Yes Elaire seems to have the collets, but I might opt for a spindle with an ER11 collet anyway.

 

Brian,
Do you thing with just playing with the front bearing block a full 12" of travel could be achieved?

 

I'll see if I can measure the travel tomorrow.

 

Thanks that would be great!

 

You can also add spacers to raise the bed level over it

 

Don't be ridiculous! That would be way too simple! Seriously good simple solution. Only concern... would the spacer cause the wheels to get cantilevered?

 

But raising the table also means reducing the working depth... It might be ok to cut most plates. However, engraving a (small, relatively flat) object might become more limited.

Looking at the layout, I was thinking that the spanner length should go beneath the Y beams instead of butting against them. That would give an extra ... what ... 2o mm of working depth. Which would allow raising the table by that much without loosing on the original working height. But the X beams would need to be stretched too... not a bad thing as it would give more working width, especially if you stretch more than the 40 mm (?) needed. But it involves more than a few spacers ... a lot more. The cheap way out of that one is to actually shrink the X axis by the 40 mm or so => no extra material (ie no extra cost), just a smaller working area with a bit more depth ... Everything has a price, eh ?

It seems Mark and his team put quite a bit of thought on the overall design to balance things out ... working area, price, etc.

 

Just measured the travel I have in the ynaxis, I get a full 11 inches of travel. With a bit of work on the front cbeam end plate I think I could get 12.25 inches.

Brian

 

Here's a picture of the bed showing the relief required for the stepper. If you want the additional travel at the front the bed and relief would need increasing by 1.25 inches.

Apologies for the lack of tidyness ;-)

Brian

 

Kit should be here tomorrow . So for me front being the side with no stepper and back being side with stepper. Both front and back need a little bit of modding to get the full 1.25" inches of extra travel...correct? Mod looks great BTW!

 

Front is no stepper, the end plate here will need modifying. For the rear, with the stepper no change required to the end plate, but the build table will need to be notched.

 

Perfect. Thanks Brian. Seems like a mandatory mod since it doesn't cost anything, requires no extra parts and requires no mods to the original design. Do we get to call it the Jimmy Mod hahaha...Did you mill out the cut out for the stepper with the machine itself?

 

Are most people that are using a thicker Y plate attaching that to the OpenBuilds Y plate that comes with the kit or foregoing the stock plate and attaching v wheels right to the new thicker plate? I would think no stock plate and wheels directly on the aluminum plate?

 

Makes sense. Long term I may do the same thing was thinking of adding more v-wheels also...any plans for that or do you think you will stick with the 4 wheels on the Y?

 

Thinking about using this Makita instead of the Dewalt 611. Makita has more RPM range adjustment and seems to me around 65mm so it should fit the mount with some shimming just like the Dewalt. Seems the 10k low end RPM would be better for plate making. Am I missing anything here? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7D3V4S...ascsubtag=f39fd9bce1f66e6833c72eef5a8ceb76_SS

 

I have been looking at the MLCS Rocky 30, which I believe is a Makita OEM piece for 2/3 of the price:
Rocky 30 Trim Router

 

Also, Home Depot has the Bosch Colt back on sale for $79!
Bosch 5.6-Amp 1 HP Corded Colt Palm Router Kit-PR20EVSK - The Home Depot

 

Just talked to someone at MLCS and they say it's not the same router as the Makita but looks pretty **** close. Looks like a good option. Was trying to stay clear of the Colt only because of implyed qc issue...but for $80 pretty good deal. $69 for a Colt re-con was temped. **** so many choices! I like the low speed on the Makita..MCLS has same low speed as well.

 

http://www.menards.com/main/p-1444448122659-c-10087.htm?tid=-4882468972849253647

Just found this...could be another Makita twin? On sale for $40.

 

That looks like a bargain too. I'm looking as well to build out the Christmas list...

My only concern about the Makita clones is the long-term availability of replacement brushes and finding 1/8" collets that will fit.

 

Yeah I'm with you there. Seems they are not identical as the Makita has the speed controller above the on off switch and the others look to be on top of the housing. I'm sure they are similar but who knows about the guts.

 

Very good points Rick. Personally, for the few $ difference, I think I am going go with the Colt from Home Depot @ $79. Although the sale is on-line only, if I have any problems with it, I should at least be able to walk into any HD locally and exchange it out.

 

**** when was that deal. Have been seeing the $25 off but not $99 for the 611 and says the $25 off doesn't apply

 

Can you past the link?