...still waiting...got the rails done & mounted. Placed the gantry & y-car on the machine. Cool seeing everything together. Boy, it seems bigger in person than it does in the pictures :)

Attachment 743
...and yes, I know I have to trim the rails to length. This is a good example of the overhang needed for the skate to adequately clear the "usable" portion of the rail.

Sean,

Nice looking "beast".

I agree with your "bigger in person" comment. The pictures also don't do it justice.

I guess that's why we are building one. :)

She's beautiful Sean. You're moving along smartly. Congrats.

Sean, thats a nice looking blue beast. Its already looking like it wants to make chips fly.

...spent most of the afternoon making end stops, stop brackets, proximity switch holes and cutting down Rack Rail.
- now, if those darn contractions on the end of the phone line would just hold off a couple more days :) I could get this all assembled!
Sean

I think you're going to set the record for the fastest build. I can't believe how fast it's coming together for you. AND you're doing beautiful work.

Doug,
Thanks for the kind words. Heck, I would have been done by now if I didn't have to do my real job all day :)
I ordered from McMaster friday a 12mm washer and shim kit for the Vee Rollers. On initial set up, it looks like I need about 1.2mm per bearing to get the spacing just right to center up on the rail. Any one else want to share how much space they ended up with between the Vee and rail centerline on both the X and Y axis?

Gerald - do you have a torque spec for the preload on the bearing or do you just "that feel's about right" tighten it up?

Sean,

I'll be happy to measure mine but I don't understand what you mean by "space between the Vee and rail centerline." Can you rephrase it?

Sean, the bolt does not affect the pre-load on the bearing (does not affect the clearance between the balls and raceway)

Sean that's a good looking machine. congrats are in order.

Doug - how much room do you have between the bearing and the end plates?
1 washer, 2 washer, a full jam nut? Just curious. All of my bearings ended up about 1/8" off the plate to adequately mate with the rails. I haven't taken the rails back off the machine yet and painted, thus I will have a chance to reset it all again here very shortly.
Gerald, Thanks for the pre-load answer. It appeared as if there was no affect from tightening the center race fully, or loosely, but I thought I would check.
JR - thanks, getting there...slowly but surely.

The actual amount of space, whether 1/8" or 1mm is a moot point - it depends on many variables. The main point is that there is space and not a foul. :)

Thanks Gerald. All rolling fine here!

A little motor mounting we go!
 

Today was mount the motors to the x and y axis day.
*please note, I already know I need to get shorter set screws for the pinions* :D I know that Gerald's keen eye will miss nothing.
The springs work REALLY well. Once to motors are engaged, there is not a millimeter to be moved - nice :)

Attachment 758

Attachment 759

Attachment 760

Looking good Sean !!!!!

It's not a race because quality is more important, but your way ahead of my progress. And, it's looking like top notch workmanship.

Hey Sean,

Your machine is really looking great! :) Thanks for the pics. How's the baby situation going????? Has the "stork" visited? Are congrats in order? Tell Tell I'm sure J.R. won't be too upset if you are too tied up.

J.R.

No smoke allowed....:D and WAAAAY too much free time. Beautiful job on your "cable runs". You've kind of set the standard here in the States.


Greg J,

I can understand your excitement about your z-plate. I'm going to attempt to grind mine on the (ouch) :eek: table saw.....poor thing.....

Doug......pics......what's up


Starting Friday I'll FINALLY get the chance to work on my machine. Watching everybody's progress has been killing me. :):)


Who would have ever believed one man could create such a stir around the world? It's great isn't it?

Yes Sean, I was looking at that set screw, but the rest of the neat job told me it was temporary. :)

But, it is worth discussing that screw a bit . . . .
- if it is too long, it could foul with the framework above it.
- a "common" problem is that the setscrews come loose. They have to be tightened down really hard with a new allen key. When the allen key starts to bend then the screw is tight.
- Loctite can be used on the screw and the shaft. (Loctite is loosened by heat)

When I unpacked my geared motors today, I saw for the first time that they only have one flat on the shaft. The direct motors have 2 flats 90 deg. apart. I am very tempted to touch a grinder to the motor shaft . . . .

