tail end of a move so my time is extremely limited ATM but this is something that I intend to get to. I am very good with Fusion 360 and already have the CNC CAD imported. I have a friend with a Tormach and Google has maker-spaces with toys that I unfortunately cannot access ATM because of the pandemic including CNCs and manual machines.

    I think I want to redesign all the custom plates for the R7 to meet my needs and design a base with T-Slots for material hold-downs and later a vacuum holding system. I also want to address a simple coolant system, even if it's a basic mister.

    I don't know if the wheels of the V-Rail will work out for me. I have a small collection of linear slides but redesigning this to use them would be so much work I'd rather just roll a machine from scratch. I intend to do this later this year and am OK if this R7 based machine ends up being a B machine to do wood and foam and plastics but ideally I'd like to be able to do 6061 jobs on it in the meantime.

    I also have a Nomad 883 Pro which can barely do aluminum. I have been experimenting with more powerful spindle motors for it and think I will soon be at a reasonable place with that. Long story short, the big-*** motor I tried to use didn't work well enough for my needs there so I settled for the middle of the range one that will integrate with the existing electronics much easier. That machine is 8" x 8" bed with ever so slightly more travel so if I can keep the new plates under that size and use a small endmill and go painfully slow I can probably fab plates myself out of 1/4" or 1/2" 6061 pre-cut plates. The tool quality stuff that isn't bent out the gate.

    Still thinking through exactly how to attach the side C-chans to the base. I assume the front and back plates can be extended to bolt to the sides of some additional 2020. Not sure about the center beams though
     
    #3 codysmith105, Jul 28, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
  4. JustinTime

    JustinTime Veteran
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    That is a 3d printer??? For a moment I thought it was a CT Scanner for people! :D :D
    My printer will fit nicely in the corner of this machine and you wouldn't even notice it's there. :)
     
  5. codysmith105

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    This is my Ultimaker 2 completely within the printable area of that thing:

    IMG_20190717_000025.jpg
     
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  6. codysmith105

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    So I'm kicking around two options, the first is to use a bunch of 2080 V-Rail to make a bed, which I know will need bracing underneath to get decent rigidity, here's the (incomplete) CAD for that:

    Screen Shot 2020-07-31 at 2.40.22 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2020-07-31 at 2.40.35 PM.png

    The second option I'm thinking about uses these: Flat Aluminum Extrusions -No Shoulder- -Slot Width 8mm- | MISUMI | MISUMI I'm considering using only three of these to create a bed. I don't need wall to wall T-Slots. Having said that I'm unsure what to do between them. Maybe MDF cutouts or solid aluminum plates?

    Screen Shot 2020-07-31 at 2.42.54 PM.png

    Like the first option I would have to create custom front and back plates, and an underframe to get the rigidity.

    Looking for feedback as I've never done this before.
     
  7. JustinTime

    JustinTime Veteran
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    This is my personal opinion and YMMV.

    I don't think you'll need that much support for the MDF. The MDF is quite rigid. Three or four 20x20, or maybe 20x40, depending on the overall length of Y axis would be plenty rigid. Then put a 20x20 under each of the Y axis rails and one in the middle and you'll have no sag and it will be rigid.

    Just my $0.02
     
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  8. Corey Corbin

    Corey Corbin Well-Known
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  9. codysmith105

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    Thanks Justin and Corey. I won't always have the MDF on the machine, sometimes it'll be aluminum sheet almost directly on the bed.
     
  10. JustinTime

    JustinTime Veteran
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    If you do that make sure you don't cut all the way through the material or you'll damage the bed. The MDF is there to prevent exactly this scenario.
     
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