Thanks again Matt.

Done another quick drawing for the width of the table being the "Y" again I am reasonably confident that the dimensions are correct but no harm in checking :)

Next on the list now, is the cutting list so I can quantify the amount of steel required.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...idth_Model.jpg

Cheers
Tony.

Hi,

Motors finally arrived after being held up in customs for three or four weeks, Big thanks to Paul (Skippy) for his efforts in arranging the buy and following up with customs.
So without further delay here are a couple of pics!! you can see in the background my all in one printer and Laptop as a size comparison!!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/P9270807.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/P9270810.jpg

Cheers
Tony.

Metal Cutting List

From my drawings above and a cutting sheet size of 2440 x 1220mm I have worked out my main steel required for the table build. If anyone thinks I have missed anything out please let me know.

So here we go!!

75 x 75 x 3mm Box = 6 @ 720mm (legs)
50 x 50 x 3mm Box = 6 @ 1500mm (Y axis top & bottom cross rails)
50 x 50 x 3mm Box = 4 @ 1025mm (X axis bottom side rails)
50 x 50 x 3mm Box = 4 @ 1090mm (X axis diagonal braces)
50 x 50 x 3mm Box = 6 @ 720mm (Y axis diagonal braces)
76 x 38mm PFC = 8 @ 1640mm (Y axis cross supports)
200 x 75mm PFC = 2 @ 3040mm (X axis main beams)
65 x 50 x 6mm Angle = 2 @ 3380mm (X axis v rails)
65 x 50 x 6mm Angle = 2 @ 2080mm (y axis v rails)
100 x 50 x 3mm Box = 2 @ 1770mm (Y axis gantry rails) (Purchased 50mm longer than needed so they can be cut to size later)(Finished length will be 1720mm)

Let the fun begin!!
Cheers.
Tony.

Hi All,

Recieved my steel quote the other day, $1190.00 all cut to size including delivery.
I'm not up to date on steel pricing but I thought this was pretty reasonable.
Steel will be ordered shortly and the build will begin!!:D

Cheers
Tony.

Yeah, thats sounds about right. Pretty good actually, better than what i paid for mine. Looking forward to seeing your build progressing!

Thanks Matt, ordered and paid for our steel today, for table builds for both Paul (Skippy's) table and my table.
I have requested they deliver the steel on 16/09/09 hopefully that will give me enough time to clear the junk out of my garage and clear some space for the steel and provide enough room to get the table build underway:D
I cannot wait to get this baby underway!! I'm starting to get excited!!

Cheers
Tony.

The Steel for both Paul (Skippy) and my table arrived two days earlier than planned, and as usual I was out of town on business. Luckily I had it delivered via a crane truck who kindly off loaded it into my front yard.
Now I just have to move it all into my garage.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0055.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0054.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0056.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0057.jpg

Guess I just got to find some time now to start the build.

Cheers
Tony.

How cool is that, some of it is already blue...:D now the fun starts, hope you have some willing helpers to move it all, enjoy.

hope your neighbors dont freak it! Tell them you're building a mobile phone tower in the front yard! hehe

So the question is, DO YOU PAINT IT NOW?

If the neighbors freak, then just ask them for help to move it! :)

Wow....That's some beefy channel. Jealous I am.

Alan you made me laugh with that comment about it already being blue!! not the right colour blue though !!

Haha with the mobile tower in the front yard, bet I had them all wondering though!! Think I'm going with the assemble, then pull apart what I can, then paint!!

Had my son and his mate move the large PFC's however I had to do the rest, took some time to move it too, but all done now, and undercover out of the weather.

The channel is 200mm x 75mm PFC and yep very beefy and awfully heavy!! glad I had the young fella's to move those for me!!

Cheers
Tony.

Ok,

I need to start looking at what is required for the V rollers and axles and whether or not there are any local suppliers here in Aus. I also need to source what is required in the way of bearings for the skate so again if anyone has any info on what is required and again local suppliers please let me know.

Cheers
Tony.

Hi Tony,

I made my rollers originally and had good results from them. However they were not perfect so I purchased some and upgraded. It was a while ago when I did this but after ringing around the best price I could find locally was AU$70 per roller. I ended up ordering then from Rick at Superior Bearing Company. I was very happy with the service and the price. The bearings for the skate elude me at the moment I will have a look when I get a chance if no one else beats me to it.

Regards,

Jayson.

Tony

Have a look at this seller on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com.au/6301-2RS-12x3...item53d99c522d I sourced these bearings from him for my skate but I have not built it yet, so I can't tell you how they went. Hope this helps.

G' this thread need's to be moved to "under construction"

Somebody else must have moved it already - Thanks!

Thanks Guys,

Hopefully we will be starting the table builds shortly, still gathering materials and parts. Not sure as too whether or not we are going to tackle the welding ourselves or have someone help us out.
I have a trip to the UK coming up in a couple of weeks, so there is not going to be too much happening, hopefully after that we can get stuck into it.

Cheers
Tony.

I am currently in the UK. Looking forward to getting things happening when I get back to Australia.

Cheers
Tony.

Hi All,

I'm back in Australia and ready to get things rolling along again!!
Skippy and I are looking to move on our racks and pinions and I was wondering if someone can confirm the lengths required for our tables.