Gerald
I too, may grind another flat on the shaft. At minimum, I ordered the knurl point set screws that "bite" a little better than the standard brad point. Additionally, I didn't feel comfortable with size of set screw the pinions came with 6-32, so I bored up and retapped to 10-32 for comfort.

Sounds like you made it to the bottom of the your care package?:D

FYI. I ground my rails to 1.25" and was able to still use without conflict the laser cut mounts from the pre-mamba files. I am using 20t pinions. What a great, configurable design!

Yes, I got to the bottom of the box, thanks. :)

The set-screws bite into the shaft whether knurled or not (shafts are softish non-magnetic steel) - unknurled screws should tighten down harder because less energy is used to gouge the knurl.

The bite marks make it difficult to remove the gear unless that bite is on the pre-made flat portion. This is probably the bigger reason to make the flat spot first - so that the reference round part of the shaft is not damaged by the screw.

I can see your motors hang below level with Mamba rails and older motor plates. Realise that the metric guys with 5/8" square [16mm] racks might not be so lucky to get it all to fit first time.

I do plan on changing to Mamba plates when I make the part run in the couple of weeks. Based on interest, I will most likely run 16-20 sets of parts and keep on the shelf for those in need later on.
Now - its time for baby - this time for real!
...running to car quickly. Sean

Sean,

Time for REAL Baby pictures!!!!

Just remembered that the Mamba motor plates have the same hole spacings. The mod was made on the plates to which motor plates are mounted. ie. gantry ends and y-car sides.

New baby, not blue!
 

Just heard from Sean, his new daughter has arrived!

All is well, pink & wiggly. He sounded very happy & tired.

Congratulations!

Congrats Sean,

Do post pictures of new "lady in your life"

RGDS
Irfan

Congrats Sean!!!! Daughters are great.

GO Sean !!!:D

Congratulations and best wishes.:)

Congratulations to you and your wife.

Sean,
Congratulations and all the best to your new addition to the family!

John

Congrats Sean (and missus) thats great news.

Alan

Congratulations for the Reish family!

Hope to see you back here sometimes between diaper duties . :)

Sean,

Congratulations!!!!

Congrats Sean,
Hope you can get some sleep soon! :)

Congratulations Sean

Children are a blessing from the Lord. Enjoy your new family! Those sleepless nights will seem endless, but take it from someone looking back from the other end of the spectrum, the time will fly by and, before you know it, you will be babysitting (sorry, my wife tells me we are Grandparenting) your babies' babies. Presently, we are "up north" (Huntsville, Ontario) grandparenting our 3 little ones (ALL UNDER 3 YEARS OLD) while daddy is working and mommy is in Florida at a work conference. We are making memories with our grandkids.
The best time in your life is always the present moment! Have fun !!

Paul

Sean,

Is this your first? WOW! My advice... Start teaching them early on that mirrors are often used for more that putting on make-up and doing your hair. My second (and last) just learned to drive. Adding up the female members of the family...

3 females ->> total number of times they backed into the wall of the garage :eek::eek: :eek: :eek::eek::eek::eek:

No names but they are grouped youngest to oldest.

Seriously. Hearty congratulations!!!!!!!!!

Sean,

Congratulations !!!!!!!

Kids are a blast. Not the teenage years, but before and after teenage, its fun.

Our boy (26, will always be the "boy") is a saturation (deep sea) diver. We can actually sit down over a beer and talk now. Very proud of him.

This is my second
Son - Cael is 2
Girl - Colby is new!
I think were done. I don't want to be outnumbered like my parents. I'm last of 5 kids :D
Its pretty cool typing on my blackberry and feeding the little girl at the same time! Just neat.

Sean,

Very nice name your wife and you picked out. Thanks for sharing with us and lets see the pics.

Congratulations with Colby Sean !!!

Congrats on your new daughter, I find it incredible that you are still have enough energy to respond to the board, my question in particular withen minutes. As the proud father of a 17 almost 18 year old daughter, they truely are always daddy's little girl.