Having built the standard C-Beam Plate Maker back in October I found that I needed a larger size machine. Please review the following videos to see the progress... Still a work in progress, but I run the heck out of it... FredQ
Nice work Fred I am still watching your videos, so it might be in there, but is there an advantage to increasing the x-axis more than increasing the y-axis? Isn't the potential for flexing more so with the x-axis? edit: I think I see why in video #2. It looks rock solid.
TerryOx, Thanks for the interest, expanding the X axis was my best choice. I had tested the c-beam for droop and twist before the mod. I needed more room now and it seemed logical to expand the X first as I needed more length and I have already acquired the beams to eventually convert to a machine like the R7 that SMW3D sells. I will be able to use the current X on the R7 but I need to gain more room in the garage before that project. With this wider machine I can build the plates I need for the R7. Plus I was able to test other ideas I had and still have a machine I can run the Pee out of... FredQ
Fred, your build really has inspired me. I am in the design stages of a machine made to engrave titanium labels. I am thinking about making my machine very similar to yours, but with a 1000mm x axis also. I only need a little more in the x axis. A working area of 18 or 27 inches in the X axis would allow me to run 2 or 3 rows of plates at once. I am currently thinking about using 20x40 or 40x40 linear rail as the frame for the work surface. I will probably set mine up stock to begin with, and then use that to make some reinforcement plates for the larger machine. I was originally considering linear rails under the table, but seeing your weight test leads me to believe that may be unnecessary.
While I did not point it out in the video, I moved the gantry supports forward, 10.5" from front base to allow me to get the full 12" coverage of my plate. It did not give me more travel, just balanced it out. You can cover about 34" on the X axis but I choose to stay at 24". FredQ
I have seen the supported table done three ways. The way you do it with wheels on linear extrusion. Supported with linear rails or slides, or just using 2 c beams actuators. Do you think any of those set ups have any particular advantage over the others? I'm leaning right now towards a double c beam set up, simply because I think it will be the fastest to implement.
I found that the wheels were much faster than the dual c beams. Adding a second build plate to the table and all associated actuator parts would take me much longer that the 6 wheels and 2 plates. And I'm still not convienced that I would not run into problems manually adjust the dual Y axis to "zero". Also, it was very easy to align then vslot supports just add the wheels and place the Vslots under each end and run the table to each extent and they align themselves then just tighten the corner brackets. I'm not a fan of the dual actuators for several personal use reasons but they seem to work for all the OX machine after they work out the bugs. Guess it comes down to personal preference. I may have to go to dual axis when I build the R7 machine but I am working on a single design to try.
I ordered the parts just now, I am going to modify your design just a bit. I read all the comments by you can could find, and watch all your videos. I will be making a build log for it, I hope my build is effective as yours!
Sorry no sketch file as I did all the drilling by hand as the plate is heavy and the edge drilling for the wheels would be difficult to do other wise. The t slot and build plate holes were hand drilled and tapped also. I clamped the t slots to the edge of the plate and used the t slot little center line as a guide. FredQ
Hello @Fred Quarles Just wanted to say what a fantastic job you have done on this Build. Its very impressive and I thank you for sharing it with the community here. Keep up the great work my friend MarkC p.s. Pic added so we can share this build
The gantry plate is available from Chris but the table plate is not We talking about the same item? FredQ
These XLarge C-Beam Gantry Plates look like they would be a perfect fit for the Z/X axis of this Build.
Was going to use the first version plate Chris made for me but your new plate is worth a try. Just ordered one. FredQ
I have the standard plate maker, but need a larger work area for my wooden gear clock frames. My current clock design requires a couple of frame pieces 28" long by 6" high. Turns out that outside quotes to manufacture one set of frame members is about the same cost as upgrading my machine to the larger size. I realized, before running across this posting that extending the X axis (gantry axis) was going to get the best distance. The 0.5" aluminium plate that Fred uses was going to be quite expensive for my size, so I set about deigning the same thing using linear rail pieces, and a couple of 10mm thick end plates. I've maximized the work area in the X direction (at 815mm (32")). The Y axis direction is currently 305mm (12"), but obstructs the stepper motor - losing about 10mm from that 305mm. I should probably correct for that before fabrication, but I think this still gives about the same length of travel as a stock machine. The model is missing a few pieces still; corner brackets and such, but the hard work is pretty much done. I haven't put in those sweet protective wheel covers that Fred has, but I'll get to that. I included an image of my clock model. Jeff
Though I haven't yet requested a quote you should check these out, Techno Aluminum Extrusion Table Plates - perfect for work stations and automated applications requiring aluminum extrusions, t-slotted table plates.
