OK taking the plunge

[stephen]

Well I was living in an RV waiting for my house to close when I ordered my M3 just before x-mas and now 2 months later my life has enough restored order to set aside a Sunday for assembly. In my typical Sunday fashion I have wasted valuable morning hours doing nothing but reading unimportant internet articles and news but am fixing to watch a utube video and start at 11. 

I hope some of you guys are hanging around today because I am sure I will hit a bump and need some knowledgeable input. I ordered mine with the spindle and extra braces. Any pre-assembly recommendations are appreciated.

I am watching some of the relevant youtube videos now and have printed out the instructions and taken over the kitchen table. The site said a few hours to a weekend. Being somewhat mechanically inclined I am hoping by midnight I can turn it on    

[Derek the Admin]

Woohoo! Keep us posted.

[Big Man Black T-Shirt(Patrick)]

My advice is simple, and you know it already I'm sure. Take your time, reference all the photos on the millright site for detailed views, make sure the MDF and aluminum pieces are squared up to one another before you tighten it all down, and you should be fine.

When it's time for the electronics make sure you set the voltages of the drivers correctly, and make sure to observe polarity when making connections.

Above all, don't hesitate to ask questions here on the forum. No matter how trivial or stupid you think that question might be, someone else has asked it before and we all don't mind answering. Unlike many forums, I have yet to find any jerks here who try to make you feel stupid for asking a question.

[stephen]

Thanks!

I'm plodding along very very slowly. little break waiting on my wife to return with superglue for Y-axis assembly. In the tips section on keeping wood screws from vibrating out. 5 hours and counting.

[stephen]

Ok question, When putting the Y-axis bed on I didn't put washers on the 6 wood screws. I also didn't use superglue because the instructions didn't mention it for those. I was going to go with it because if I un-tighten the wood screws now that they are tightened then the washers will make the screws go in less that the holes the screws made and make the fit loose??

Is this a good move or should I remove, put washers on and squirt supper glue in the holes?

[Derek the Admin]

The superglue is a good tip but I’ve had them in there without it for quite a while and it’s been just fine. I recommend proceeding as you are.

[stephen]

Thanks Derek! I can certainly tell I made a great choice already. The support from you and this board is as important as the cutter to me! I read the instructions that clearly said put a washer on wood screws and then screw them in and I got in a hurry and forgot. I did remember all the washers between the bearings though :-)

About 7 hours in and I figure about half finished. I would note that I am a very slow cautious assembler. Having had to tear things apart over the years has made me decide I would rather just go slow and methodical and do the best I can the first time.

Will pickup again tomorrow and keep this thread updated.

[Big Man Black T-Shirt(Patrick)]

Feb 19, 2018 0:13:50 GMT stephen said:

Ok question, When putting the Y-axis bed on I didn't put washers on the 6 wood screws. I also didn't use superglue because the instructions didn't mention it for those. I was going to go with it because if I un-tighten the wood screws now that they are tightened then the washers will make the screws go in less that the holes the screws made and make the fit loose??

Is this a good move or should I remove, put washers on and squirt supper glue in the holes?

I second Derek's advice. I didn't use SG on mine and I recently did a check of all screws and they are all still as tight as they were when I first assembled it. 

Also, don't get discouraged if this takes you longer than you think it should. My assembly took a week or so, but then I'm not the most motivated human, you know?

[stephen]

Thanks Clark, yeah not in any hurry. This is for my part time business so all deadlines are self imposed. Going to be cool to have a better understanding. My Axiom in addition to being way too big was a total mystery, this one I will better understand.

[stephen]

OK back in the saddle. Starting on Saturday AM this time so should have a router by the end of the weekend no matter what happens.

[stephen]

Honey do's killed the plan last weekend but today is mine

Ok another question, the spindle mount bolts don't list washers. In packet are the 4 black bolts and the nuts but no washers. Would vibration cause these to become loose? I do have both a packet of 7 m6 split lock washers and a packet of 10 m6 flat washers but hesitant to use them and be short somewhere else???

The bolts also seem about a 1/8 inch too short with little grab for nuts? I am wondering if I am using the wrong bolts?

(scratch that, just looked at utube vidio and it is clearly those bolts)

[Derek the Admin]

Ya ithose bolts are okay. A little blue thread locker can be used if you have concerns.

[stephen]

good enough for me, they do seem to have enough grab. Thanks for the confirm.