jeffd
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by jeffd on Sept 2, 2016 3:16:22 GMT
I'm not sure if I'll be as good at updating, or do as excellent a job... but starting a place to report on my build status.
My unfinished kit arrived on Monday. I was very impressed with the detail of the packaging and wrapping of the kit -- done right. With it spread it out on the counter/bench in my garage I was rather surprised at the number of parts -- I expected some 5000 piece puzzle, but this looks much more manageable than that!
Last night my build started with a bit of primer. (this picture is from then) Tonight I put on a second primer coat for good measure. If weather and time cooperates I want to put the finish coat on Saturday and start the build on Monday. I've selected a black epoxy paint. There are some real fancy enamels available (did Dan use one of those?), but I only have the one kit and don't want to make it ugly by trying to be fancy. hahaha
Anyway, I took a couple extra days off this coming week so I can focus on getting this done. More updates as I make progress... and as I remember to take pictures.
Jeff
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Post by Derek the Admin on Sept 3, 2016 1:40:01 GMT
Looking good so far Jeff. Thanks for sharing your initial experience.
I'm looking forward to seeing the build and you getting up and running. We'll be here if you need any help along the way.
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kb9jlo
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by kb9jlo on Sept 3, 2016 3:14:18 GMT
No, I couldn't find anything epoxy locally but when I saw the Rustoleum hammer tone I had to have it.
Might regret it later.
Looks good and keep us posted. If you have any issues let us know.
I like that it's a kit and that we can personalize it a little. The underlying design is all worked out but we can creatively make it our own.
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Post by aforww on Sept 3, 2016 5:31:12 GMT
JUST FYI, If you haven't gotten to it already, Have a piece of MDF with a 3/8 inch hole drilled in it handy. Really helps when you pressing those bearings into the wheels. Greatly speed up that little part of the build.
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jeffd
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by jeffd on Sept 4, 2016 20:28:28 GMT
JUST FYI, If you haven't gotten to it already, Have a piece of MDF with a 3/8 inch hole drilled in it handy. Really helps when you pressing those bearings into the wheels. Greatly speed up that little part of the build. Good idea! I didn't have a convenient sized piece of MDF, but did have a 2x4 scrap that served the same purpose. One note I thought of while putting these together is that I've always been told that using a hammer when working with bearings is a no-no. They're too easy to damage or break. Jeff
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jeffd
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by jeffd on Sept 4, 2016 20:34:57 GMT
Two more images of progress. I've got a couple coats of the epoxy paint on and they are dry to the touch. Still need to wait a day or so for them to finish curing. Also have the V Wheel Kit bearing assemblies together and the Y axis stage assemblies in good order. I'm stopping at this point waiting for the epoxy.
One other thing I noticed about the V wheel kit, is that the washer between the bearings will have a tendency to slid around a bit when the bolt is removed. A little jiggle and it slides back in place.
Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon when I can get going on this again!
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Post by Derek the Admin on Sept 5, 2016 0:08:56 GMT
Nice work Jeff. Seems like its coming along. If you were just looking for work while things cured that X and Z plates assembly could get put together and set aside.
Thanks for posting and please keep us updated.
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kb9jlo
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by kb9jlo on Sept 5, 2016 3:12:47 GMT
Looks good Jeff. Yes, on the washer thing. They always moved on me no matter how hard I tried to hold them still. It was a little game between me and V wheels and I always lost.
Pace yourself if you can. It's really fun putting this thing together.
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Post by Derek the Admin on Sept 5, 2016 13:12:18 GMT
Tip on the V wheels:
Try to just keep a bolt in there at all times. Put the first bearing in, slide a bolt in, washer on the bolt, other bearing in, Set a aside. When you get ready to install it leave that first bolt in and push it out (from the other side, obviously) with the bolt that you are going to fasten the v wheel with.
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jeffd
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by jeffd on Sept 6, 2016 3:14:13 GMT
A bit more progress today, and no real assembly challenges so far except getting the self-tapping screws into the V rails. This took quite a bit of effort/strength, and keeping the rail from spinning was difficult. Might need a tad of touch-up paint there. One thing I did realize (after the fact, of course) is that the hold-down clamps I bought ( Rockler Mini Deluxe Clamps) won't work with the t-nuts in place as the bolts are too large. Actually, the bolts were too large anyway. I did see a "clamp bolts" bag, but haven't looked forward to see how those are used. Perhaps they are my solution? I'm not married to the Rockler clamps, but do you have any suggestions? More pictures attached. Jeff
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kb9jlo
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by kb9jlo on Sept 6, 2016 16:59:46 GMT
Looks good. I like the texture of the paint. On the clamps - you can probably use them but use the screws from the kit instead of their bolts. I too have some of those Rockler clamps. You might need a washer under the screw head to hold the clamp. For testing purposes I just used washers under the screw heads and had it 'wedge' my board to the table but it just so happened that my blank was very close to fitting also. I borrowed this image of a rocker clamp: Instead of t-slots though we have screws into tee nuts. Here's a project to make some out of wood: www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-CNC-Clamps/I think I'll use real wood to make some. You can either use a screw in the end like this guy did or put blocks underneath it. Or like the Rockler clamps you could create some with a bowed shape so they 'rock' to hold the work. Lot's of options. The only issue I see with rocker type clamps is the 'slot' - meaning you'd either have to create that at the drill press or possibly use your router as a manual mill? Of course that's the thing. Once you get this thing working you suddenly have a whole lot more options for making things.
