I can cut you a set if you want. Tell me the quantity and size

Kobus,
Did you mean cut me a set of decals? If so the same as yours two off.

Ready for painting
 

Well finally it is ready to be painted. All the brackets, chains etc has been done and fitted. Some work left on the Z axis.
I decided the colour will be Ford blue after I saw the colour on a machine on one of the forums this morning.

Will do it this week

Marius,

Interesting table design you have.

Nils, if you look at my first postings you will see that the table had I beams and was a bit smaller. We had the table part already (bought with some other equipment) and had to fit the rails and gantry. During the process I discovered that the cutting area was too small for the job that we are building the machine for. Hence the overnight change and the strange design. What I did score was some extra Z movement. The whole gantry can move completely over the edge of the table. This way it is easy to do tool changes.

Gerald is there a colour code for the Ford Blue colour? Maroons will mix the paint for me but I need a code or sample to give them.

See the link I posted yesterday - right in the first post of that thread.

Sorry about that:o

Here it is better known as Traffic Blue - the colour you see on our freeway signs.

Gerald, is it also known as Ford Tractor Blue or is this another colour?

That is the colour. Tremclad and Rustoleum also have a very similar colour. I believe the Rustoleum is Sail Blue and the Tremclad is Light Blue. We have the Tremclad here in Canada and that is what I will be using. :) Ford Tractor blue is the same thing and can be had at most farm type stores. If the Mechmates keep up Ford will have to start calling it Mechmate Blue. :)

Marius, the paint companies work with the RAL numbers in that link, they don't really work with names. Just pick yourself a nice blue!

Gerald
I found a company just up the road from me that will mix the exact RAL number for me. I will get some paint from them tomorrow.:)

Marius i like your emergency plan, Nice machine.

It is possible see the extruded beam coupled to base details?

This is your rail system?

Ros,
Almost like your drawing. The rail still protrudes over the edge of the extrusion as to fit the rack below the rail. The extension pieces were laser cut and put together as a box of sorts and then slipped over the 75x75 tubing of the table. I laser cut the mounting holes so that we have a perfect match. We also aligned the extension pieces with a laser. The end result (with the extrusion) is a very true linear section.

I always wanted to build my entire project with t slot extrusion. Its seems the way to go. Quick and easy to modify. Keep up the good work.

Tim

Tim,
I am actually busy developing a full set of extrusions for our own use. We will be building custom machines with these extrusions in the near future. Mostly small footprint machines but the extrusions are very heavy so they will allow for building of large machines as well. The costing however will not be the same as the MechMate. It will be difficult to beat the MM on price. But the manufacturing process and time will be less on the extrusion method. The site is not up yet but keep watching for www.mastercut.co.za .

I look forward to seeing your website up and running. Are you planning on any plasma cutting or lazer on your current build? With that size of machine you could build anything :rolleyes: Ah, the posibilities!

Tim

Tim,
We are planning to make a crane gantry high over the machine with a water box so that we can do some plasma cutting with the same machine. For commercial plasma machines, I have a slightly different aproach. The machine must have a very heavy base to ensure that it can carry at least 1.5 ton. The linear sections and gantry will be the extrusions.

Went to see Marius this morning....must say a really impressive machine.....wish I had the space:D Nice going Marius

Gerald,
Any ideas on how to handle the dust extractor tube. With the table being large it poses a bit of a problem. The dust collector is situated next to the machine midways. The tube is 100mm in diameter. I was thinking of a swing arm with a roller track.:confused:

A swing arm with a track under it, and one or two runners supporting the hose, seems to be the best option.

Gerald,
Should I make the swing arm to reach the furthest corner? If not, what is the practice?

I don't know of standard practice because I havn't seen enough systems. I think the biggest factor is the amount of ceiling height you have above the table. If you have plenty of height, you don't even need a swing arm. . . .

Hi Marius
Have a look at my vacuum setup
http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showt...1664#post21664

Well finally we are cutting. The first part I cut was the dust foot for the extractor. We are cleaning up and making last minute adjustments but we will commision the machine today. I will post some pics later.

thats great - I find your machine one of the most beautiful to look at - and to see it working would be so much so good.

I will come around and break the Champange bottle on the side some time if I am in that area. Well done

Well Done! I look forward to seeing what projects come off that huge machine! How about a video?

Tim