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C-Beam™ Machine - Plate Maker

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Mark Carew, Jul 16, 2015.

  1. Jim Drago

    Jim Drago New
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    Hi, first post, sorry if it is the wrong place. WAAAY back on the first page of this thread a question was asked about availability of the YZ single plate made in the C Beam intro video. I tried the search function and couldn't find an answer. I am planning my first build and this is appealing to me. If not available can the C Beam Extra Large Gantry Plate be used as a single plate for Y and Z axis. Thanks.
     
  2. Rick 2.0

    Rick 2.0 OpenBuilds Team
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    Yes, that plate was just a demo plate. The CBeam XL Gantry Plate is a much better choice for the intended purpose. Please note you will need 2 CBeam XL plates as they are truly only a single sided plate. You can either set them back to back for both axes to move about the same point or you can firmly attach the vertical Z-axis beam to the X-axis plate and then mount the Z-axis plate to raise and lower the spindle on the Z-axis beam. Check into the Sketchup model located here for a better idea of how it all goes together.
     
  3. Jim Drago

    Jim Drago New
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    Thank you for you quick response, much appreciated...
     
  4. Mike Piechowski

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    @Jim Drago:

    The plate I cut in this post: C-Beam™ Machine - Plate Maker
    was my first attempt at making a "2-sided" plate for the X and Z axis of my C-beam.

    My current Sketchup is attached. It is just a simple line drawing, dimensioned in millimeters.

    My first cut was out of square slightly, but it clamped both c-beams and did allow for smooth motion. My holes were all cut a touch undersized, so I just drilled them out on the drillpress. I suppose I could re-size the holes in the drawing for proper clearance. I did square up my machine, but as yet, I haven't re-cut this piece. I need to get my dust/chip collection in place first, and I really, really need to clean up the wiring.

    I'm happy to share what I've got, but be aware that this is a work in progress, and I am learning as I go, so no guarantees that anything I've done will work for you. I suppose it's not as useful if you don't have a machine to cut the plate for you though...
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Jim Drago

    Jim Drago New
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  6. Jim Drago

    Jim Drago New
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    Hi Mike thanks for the info, I am planning my first build so don't have a way to cut them so I will probably use 2 as described above. Maybe on a future build though.
     
  7. Maxime Favre

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    Hi,
    I'm playing with the grbl settings because my motors are quite noisy, X and especially Y.
    I'm at 1/8 with the xpro v2, nema23 (the "small" ones), pots at 11 o'clock, all "standard" settings. 24v 14.6A PSU only connected to the xpro.
    The grinding noise is during start and stop otherwise I've got a nice bzzzzz during the move. I have pushed the acceleration to 500 it's a bit cleaner (mostly because the acc and dec phase are shorter).
    Hardware seems fine, the axis run smoothly by hand. I tried with the flex couplings unsrewed, it's the same.

    Any ideas ? Try 1/32 ? Xpro is a little short for the nema 23 ?

    I will soon switch to a DQ542MA's + smoothiebrainz combo, hope it'll get better
     
    #1177 Maxime Favre, Jun 21, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2016
  8. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    Have to agree Rick it is the plate we are using on both the new beta larger C-Beam Machine and mill and it works great.
    I have not experienced this with the xPRO but I know that having a fan blowing over the board helps to ensure a smooth operation.
    "I will soon switch to a DQ542MA's + smoothiebrainz combo, hope it'll get better" You will undoubtedly love this set up for any machine :)
     
  9. funkstrong

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    How long do you guys typically wait for orders from the openbuilds store? I placed my order a few days ago and I'm still in the awaiting fulfillment stage. Guessing something I ordered may be out of stock.
     
  10. Jimmybuckets

    Jimmybuckets Well-Known
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    I bought two of the XL gantry plates and one of the double wide gantry plates in the sales. I bought enough large wheels to have a total of 8 on a double xlarge gantry plate...basicly one on each corner, two deep and then use a 8 mini wheels on the double gantry plate for the z. But would I be better off skipping the double plate on the z and using the XL gantry plates back to back on the x and z...only thing is I would only have 4 wheels on x and 4 on the z vs 8 mini wheels on the z with the double plate on z and 8 large wheels with double x XL plates if that makes sense.
     
    #1180 Jimmybuckets, Jun 21, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2016
  11. evilc66

    evilc66 Journeyman
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    If you are making a bigger version of the C-Beam Machine, do us all that have ordered the original kit a solid and offer an upgrade kit ;)
     
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  12. Rick 2.0

    Rick 2.0 OpenBuilds Team
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    Generally they have things on the truck within two business days but due to the sale over the weekend, the shipping guys are probably a bit swamped. If you don't hear something by Friday, give them a buzz at http://support.openbuilds.com/support/home.
     
    Mark Carew likes this.
  13. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    That's a good idea, but I think the main upgrade you could do now would be switching over to the C-Beam XLarge Plate Adding this makes for a really strong system.
     
