I agree about the video. It’s very well done. I did notice I have a dip in my table so I’m going to address that first but it worries me that the vertical supports bow out so much. It seems like it would put a lot of tension on the wheel / bracket assembly. That’s a good idea about the caliper between the two c beams. I’ll try that too. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

Thanks for replying. I measured most everything but I didn’t check that they were all square. I’ll have to do that.

 

Pretty certain this is caused by an inwards bow in the table. Mine is constructed similar to yours with a .75 MDF top. If your table is square like mine (69.25" X 69.25") try rotating your machine 90degrees on the table and checking for square again. If it's worse or better you'll know if it's the table. I also have a small gap on the t-track cross braces that obviously shows the table is bowed. I thought I over built the table like I do most things but I guess not.

 

Just bought a 72” level so I can rebuild my table.

 

You looking over my shoulder? Lol. I’m literally watching a video on torsion box design right now. I bought a 6’ level and noticed my 2x4’s were off and bowed almost a 1/4 of an inch so I’m going to try joining them first before a torsion box. Plywood is insane these days.

 

I rebuilt/modified my table to what is essentially a torsion box. There's a gap you can barely fit a piece of paper in and I'll call that good. However, I still have the same out of square on my gantry. Not sure how I didn't measure this before but I measured the lowest part of the gantry face 58 15/16" then the very top face where it was unobstructed and got 59 1/8". So there's definitely a 'V' like the video. I have the high z mod so mine's exaggerated but it's probably the same as Mark's.

 

Thank you for the detailed response, Giarc. Using your instruction I was able to square the machine and square the upright 20x80 beams. There is about .142" of overhang or I guess excess on the X C beams but they're now parallel.

Would the same methodology apply for squaring the Y axis as making the X C beams parallel? The top X C beam won't move so I can loosen the lower, move the carriage to either side, measure and repeat. Or snug one side down then move carriage to the other?

Thanks again for all the help, you guys are great.

 

I just made a new video and came to the same conclusion. The gantry supports cannot be square to the gantry if the ends are flush as directed in the instructional video. I can either let it overhang like you did or get 1.5mm spacers added to the bolts on both sides with the vwheel plates.

 

Mark, if you measure at 27 seconds in your video to the other side like you mentioned do you get 58 15/16" or real close? I don't have a metric tape. I think just leaving an overhang would yield the same result as putting spacers all over, plus you don't have to take the thing apart.

 

Exactly 58 15/16”.

 

I sent Openbuilds an email. They need to up the spacer thickness by 1.5mm on both sides.

 

You see spacing it at the bottom to be more advantageous than having excess overhang at the top? I'm definitely no expert in this area!

 

I’m going to let the excess overhang. The build video should be changed to reflect that though.

 

What is new on the recently uploaded Mechanical LEAD 1515 video? It still appears to show the two X C beams to be flush with no overhang. The squaring section is only a few seconds long with a note but I don't recall if this was in the original video.

 

Where are all the videos of builders using this wonderful kit. I'm interested in seeing it perform to test the limits using soft and hard woods along with aluminum.

 

Thanks for the pictures, Brian that looks great so far. I can't help but notice your shop! Nice equipment and all that space! Looking forward to seeing the projects you'll be putting out.

 

Thanks Rhett - I just finished building this shop at my new house. All my tools have been in storage for the past year, so I'm really excited about being able to work on all the projects I've been thinking of for all year. The problem is knowing where to start!

 

Excellent work! I finished mine up this morning and got the cnc off the floor, on the table and wasteboards added. If you’re in the Facebook group I posted a video of how I did wasteboard and tracks for hold downs. Next is figuring out an enclosure or a muffler for the router.

 

Awesome Mark, that had to feel good to get that thing off the floor. I didn't even know there was a Facebook group, so I just went on and asked to join the group! Really looking forward to seeing your spoil board and how you are doing your hold downs.

 

My use case is pretty specific - I’m an art professor and make multi layered 1/4” mdf pieces that are painted and glued together. I’ve designed some clamps that fit the mdf and those t tracks just right. If you’re on Instagram you can see my work and more of my progress @markmcleod50

 

I saw your setup on the Facebook group. I like how you used the built in rails as t track. Out of curiosity, how long is it taking people to receive their machines? I ordered mine a week ago and haven't heard anything.

 

I think it was about 3 weeks for mine. They package everything really well - like get an extra trash bag ready for all the tape and wrap and little bags they use.

 

Oh wow, that is much longer than I would have expected! I'm glad I asked! Thanks for the info Mark. I can't wait to get this thing up and running.

 

I already got my machine yesterday! I started the build as well. I'm at the point where I'm assembling the frame. I skipped ahead to see how the spoiler board attaches, and it seems like it would really suck to add the spoiler board after you have built the entire machine. Is there any reason why you wouldn't just flip the frame upside down and attach the spoiler board before continuing to add the gantry and the rest of it? I also don't really love the entire spoiler board mounting idea - in order to replace your spoiler board you'll have to get underneath it. Mark had a good idea for that but I'm wondering if anyone else had any other good ideas for how to accomplish this.