so many good machines so little time!!!
great job moag!!!

 

Ive almost got enough set aside for the kit. Could someone let me know ballpark what the electronics are going to run me? Is there a standard kit I could purchase? I dont plan on running fancy software at first.

 

The best system you can get for the lowest would be:

12v Meanwell Powersupply - $40 (upgrade to 24v for $10)
Arduino Uno - $10
SMAKN TB6600 Stepper Drivers - $15/ ea or $60 total (future proof)
Openbuilds High Torque Steppers - $40 ea or $160 total
Wiring and Connectors - $30

You can get by with a lot less to be honest, but this would be a really good set of starter electronics. You can get smaller motors and drivers depending on what you plan on making.

 

@Moag - Why not move the gantry to the backside of the vertical sides as shown in the following pic? You would have to relocate the additional 20x40 support, but you'd gain about 120mm additional Y-axis cutting area.

 

Good question.
Good answer.

Thanks folks!

 

Couldn't you just make the board bigger? (edit)

Never mind. I get it now. It just took me a few minutes to process. I suppose the only way to increase the Y axis cutting depth is to lengthen the Y-axis Cbeam actuators.

...and here I thought I was really being creative.

 

I've started my build of the xlarge kit. I've run into a couple questions that I've emailed about.

I'm a little hesitant to post the questions here at the moment. Hopefully I get a quick reply and it can help improve the manual.

Overall the manual is well assembled to make stepping through the process very easy.

 

When Do we get the Sketchup Model?

 

oops! missed it.

 

@Moag Could the two X-axis 'feet' be replaced with 20x40 instead of the 20x60 sized rails? As you know I've taken a very good look at the Sketchup model and it seems like there would be sufficient clearance for the Y-axis actuators. I'd like it to sit lower to the workbench and I just don't like the looks of it sitting so high.

Also, another build thread where you started all of this shows your inquiry about using a C-Channel support beam located inside the C-Beam of the gantry. Have you given up on that idea? Is it needed?

Thanks much!

 

Nice bench. Looks extremely sturdy, perhaps more than you'll need. I'm actually in the process of designing and building one myself.

For the C channel...instead of using a C channel brace, how about just using a flat bar 1/8" or whatever will fit along the inside of the Cbeam? (excuse the quick photoshop job, but wanted to show what i meant). Make it thin enough to not interfere with the screw, etc. Secure it with Tnuts, etc. I think this would strengthen and add rigidity to it.

 

Hey Moag, where did you find the bookmatched knotty pine boards for your bench in Oz?

Had an idea, could you shave off the edges of the U channel using the Table Saw with a non-ferrous metal blade? Might be a bit hairy getting it set up, but once it was set you could give the channel a haircut in seconds! Cut one side, put a layer or two of masking tape on the fence, and run the other side. Masking tape should be about .1mm thick. (haven't verified this)

Traxxtar, I was thinking about this too. Not sure it would add much rigidity, but it might help some. The C-beam is weakest on the two "arms" of the C, which is where reinforcement would help the most.

MG

 

@Metalguru @Moag Another alternative is to spin the vertical risers 180, add a second Cbeam to the gantry, and spin the X-axis Cbeam 180. See below. A few extra wheels, move the verticals fwd a bit, etc. Your thoughts?

 

So, Traxxtar, you are essentially making an 80x80mm beam? Interesting, but I can see a few challenges with joining the beams together, and supporting them at the ends. Also, where do your lead screw bearings reside? And how do you assemble it?

Two c-beams back wouldn't be much stiffer than a single one, unless they are firmly attached to each other. If you were to weld them together, it would work nicely, but warpage would be an issue. Might be able to epoxy them together...

 

The lead screw, bearings, nut block, and backlash would all be on the front side closest to the Z-axis carriage. For the ends, an L-bracket across the bottom spanning both beams and a flat bracket across the top, similar to the current config only a bit larger.

I've seen on another site a method of strengthening two separate rails or beams by drilling holes through the 'valley' portion of the aluminum tracks and using long screws and T nuts. You could use several all along the span of the beams to 'tie' them together.

One benefit I see is that the Z-axis carriage is 'wider' from front to back and would provide added torsional/rotational strength when plunging the bit through hard surfaces.

Perhaps this is overkill and not even needed. Just brainstorming....

 

Yep, that's what the forum is for.

No doubt the 80x80 assembly would be much stiffer, if it was properly attached across the whole length. You'd definitely have trouble finding wheel axle bolts long enough to go across the whole assembly. They'd have to be well over 100mm long. I was considering something like this using a threaded spacer in the middle so you could put a bolt through from both sides...

I regularly tie the X beams on OX builds together by bolting them through the center channel. It definitely makes the whole assembly stiffer. It would likely be even better if they were epoxied together as well.

 

Hey, I just thought of something - 3M VHB tape - This stuff sticks like s**t to a blanket! It would be ideal for bonding 2 pieces of v-slot together. McMaster has it in 12.7mm wide by 0.5mm thickness, I remember using this stuff in other projects over the years. It bonds extremely well, and is thin enough that it shouldn't affect things too much. With the available surface area between 2 pieces of v-slot, it would have incredible bond strength.

It's got to be good, they put planes together with it...

I am going to get some and try it out.

 

Hi Guys, those benches look fantastic... might have to look at something like that once I get my XL built.

Just wanted to say I didn't end up ordering a kit as such but placed two seperate orders from the BOM supplied here..... unfortunately the total cost of the kit is over Australian Import duty threshold and I just did not want to deal with customs and pay for the privilidge.

So what I did was order the bulk of the parts from www.makerstore.com.au, they dont carry everything for the machine but just about everything.
They don't carry C-Beam for example so I placed an order here with openbuilds for the balance of required materials.

The other thing about doing this is it supports both local business and openbuilds at the same time.

I have now received my Australian shipment, extremely quick and all parts that were ordered have been supplied, so a +1 for makerstore here in Australia, thankyou Steven.

I have what feels like a million parts..... I am having a Mechano Set feeling !!
But it looks like some fun ahead.

I have got enough bits to initiate the build whilst I await my U.S. shipment.
Just wanted to let any other Aussie builders know about makerstore and how I got around the customs issue.

Cheers Glenn.

 

LIVE BUILDS of the C-Beam Machine XLarge start on August 30th!

LIVE STREAM and IN-PERSON info:
LIVE BUILD - C-Beam Machine XLarge

 

This would be great as a build too. So handy!!