  14. Jimmybuckets

    Jimmybuckets Well-Known
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    Mark,
    Would it be possible you check out my post a few posts back? I would really like your opinion. I have 2 XL plates and a double wide plate....There is a couple ways I can upgrade with those options. The basics are would it be stronger to end up not using the double wide plate at all and use back to back XL plates for the X and Z....OR.....my first plan...use two XL plates on X...OX style on one each side of the C-beam and then used the double wide plate on the Z. Thanks for any input.
     
  15. evilc66

    evilc66 Journeyman
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    I'm sure I'm not alone in that I originally purchased the stock kit to get started, with the intention of making the machine bigger in the long term. I've been seriously considering the XL plate, even though I haven't made my machine move a single millimeter yet.
     
  16. Jimmybuckets

    Jimmybuckets Well-Known
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    Buy two and put them back to back. Run one side for the z and the other for the X. Should be much better than the stock set up.
     
  17. evilc66

    evilc66 Journeyman
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    What's the spacer requirement for the space between the front and back set of wheels? Also, screw length?
     
  18. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    Hello @Jimmybuckets sorry we missed that, yes I would say to go with the XLarge plate for your Z. We have been building and testing these new plates and they are really great for an open robust strong system. The Double Wide Plate adds a lot of strength as well but its really designed for a more encased actuator system and so can not have the added strength and spacing of the outside wheels.
     
  19. Jimmybuckets

    Jimmybuckets Well-Known
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    If you are talking about using double xlarge on the x they are 6mm normal and 9mm spacers for the middle. I ordered 65mm bolts for that. I was saying you can take two XL plates and bolt them together so you eliminate your small z gantry plate with the mini wheels. So I guess if you want to go all out order 3 XL plates. 2 for the X and one for the z.
     
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  20. evilc66

    evilc66 Journeyman
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    Thanks for the screw and spacer lengths.
     
  21. Jimmybuckets

    Jimmybuckets Well-Known
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    I haven't put mine together that way yet but thanks Kyo he gave me the spacer lengths :)
     
  22. Dale Y

    Dale Y New
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    e
    • So 3200/2 (GT2 belt)/20 teeth = a setting of 80? sounds right for what I have now. Now I understand how to get that setting so when I change/add a motor I can reset it.
     
  23. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    If you can find the pulleys belt pitch diameter that'll work too.
    Belt pitch dia. * pi = circumference which is how far you'll travel in one rotation.
    Divide circumference by number of steps per rev for step length.
     
  24. Steve Welsh

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    Mark could you give any timeframe on the larger C Beam reference build and bundle?? Thanks
     
  25. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    Hello @Steve Welsh At this time we are working on completing the manual (Thanks to Moag's hard work it is looking amazing!) and then we need to do a clean build to ensure all parts are correct and the manual is easy to follow. Once that is done we will share the Build! We are super excited to be able to offer this Build soon so we are working hard to get it out quick and we look forward to seeing what you guys come up on it. :thumbsup:
     
  26. UltiBots

    UltiBots Well-Known
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    Mark and others... is there a reason to have the eccentric nuts positioned on the bottom side of the X C-Beam Gantry?



    This makes them hard to adjust once the router is fully assembled. Just curious - Brad
     
  27. Jimmybuckets

    Jimmybuckets Well-Known
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    The idea being that you have 3 perfectly aligned and fixed bearings that the system rides on being pulled down and held in place by the eccentrics from below. If it were the other way around the weight of the system would be on variable points. I supposed if proper care is taken either way can work. I agree it would be nice to have access to the adjustments on the eccentrics and the anti-backlash nuts though.
     
  28. UltiBots

    UltiBots Well-Known
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    @Jimmybuckets that is what I suspected. Currently I am have the eccentrics on top. It will be interesting to see if the wheel tensions drift much since cranking them down. Hopefully they stay put in this orientation. Thanks for the reply - Brad
     
  29. Jimmybuckets

    Jimmybuckets Well-Known
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    I found a set of cheap stubby wrenches to be useful.
     
  30. Gopal

    Gopal Well-Known
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    Hi Mark, I am returning after a lapse of several years as I was in Thailand for sometime and came back only this April. I have no tools now and also my advanced age and ill health has stripped of some dexterity. All the same I just bought your C Beam kit and the xPro board with GRBL 9j installed. I have already assembled the kit but I came up with couple of questions that I hope you can answer me (they may be very obvious, answered before or totally out of touch!)
    1. In the settings for GRBL the suggested steps/mm ($100 to $102) is given as 200. The stepper is 1.8deg/step. Don't know the acme screw details. You have mentioned in your video that you use 1/8 microsteps. So how does 200 steps/mm come from? Hand turning the motor I get about 10mm/10turns
    2. In the list of GRBL settings I am unable to set $14 and when I try to manually enter the value it comes up with an error "Invalid statement". Thanks for your help -Warier
     

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