Gerald,
you are correct, the channel bended a bit (about 1/8") with the welds, but I did correct this by placing a series of long welds in the appropiate places,that mostly in the center of the beam, Conclusion: Dont weld the bevel washers or be prepare to correct the bending. I went the welding way because it was already done, but im regaining the expoxy thing with the nuts and bolts (no tap) becuase the carriage bolt has a lower head profile than a regular bolt with a washer and a pressure washer..
Thanks....

I just received at my adrress in USA my set of bearings and bushings from Rick at Superior Bearing, Have to make a small trip this weekend to pick the stuff. Price was:
GW3X = $14.49ea @ 14pcs = $202.86
B3X = $2.91ea @ 6pcs = $17.46
Total: 220.32 + Shipping
Got to mention, that Ricks´s service is same as its business name, just "Superior", Thanks Rick!
Kindest Regard
Hector Quintanilla

Look what I pick up yesturday :)...The past days I havent got time to work on my mechmate :( ...with the bearings I almost got all the mechanics so this means I can go non stop with the table...guess I have to give me time!

Day 5 of my build
 

Finally I manage to give me time to make some advance. This day I spend about 6 hours.
I welded the side frames, some more welding is required for the diagonal braces. I also went out to get some 4 1/4" plates cutted to 3" diameter circles and buy some parts to build the a set of leveling legs for the table. I also went to home depot and got a can of Rostoleum in Sail Blue color to make a test...If I go this way Ill spend the same or less money and without to much mess. The color turn to be a very nice brilliant color ;).Dont worry this was a test, I have to sand or maybe sand blast all metal, put a primer and then go with the Rustoleum

Hector, that looks like the right colour!
Looking good!

Day 6 of my build
 

Table almost done! :D , today I dedicated about 6 hours of slow pace work :rolleyes:. and some bolts, washers and pressure washer shopping. With the purchased bolts I started to assemble the table, checking squareness at all time, the results turned quite good. Did some changes in the leg levelers and finish them. Next step I will build the cross braces. Im going the bolt it way...so Ill have 2 side frames, 2 cross frames, and the cross bearers, maybe other cross members to add rigidity.

Day 7 of my build
 

This day I just had 2 spare hours...cuted to size two cross braces, welded en plates, drilled holes, and bolted the cross braces to the table, and checked for squarness... everything Ok. Then I proceded to disassemble, left all pieces resting for next day.

Day 8 of my build
 

Had 3 1/2 hours...I assebled the table upside (the roller in the picture is a very handy tool when working alone, it made me very easy to assemble the cross bearers), checed for squarness, tighted all bolts just a bit to hold the table in place, but permiting to adjust squarness if needed. Then I presented the MDF board to a side, checked and adjusted squarness between one main beam and the first cross bearer, then I proceded to tight al bolts in the table, leaving the table stiff. Then assisted with to wood jigs I cutted all together to assure perfect mesurment between them...I fixed the board, and used C clamps to hold it in place, After having all together I checked another time for squarness and level...everything turned right!, so I proceded to mark the holes in the board for drilling next available day :D

And you only bought the welder 2 months ago? - Great stuff! :)

Hedtor,

That is the right color. Your build looks great. You are going to change the statistics on build time. Way to go. Keep the photos coming.

Hector,
Looking good! I was looking at your table pics and was thinking there was something missing. Are you adding diagonal bracing later? Just wondering.

Since lateral (diagonal) braces are intended to add stiffness and to keep squarness in the table...I though that it was better to achieve squarness first and then after having it...as shown in the pictures...add the diagonal braces to the lateral frames...In case of the lateral frames, the upper part of the brace will be bolted to the legs, and the other end will be welded to the bottom brace, so ill present the braces first bolt them and then do the welding this way the braces will have the correct posicion and will preserve the squarness of the table.

Hector,

I did the same as you, waited to put the braces in. I don't think it matters in the big picture. Even if you main rails are off a little, level wise, but still parallel, your cutting surface will follow the rails. So if they're twisted slightly, your cutting surface will also be twisted, producing a flat cut. The only time this doesn't work is when your material your cutting won't flex with the table.

Really a great design.

MIKE

Day 9 of my build
 

Well, today Im posting Days 9,10,11,12 and 13 of my build. Some days I had an hour other more...
For Day 9 I spend about 8 hours, full day, cutting rails for x and y and grinding most part of them...
My angles for the rails, are 2-1/2, althought is not recomended cutting them with the Jr skate, I cut them using about 12 cutting disks swaping them for new one when the skates hits the rail, then when I start to cut a new rail I swap back the used ones, and this way I managed to cut all rails.

