Hiya folks I've been running my 1500x750 ox for the past couple of years with great success, but I'm looking to rebuild or possibly just build a new machine. I went through the builds and didn't see much info on a machine around that size, so this is what i'm thinking: -1500x1500 C rail to give me a 4ftx4ft work area -Acme lead screw all around -Metal V Wheels on Open rail -High torque NEMA 23's -Mach3 compatible controller I have a ton of scrap aluminum at work for making my own side plates and X/Z axis parts. I'm concerned about the strength and rigidity of the C rail over a 1500mm distance. Has anyone used the C rail over that distance? Thanks for any info or links Todd
Not a good combination. The steel wheels will wear down the aluminum OpenRail. Truly you're best off sticking with the solid V's and the C-beam grooves.
I used this Excel Sheet to calculate Deflection and ultimately decided to support my 1500 mm Y axis the full length. Because of this support, I also went with regular v-slot 20mm x 80 mm. I gained 40 mm in the x axis that way. No sagging from the weight of the gantry and since it is fastened to the frame which is permanently mounted to the work bench, I get no noticeable side to side flexing either. I used 1/2 - 10 five start Acme screws for the Y axis so the anti-backlash nut would have been a real tight fit to get my custom made ones in the c-beam so I ran them on the outside of the gantry plates. This was another reason I moved away from the c-beam. For my X axis, I bolted together two 20mm x 80mm v-slot beams. I lined them up with the 3d printable v-slot connectors in the resources section. This made drilling and bolting easier. If I were going 1500 mm in the X, I would bolt three together (maybe 4). I only have an 850 mm X axis. I didn't have room for anything bigger. I can cut 26.5 inches by about 52 inches. My goal was 2' x 4'.
