Gerald....so TRUE. Keep it to machined / extruded face and I have 1/2 a chance of getting something right on my first build.

Speaking of builds...my brother in Ohio now wants one for his home shop...sounds like I will be build two units now! I love a great design!
Sean

Ohio is the home of www.superiorbearing.com who has the best prices - but I suppose your brother will be paying for two sets and shipping one :)

Sean, where is your brother in Ohio? I am in Cleveland?

Marc

Marc,
Akron. Just down the road about 35 miles.
As a note to Gerald, my brother #2, the one is not in the need of a new machine can walk across the highway to superior and pick everything up for brother #3. I come from a big family and it figures that the youngest is the one saddled with building everything! :) At least the connections help!

Have a great weekend.
Sean

Superior Bearing Current pricing
14 - GW3 bearing - 14.49
6 - B3X - bushing - 2.91
total - $220.32 plus shipping

Since not all of us have the equipment to make our own rails or have the time to build the jigs are they good for them as well?

Yes,
Rick at Superior sells the cap rail. Soft or Hardened. He has the best price that I have researched to date. Customer service and delivery is one of the best I have dealt with. Sean

The bearings and rails are easy to install if you can set up a drill press.

It is just spend the time to do it yourself, or the dollars to havesome else do part of the work for you.

Dave

I just received an email from Rick and as long as the rails are not over 8' he has no problems. When they go over 8' shipping goes up by as much as $140.00. Shorter lengths can be butt jointed but then you have a seam, would this make a difference?

I'm waiting for the latest drawings from Gerald before I get ready to order. I may have to settle for a small table and just cut the sheeting down to fit.

Greg

Dave,

If you can have everything pre-drilled there's no need to set up a drill press. Also, if you aren't set up to make your own it's just as cost effective for the time being to have them made.

Greg

Forum,
My experience is that a butt joint on a linear machine should be fine, but you should stagger the seam to alternate ends of the table so only 1 bearing (out of 4 on the gantry) will touch the area. With proper alignment, you may never know the seam exists! I use multiple segments on angle track rail on my large Turntable designs and I haven't notice a problem - ever. Good luck with your choices! Sean

Sean, Do you have any photos of your machine? The more I see the better off I am. - Greg

Shorter lenghts ?

You could build the full lenght table and only put the parts on the place they fit. that way, you have a whole sheet on the table even though you can only move over most of it.

also, if you have the room, you can pin the work to the table, move the work and re-pin it. location pins are not uncommon.

Dave

Greg,
I don't have anything built yet. Except for the kitchen project! I have a little wiring to finish before testing commences. Maybe this weekend. Halloween has me devoted to haunted houses and kids this week :)

If you look at my personal pages thread you can see what I have done thus far. My point about the cap rail is you can install it like a scarf joint on crown molding. Just cut it at a 45 and marry the two together to form a rolling joint. Very easy to do out of NON-hardened rail like superior sells.

T3 rails from Superior bearing
 

Just got a quote from from Superior Bearing on 8' non hardened T3S rails without pre drilled holes of $51.12 each. At least for us in the USA this
eliminates doing your own.