Painted. Pictures tomorrow

I know, I know..... not telling though :)

New Z axis!

It took a little while to draw this out. I stayed at relatively the same height above the Y car but have some new benefits to the Z. I used a 1610 ball screw with 500mm x 20mm round rails and bearings. I added push adjustments for ease of tramming. I had to make a nylon bushing for the bottom slot so I would have a pivot for front to rear adjustment. There is ±2° adjustment front to rear and ±5° side to side. More than is needed. The steps per inch worked out to 5080 and I can still run 500 IPM rapids. I did gain +2 inches to the retract height. One thing I found before was even though there was 8.79 inches from the collet to the spoilboard, adding a 2.5 inch bit reduced the ability to carve some larger stuff I had to turn away. Now I retract to over 11 inches using the 500mm rails so the bit is up inside the gantry during traverse to the tool change position. I was not looking for this but I worked with the parts purchased. I have full travel to the spoilboard with the collet flat on the spoilboard. Truing the spindle was less than 5 minutes both times. First time when testing and the second after painting.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Enough already, here are the pictures or click one to see them on Flickr.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/...3ac3671f_z.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8635/...c541b462_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/...bd9f0f2b_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/...412fb966_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/...485fed3f_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/...1130e146_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/...8d34391e_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/...dc73e705_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/...476d8022_z.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8602/...0b028fa5_z.jpg

Wow, wow, wow! Looks awesome painted Pete, this is definitely on my list of things to do to the MM.

Looks fantastic Pete!

I assume you used a section of large channel for the pivot mounting plate? Are all the painted sections steel?

Have you tried doing any heavy cutting, how well does the alumimium channel keep the assembly stiff in the forward/back direction?

ps - where do we download the cad files??? :D:D;)

Looks and sounds good.
A lot of time and effort gone into that.
I am sure that it will inspire others.
Well done.

Pete, nice job. I am interested in hearing about what you have done for the dust collection tube. It looks interesting. Could you post some detailed photos and provide some more detailed info?
Thanks

Pete, That is an Excellent Work of Art. I applaud you!

All painted sections are steel. Initial testing has been good so far. I will let you know as it is used more if any problems arise.

I will provide cad files of the design to anyone interested.

I did not have to make any adjustments to the tube up to the 4 to 6 bell reducer. What questions do you have and what would you like to know?

Thank you Tom

Very nicly done, inspiring work.
Thks for sharing and your generosity ! ;)

Excellent work as always Pete!
I really like the adjustments, something I would like to incorporate into my design.
As always, thanks for sharing!
Mark

First cut after upgrade. Cut from a piece of stain grade pine. 12" x 11.25" x 0.75". Model height is 0.74" and is 11" high.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/...2c1cbaed_c.jpgFirst cut after new z axis, on Flickr

Sweet...
So, this New-Z seem to work as good if not better !

For a moment i thought you had made a double extending z slide...

Robert, I may be bias but I honestly think it is better. My touch of probe is slightly off to the spoilboard. This left an onion skin. Before the cut was not as consistent. I was comparing to the Christmas one I cut before. The Z cut appears more even now. There were minute variations before.

Hey Pete, may I be the first to request the cad drawings? Thanks.

Pete, in my book your not being bias.....it's the being self reward & very satisfied with one own work....and good results ;)
I too tend to believe it may be "better"...... it's nicely thought out, nice materiel, nice build......but...cauz there is a one (but), it's the cost factor. Money can make "mechanical" make things ( among other) go better when those factor are inline.
Nicely done mate ;)

Tom, do you want the files or the drawings? If files then which format?

I'm curious.... may I ask you a DWG ?
In what software did you originally did your drawing ? ;)

Rhino 3D

I should ask if you can open 3D dwg's or do require 2D?

Bookmark to read later...
Cheers,
Corei7vne

I can open 3d dgw with autocad, but never tried one from Rhino !?
Meaning, it remain an interpretation, not an original dwg from Autocad !!?
Let's give it a try, if you do not mind !?...;)

Me too please, 2D - either DXF or DWG

Thanks

Me too, please.

Thanks
Milosh

Thanks Pete. :D

Beautiful work on the Z and the hearts!!