Thanks.

Hi All,

My Gantry beams are 100 x 50 x 3mm thick, would I still be better to add the metal backing strip drilled and tapped or would I get away with drilling and tapping the 3mm thick RHS ??

Thanks
Tony.

Do a test hole and see if you can really tighten a screw in there before it strips.

hi .. iam collecting parts but i found beams of 5mm thick almost free. they are heavy 10kilograms per meter while 3mm thick is 6.60 kilograms per meter.
what do you think? the inertia will be more but the resistense will increase. UNBENDABLE
http://mimg.ugo.com/201108/8/4/9/206...528_poster.jpg

If you accept that the inertia is higher (less acceleration) then it should be good. If you have geared/belt reduction motors, you might not notice any drop in acceleration. With direct-drive motors I will be slightly nervous, but my stomach says it is still going to be good. Nobody has yet complained that their MM gantries are too heavy - it is not a point of discussion yet.

Mechmates are to heavy (just wanted to be the first)

Maybe your floor is too weak?

...Funny, I found myself astounded at the simplicity and lightweight nature of the MM. I have owned many CNC machine's in my lifetime, and they usually require an entire team, forklift, heavy lifting equipment to move or even assemble.

My particular 5x10 MM, was built, moved and moved again by myself and a mate with no special needs or additional cost. A Bakkie and a trailer was all that was needed both times.

Not sure I agree with your statement "MM are to heavy"

Hey Sean, you have Bakkies in the States, thought you only had trucks there? :D

Oh, and I think Besser was just trying to get a rise out of somebody...

Lets be specific.
MM is too heavy for 2 fingers to lift. :D
Too heavy to float on water.
Too heavy to for transporting with bicycle without a bakkie.
Too heavy to balance on my head...

Definitely too heavy for this mode of transport
Transportation

You remind me of this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8HyTyTbS5A

That is amazing. It is amazing that he could get them stacked that high and then to be able to walk away with out dropping them.

When I was stationed in Korea in the 80's the craziest thing I saw was 5-6 people on a bicycle or cages of live chickens stacked 8-9 high on the back of a bicycle and best yet a washing machine on the back of a bicycle. And that was in downtown Seoul.

I guess my question whether .188 thick tube would be too heavy has been answered. Thanks to all who have gone before me, may the force be with you.