Day 10 of my build
 

This day was a wasted one :mad: I tried to unbend the rails with the welding method, I though that rails should be straight perfect...but this is far from the reality...rails will be straighted while assembling them to the beams:p not a necesity to straight them before...good lesson learned...$60 dollars wasted of rails and a day of frustration. So..please dont do this...;)

Day 11 of my build
 

3 Hours spend...cutting new Y rails...they truned nice better than the first ones...

Day 12 of my build
 

This day I spend 8 hours (full day) drilling & taping X and Y rails. I assembled X rails and align them width jigs.

Day 13 of my build...
 

Spended a morning, about 6 hours...this was a good day...I welded the gantry, turned out pretty square and parrallel, assembled Y rails, and did a test...So up to today...I have the table & gantry assembled...Next to do...The Y Car:)

Gantry sliding test
 

Just wanted to post a little video...of the gantry sliding :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a7Lt4UDGhk

Thanks for all the feedback Hector. Interesting that you managed to cut down the 2.5" angle iron using 12 disks . . . .
How did the 45 degree grinding go?

Actually there is some grinding more to be done, as you can see I havent cut the tips of the X rails jet...Although the Skate does the job it is ineficient. I started risking the rails doing some grinding by hand with the grinder, then the skate got in, but there is much of cristalization in the disk, even setting some inclination with the height screws the disk doesnt attacks the metal as it should an this causes cristalization in the disk and it becomes wasted. One should have a 30 degree angle of attack to eat the metal fast so I think there has to be a redesign in the skate. Other thing, I cosumed a lot of time adapting the skate to my grinder, I think It will be better to leave just the center hole of the grinder in the plate, and leave the mounting holes for us to drill, the drilling of the 6mm screws for the grinder was matter of a minute...welding the holes that came alone with the parts from joe and adapting the plate plus grinding and taking some parts of the skate was hours of work.
I think that the grinder should be mounted in a position regular to the used by hand instead of 90 degrees perpedicular to the xy plane that is actually has.
PS...can you please update the title of my thread ;) I like the numbering of the day thing :D
Thanks....

Gerald,
Does it matter wether tube or box section is used for cross bracing the table.
The tube has to have the ends flattened, is this not more work?

Has anyone considered using electricions uni-strut for the base. This is quite cheap in the UK and every imaginable bracket to join it you could wish for.

Regards Danny

Danny,

It should not make too much difference between tube or box section, both are pretty rigid. The flattening of the edges is a bit more work, but dust wont collect as much on the tops of the tube. I notched the ends of my tubes to make a neater join but then again I can be a bit pedantic :rolleyes:

Stay away from unistrut, it is way to flexible. The first Shopbots were made using it and the main reason we have a MechMate today is to overcome the inherent weaknesses of unistrut.

Alan,

Thanks for the usefull advice.

I see from some builds that some people have chosen to weld plates to the ends of box section and bolt the frame together. Is there any advantage to this? Or is this to make it easy to disassemble?

Danny, it's for ease of disassembly and transport. Arguably, you give up some stiffness, and introduce the possibility of misalignment.

Hector,

I am in Monterrey on business. You have a great city. We had dinner last night along the river in the city. Tonight we may go to eat a baby goat. I hope your build is going well.

Best regards,

Jeff

Hector, you had better go and count your goats! :eek: :)

Jeff,
Feel free to call if you need something...my phone here is 11574516. Good to have fellow mechmate builders around. If you are staying for more days try dinning in "El gaucho" thats the best beef youll get around here. And for baby goat ("Cabrito") I imagine you are going to "El Rey del Cabrito". Youll find that Monterrey has a lot of night life ;)
Gerald,
Now i get it...one goat is missing, maybe it will apear in Iowa ;)

Hi...
Since my wife gives a dam of my mechmate build :D and my kids are to small to share my exitment...just wanted to let you guys know that tomorrow I´ll be picking up: geckos, antek power supply, cable chain, pmdx...and almost all the stuff to continue with mymechmate build. Taked a 1 month break, so Im exited to regain the project in the upcoming days. The only 3 more things i need to get are motors, rack and pinon, and Im done with getting money out of the pocket :) Didn´t have some much fun since science fairs at school when I was just a kid...

Then can we add some more days to the 13 days in the title? :D