Titivating A CNC Plasma Table

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awemawson:
Propane Gas torch Pete

For years I've had a blue bottle of butane and a torch on a length of tubing - if fact I've installed central heating with it in five houses! But I got fed up searching for a lighter and wanted a 'click to light' one.

I thought that I was being extravagant buying a "Rothenberger Super Fire 2" torch kit complete with a 'hot bag' to keep it all in but it has been amazingly useful in the workshop - ready to hand - instant lighting - focused flame - idea for soldering box corners :lol:

awemawson:
This morning I bent up a pair of fixing brackets for the belt cover for the left hand side of the gantry, and sweated them onto the box. This allowed me to mark hole positions on the pinion swinging plate, to be drilled and tapped when it is removed.

Then with slight trepidation I started dismantling the left hand end of the gantry assembly. In practise it went quite well. I started by removing the stepper motor and limit switch and associated wiring, then releasing the spring tension on the pinion I was able to unbolt the rest of it and pull it apart.

Having the main bracket plate off allowed me to mount it up on the milling machine, pick up the location of the holes that were being used, and with that as a reference place correctly located ( 40 mm away) holes so all fixings on the HiWin sliders can be used. As the incorrect holes were at 45 mm spacing, inevitably I had to form a slot rather than a hole.

After a quick check that the new holes were in the right place, it was a case of cleaning up a couple of nasty welds and re-making them, a good rub down and a coat of Ford Tractor Blue.

All together quite productive, but I will have to repeat all this on the other side when I've re-assembled what I've done today, but that will have to wait for the paint to dry. Very glad I made up that wooden gantry support - it made the job much easier :thumbup:

awemawson:
OK paint dry enough to handle, so I've re-assembled the left hand gantry end.

The T5 timing belt is unbelievably tight even at the slackest adjustment, and is showing signs of fatigue - it's 5/8" wide 5 tooth per inch and every time I count the teeth I get 71 which seems an unusual number to choose. I'll replace it (them) with a 72 or even 73 tooth to get the adjustment in the centre of it's travel.

Then it was a case of 'rinse and repeat' - I've stripped the right hand gantry assembly, relocated the holes, cleaned it up and given it a coat of paint which will hopefully dry overnight.

awemawson:
It seems that these belts are metric specification 5 mm pitch 16 mm wide with 71 teeth and a "T5-355" which gives the belt length. I've ordered three "T5-365" which have 73 teeth so hopefully will put the adjustment about right.

All three original belts (X, X-Slave and Y) are the same, have the same over tension issue and are showing signs of distress :bugeye:

mattinker:
Andrew, 71 teeth for regular wear? If it's not to long, a 73 rather than a 72 tooth.

Just got back, haven't unloaded the saw yet!

All the best, Matthew

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