Good start Colin,   you will need to get all around your machine as you build it - something I learnt the hard way!
Alex.

 

Hi Colin, have you adjusted the eccentrics for maximum clearance - 6mm mark to the outside. Mine felt a bit tight to start with - the C beam moved OK, but I didn't have to adjust the eccentrics to take up any play. They will "bed in" after a while and then need adjusting. Did mine today after about 24 hours running.
Check your anti backlash nuts are not too tight, fix your leadscrew in a portable drill chuck and run it back and forth several times. I use a silicon lubricant spray on my leadscrews, but the Teflon I think MG recommends would work as well. Don't fully tighten your anti backlash nuts until the leadscrew is running OK. It should be quite stiff to turn by hand.
Alex.

 

Like I said, I use a silicon spray lubricant I get from Toolstation. Screwfix do a WD40 silicon spray (not to be confused with WD40 oily stuff) 86394. You could get Teflon spray from Rapid Electronics - they have an Ebay shop.
Alex.

 

Should do fine Colin.
Alex.

 

Just to undo the confusion I caused: on the Y gantry of the workbee I shouldn't have used the term "anti backlash nut" - the workbee uses two separate blocks which need to be gently held together to take up any backlash (tighten one to the gantry plate, squeeze blocks gently together, tighten second)
Alex.

 

Hi Colin, very best of luck with your build, I'm sure that you will find Ooznest a great company to deal with, should you get into trouble that can't be answered here.
Spotted from your images that you pushed the boat out and purchased some Vectric software? This will prove to be a wise investment, again from company who offer really good support if you ever need it.

 

Yes indeed, I broke the printed mounting bracket for the Y drag chain yesterday, contacted Oozenest expecting to pay for a replacement to be told that a replacement will be put in the post today. That's what I call customer service.
Alex.

 

Hi @Colin Mccourt your delivery has arrived ahead mine I can learn from your build .

One question, your nice looking spoiler board - did you make it?

Keep the build updates coming

 

I am looking forward to following this build and hearing your feedback Any issues give us a shout of [email protected] to get it sorted.

Ryan

 

Hi Colin, when a leadscrew turns in one direction the thread presses against the thread in the nut. When it starts to turn in the other direction it will turn slightly before it presses against the nut again - backlash. An anti backlash nut is effectively two nuts - you can adjust the distance between them so that there is no play in the leadscrew. On your Y gantry there are literally two nuts held the right distance apart by the gantry plate - once your leadscrew is running OK tighten one to the gantry plate, squeeze the nuts together gently then tighten the second to the gantry plate. On your Z axis you have a nut with a slot in it - you can adjust the width of the slot with a screw. It needs very little adjustment. When the nut is new it needs virtually no adjustment (mine needed none) - as the nut wears you may need to use the screw to remove any play in the leadscrew.
Apologies if this is teaching my grandmother to suck eggs - I didn't want to miss anything out.
Alex.

 

The Z axis adjusting screw is accessible (just) although a longer than average Allen key will probably help. The locknut for it is not unless you make yourself a right angled spanner. Ryan at Oozenest says they haven't found a need for the locknut. Given the vibration from the router I have my doubts about that - time will tell.
Alex.
PS unless the locknut is tightened the vibration from the router will cause it to travel up the screw and fall off. (I've left mine off for now)

 

Hi Colin, don't forget the Z axis limit switch, and get the next X axis plate the right way round for its wire (I didn't).
Alex.

 

You need to fit the Z axis limit switch while assembling the X axis plates - it's an absolute bugger to fit later.
Alex.

 

It's only the Z axis limit switch at this stage - it is fitted in the middle of the X gantry plates you are assembling at the moment.
Alex.

 

Back it off until you've got the leadscrew in and running OK. You will probably find that there is no detectable backlash with a new nut and you won't need to adjust this until the nut starts to wear. If you leave it with the adjusting screw tightened then you will be forcing the leadscrew through the thread in the nut - it will be very hard to do and you could cause some damage to the nut.
Alex.