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Post by kevin on Sept 6, 2016 21:49:44 GMT
It looks like you are making some good progress on your machine. The paint looks great too.
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jeffd
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by jeffd on Sept 7, 2016 3:02:05 GMT
More progress today, but not as much as I hoped for. Lawn work got in the way. I got the X Axis and Z Axis assemblies married up... correctly I think. I got the rigidity kit, so have the extra V Wheels. I did have a problem installing the eccentric spacers on the X Axis bearing plate. The three 'A' holes that should fit in were just a fraction too small. They would fit in on the opposite (wrong) side with little effort, but did not fit in the correct side at all. I was able to ream the hole out slightly to get them to fit snugly, but this would seem to be a problem with the fabrication on the plate I received. Not a big deal for me. I was stressed about getting everything in the right order and direction here; don't want to have to take it apart to correct a problem I caused myself. I found this instruction "Run the left most M5 screw through the free loop of the spring, and tighten it down." came a little late as I had already tightened all the mounting and tension screws. "Make sure the rods are parallel and the two rod supports are even in terms of their position on the X Axis Bearing Plate before you put a final torque on these mounting and tension screws. " Assuming I got the spring in the correct location, it would seem advisable to know that sooner rather than torquing down the nylock nut. Maybe I should have read ahead one more line. Anyway, more photos attached of today's progress. Tomorrow, on the the belt and Y axis assembly. Maybe more.... Jeff
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jeffd
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by jeffd on Sept 7, 2016 3:13:00 GMT
I was also going to add... I take back that comment about there not being 5000 pieces. I now think there are that many screws, nuts, bolts and washers. Every time the pile gets smaller, I have to open a new bundle. Thanks Kevin! Dan, Thanks for the comment on the texture, but it was actually a happy accident created by how I applied the primer. I used a small roller to make sure the primer was on evenly and it left a bit of texture. I thought the epoxy would level cover it but it did not. It might have with a couple more coats, but I'm pretty happy with the look and feel of it as it is. I did use an entire can of spray. The clamp instructables looks simple enough. I might just use the Rockler clamps long enough to make those clamps and move on. They're nice, but quite a bit more than I think I need. Thanks again! Jeff
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Post by Derek the Admin on Sept 7, 2016 4:27:24 GMT
Attachment DeletedJeff, On the note of the eccentrics. You are right. I just checked it out myself to confirm that yours wasn't a fluke. I found a similar situation on some others. It looks like we have a little reaming to do before we send the next ones out. We get these laser cut and a laser has a taper to it because of how the beam converges and diffuses. I've just sent something to the laser shop about this because that amount of taper is more than expected (obviously) and I think may represent a focusing issue on their laser. I appreciate you mentioning it and I hope it wasn't much fuss. That feedback was quite helpful to us. Also, thanks for the feedback on the order of the spring/mount screw related instructions. I just made a tweak so the next version is going to incorporate your suggestions. Customers like you make it better for the next! Ok, on your X/Z assembly: Did you use the M5x25 screws for the rod mounts instead of M5x16? That's what they look like. You'll need those for the frame corner brackets if I am eyeballing that right and they are in fact M5x25 that you have there. Check out the attachment... it's a hardware matrix that shows what hardware is used with what part. The assembly instructions control if there is any conflict (there shouldn't be, but just FYI). Page 12 and 13 on the instructions are your best bet for hole and hardware correlation. Also, I think you are good but just to make sure the X axis engagement stud.... that is an M6 that is 40mm long, right? On the paint texture: Sometimes things just go your way. I think it look good. And there is a fair amount of hardware, but I promise it's a tad short of 5000. You are doing good and things are moving along. Belt tension is important.... as you embark on that step be sure to check out this thread: millrightcnc.proboards.com/thread/15/belt-tensioning-tipWe'll be here if ya need us and thanks again for the feedback.
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