Table size is 2440mm x 1220mm

Would I be correct in saying that lengths required are as follows.

X axis = 2440+185 = X Axis Racks 2625mm
Y axis = 1220+155 = Y Axis Racks 1375mm

Z axis = ?????????? Im not sure what is required for this one and not sure how I calculate it so any help would be appreciated.

Cheers
Tony.

Hi Tony,

Worried….:confused: We all go through this… Yep, you’re on the right “track” :D with your math ….
X = Your X length + 185 and for Y = your Y distance + 155 !

Now for Z, have a look at this work I did, trying to explain fully how to figure your Z !
Enjoy, Amicalement, Robert ;)

Drawing M2 10 120 or M2 10 124

Hi,

Thanks guys, so I am all good with the X & Y I have read through your link Robert and I'm afraid I still do not get it.
My X beams are 180mm we will be mostly cutting sheet with nothing too bulky in height, but do not want to restrict our cutting height too much either.
I have referred to the drawings M2 10 120 & M2 10 124 am I better sticking with the M2 10 120 for stronger better cutting and how do I work out what the max cutting thickness would be going with the 250mm Z Rack.

I knew I should have stuck to working with timber :D

Cheers
Tony

Tony, the standard MechMate drawings allow you to build a choice of two z-slide assemblies; either 10 40 000 A (250mm) or 10 40 014 A (350mm). That is the choice that you have to make, and the rack length follows from that.

Originally, only the 250mm was offered, but a lot of guys wanted to cut thick soft material. So, the 350 option was added with a lot of cautions about its ability to cut thin hard material. A discussion about that is at 350mm [14"] Extended Z-Slide - what does it mean?

Thanks Gerald,

Sounds like the 250mm one will do the job and provide better cutting on the thinner type boards.

Cheers
Tony.

Hi All,

As Paul (skippy) has the racks and pinions underway, I thought I had better get busy with the cutting & Grinding discs. Ordered 50 of each and should be here in a day or two. They are also supposed to be of INOX quality.

Link to where I got them.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/THIN-CUTTING-...item1c0e676175

Cheers
Tony.

UPDATE!!

I am still here, haha!! and still collecting bits and pieces for the build.
Spindle and mount arrived thx to Skippy, Rack and pinions have arrived thx to surfcnc, although we have a small issue with the pinions but we are working on it hey Ross :D
Bought the bearings, bolts, nuts and washers from a couple of local shops today for the skate so getting closer to slicing up those angles :)
Also ordered my 5 x Geckos on the weekend so hopefully they should be here in another few days.
Still lots to get but getting there.

Hopefully the build will progress at blinding speed once we eventually start ;)

Cheers
Tony.

UPDATE!!

Photo of the cutting discs I bought through Ebay, certainly look the part lets hope they cut and grind ok.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0264.jpg

Spindle, VFD and spindle mount thanks to Paul for our little group buy(Skippy)
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0262.jpg

Closer shot of the spindle
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0263.jpg

Bearings, bolts, nuts and washers for the skate.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0261.jpg

And last but not least the Gecko's
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0260.jpg

Next on the list is the following :D
4 x PMDX-125 Multi-Mode Breakout Board (2 for skippy & 2 for me)
2 x PMDX-107 Isolated Speed Control (1 for skippy and 1 for me)

Cheers
Tony.

Tony
Looking good! Where is my gecko key ring? ;)

Regards
Paul

I thought the gecko keyring was was going to open bottles as well. The only way I can see that it does it is between the hind leg and the tail all depending of what it is made of.

Regards

Paul

Nice progress Tony.
One query with your last post, why are you buying two PMDX-125's each? Do you plan on having one spare?
Also, if you want to save some money i have written a plugin for Mach3 to control those Huanyang VFD's. It controls speed and displays actual speed and current draw. All you need is a USB to RS485 converter (~$30 on ebay).

Gecko does not include the gifts for export orders because it causes Customs problems on the receiving end.

I've got 3 keyrings, from each of my orders over the years (including last year). I think its only the soft toys they don't shipo on export orders. the keyring's are easier to hide....

Hi Matt,

Hows things mate?? we are planning on adding a fifth motor for an indexer hence the 2 x Bob's. I think Skippy is going to PM you re your plugin.

Cheers
Tony.

I thought the PMDX-125's can handle two parallel ports, so you should have plenty of options for connecting the 4th axis connections. To quote the PMDX website "Supports 4 additional high speed outputs using a second port or the SmoothStepper" i.e. connect you 4 main motors to J1 -J4 and the 4th Axis to J5
Haven't done this myself, just thinking it might save you $US164

Are you planning on using a smoothstepper?

Have a read of section 2.3 of the manual Looks like you can connect a 5th axis to a single PMDX-125.

:D This should make all the holes to be drilled a little bit easier!!:D

Waiting on my cold cutting saw to arrive as well, should make cutting all the angles on the braces and trimming to exact size a little easier.:D

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/IMG_0267.jpg

Cheers
Tony.

Nice piece of equipment. I like the big handle on the side.

Now that's why you wasn't home today.:D

There should be quit a bit of lifting required.
I use this instead.
Attachment 8227

Small, 13mm chuck with 350W motor just enough for all the Mechmate drilling. I don't have to lift the beam & other steel for drilling. Make a world of difference when working alone.