Titivating A CNC Plasma Table

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awemawson:
Glad you are safely back Matthew. It seems 73 is the next standard size so that's what I've ordered

awemawson:
I re-assembled the right hand end of the gantry and tested it - all ok.

As I've gone so far, I'll try and pull off the Y drive and clean it up and give it a coat of paint this afternoon - it's box cover is already done.

Then I need to sort out what's causing the lower bearing for the Z ball screw to tilt at such an alarming angle :bugeye:

awemawson:
So fortified by a spot of lunch (Pilchards in mustard sauce on lightly buttered toast - yum :thumbup:) I cracked on and started dis-assembling the Y stepper motor mount. This is very integral with the Z slide, so all came off and were dismantled, cleaned, the odd weld splatter ground back, and - you guessed it - yet more Ford Tractor Blue paint.

Hence there is now yet another box of odd shaped bits to re-assemble tomorrow when the paint can be handled. I've decided to leave the peculiar alignment issue with the Z ball screw until I put the Y stepper mount back. There were shims tilting the slide mount, and I think perhaps we've got compensating errors somewhere. I will re-build it as though starting from scratch - it's only a case of getting the torch held reasonably perpendicular and the Z slide also moving perpendicular - how hard can it be :scratch: (famous last words :ddb: )

There is a 'mini slide' on a short length of HiWin rail that is used to touch down, operate the Z-Down limit, and hence find where the top of the piece being cut is. Dismantling the mount I jolly nearly had the slider off the rails, which I assume would shed ball bearings in every direction :bugeye: The eagle eyed amongst you will notice some brown electrical tape wrapped round it to prevent a repeat performance.

awemawson:
"Scope Creep" - uncontrolled changes or continuous growth in a project's scope. This can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, or controlled. It is generally considered harmful.

Well it obviously happened on this project - I've just found myself ordering six 6003-2RS bearings - the assembly that holds the gear wheels that engage with the racks on the machine each have two of these bearings - and at least one set feels notchy. Easy enough to change, silly not to really, but ........... :scratch:

hermetic:
Scope creep be damned, do it once, do it right, never have to do it again! (at least thats the theory!) Cracking job Andrew, absolutely no point in leaving notchy bearings in a project.

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