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  #1  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 13:55
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
It is CUTTING! Bolted Mechmate with linear bearings - Kansas, MO

OK, I've been on this forum for almost a year, completed the kitchen sink project a while ago, but the build of the structure of the machine has taken longer than planned.

My machine is a little different than most here. As the title suggests, it is a bolted together construction, but I did weld the major subassemblies. Basically, i wanted to be able to assemble/disassemble by myself or with the help of one person. I've actually done that by myself a few times now. I'm also using linear bearings, as before I found this site, I had purchased a set of those. This limits my table to about 6' of X travel (Y is about 4' and Z will be about 12"). In modifying Gerald's plans to allow the use of linear bearings, I tried to make it so that I could go back to V-bearings if I had the need for the full 8 foot of X travel.

Sorry about the red color, but the price was right. A friend who owns an autobody shop had a gallon of 2 part enamel he didn't need, and offered it for free.

Here's some pictures
Attached Images
File Type: jpg MyMech1.jpg (178.8 KB, 2605 views)
File Type: jpg MyMech2.jpg (169.0 KB, 2578 views)
File Type: jpg MyMech3.jpg (63.3 KB, 2552 views)
File Type: jpg MyMech4.jpg (132.1 KB, 2565 views)
File Type: jpg MyMech5.jpg (166.5 KB, 2568 views)
File Type: jpg MyMech6.jpg (157.1 KB, 2557 views)
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  #2  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 15:28
BHawthorne
Just call me: Brad
 
Wichita, KS
United States of America
Looks great, where did you get your parts cut? With me living in Kansas too it would be useful to find a local place to get parts cut for the build.
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  #3  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 15:44
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
I used the Joe Mclain parts (Sweet Home Alabama). Didn't even attempt to source it around here as his price seemed reasonable.
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  #4  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 17:38
Doug_Ford
Just call me: Doug #3
 
Conway (Arkansas)
United States of America
Kevin,

She's beautiful. Congrats.
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  #5  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 17:46
smreish
Just call me: Sean - #5, 28, 58 and others
 
Orlando, Florida
United States of America
Congrats on a really nice table. WIth that nice Red color, maybe some pinstripe or flames would be in order?

Very nicely done.
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  #6  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 18:36
Rad Racer
Just call me: Wayne #25
 
Minnesota
United States of America
Kevin,

Great looking machine. I like the red paint....makes it feel fast, like a Ferrari

Wayne
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  #7  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 18:39
sailfl
Just call me: Nils #12
 
Winter Park, FL
United States of America
Kevin,

Nice bright color.

Why did you decided to go with linear rails and bearings?
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  #8  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 19:56
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
Welcome Kevin.

I am curious to see what your motor tuning/performance is going to look like. (Suspect that the friction of those bearings will reduce the speeds a bit - youtubes one & two)
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  #9  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 21:19
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
Thanks for the positive comments. As for why the linear bearings, as I said, I had somewhat planned a build in my mind using them before finding this site. Mainly because of their perceived precision. It will be interesting to see what kind of precision and repeatability I can optain when complete.

Gerald, you bring up a good point. While it is not difficult to move my gantry or Y-car, there is definitely more friction than with the V-bearings. I would think the mass, and therefore the impact on acceleration/deceleration would be a larger impact on overall speed, but no doubt the friction will come into play.

Oh, from what I was told, it is Porsche red, so I guess it should at least LOOK fast.
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  #10  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 21:35
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
Kevin, I have some experience of using a linear bearing in the z-slide of the first MechMate. It has worked perfectly since day 1 and hasn't needed a moment's attention since. So, I can only speak well of linear bearings so far. That is why I will be looking at your results with keen interest.

Can't see from your photos, but remember to put the plugs into the rails over the screw heads. Most cases where I have seen linear bearings being used, those plugs were not fitted. Without the plug, the seal cannot wipe the top of the bearing rail clean.
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  #11  
Old Mon 24 November 2008, 21:42
gmessler
Just call me: Greg #15
 
Chicago IL
United States of America
Kevin,

Nice machine!
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  #12  
Old Tue 25 November 2008, 01:13
WTI
Just call me: James
 
Detroit (Michigan)
United States of America
Did you factor in the cost of all the traffic tickets you get with a red machine?

Looks REALLY great!
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  #13  
Old Tue 25 November 2008, 22:39
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
Gerald, none of my rails came with plugs. Are they just a press fit piece of plastic?

I looked at your original design with the linear bearing z-axis. I had in mind something similar. From the pictures, I do not see any spring to maintain contact with the rack. Did you use a spring, or more of a fixed mount? Thanks.
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  #14  
Old Wed 26 November 2008, 02:12
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
Yes, they are just press-fitted plastic. You press them in with a plate over the top to get the plug perfectly flush with the rail. Good rail suppliers will supply the plugs with the rail - didn't any fall out of the box when you unpacked yours?

The spring is very visible in this post.
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  #15  
Old Wed 26 November 2008, 08:31
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
I see the spring now. Thanks Gerald. I bought these some time ago off of Ebay. I'm fairly sure there were no plugs, and it's too late to complain now. I wonder if I could find a plastic rod of the correct diameter, and cut it down into little plugs?
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  #16  
Old Wed 26 November 2008, 08:50
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
Suppose you could also pour some filler into those holes and then slice off the excess once it has set?
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  #17  
Old Tue 02 December 2008, 20:40
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
Different Z-slide approach

I think what I'll do is put something "soft" in the bottom on the hole, such as modelling clay, then top off the hole with epoxy or filler. That way if I need to get the rail back off, I can.

Some more progress to show. Here is my Z slide assembly. It's entirely aluminum to try to minimize moving mass. As you can see, I will have up to 30" of travel by unbolting the cross members. The linear rails bolted to the aluminum plate add quite a bit of stiffness, but I am still concerned with flexing while traversing under load in the X-direction. I have about an inch of clearance on the back side of the plate to add a T or U section for additional stiffness. It still needs some refining, but you get the idea.


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  #18  
Old Tue 02 December 2008, 20:44
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
Different Z-slide approach

Opps, sorry about the pictures being sideways. Is there a way to edit the pictures once posted? Fixed since
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  #19  
Old Tue 02 December 2008, 20:54
Marc Shlaes
Just call me: Marc
 
Cleveland, OH
United States of America
Send a message via Skype™ to Marc Shlaes
Try waxing the holes with a q-tip and filling them with Sika-Flex. It is usually used to fill expansion joints in concrete. It remains rubbery forever and it is very easy to use. Just squeeze from a caulking tube. Awesome stuff. Available at concrete supply houses.

BTW: Your machine looks great!!!!!!!!!!! The only thing that would improve it is a little blue paint.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.
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  #20  
Old Tue 02 December 2008, 22:09
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
Very interesting work Kevin!. Here is a good way of stiffening the long slide - you have loads of space for it.
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  #21  
Old Mon 22 December 2008, 16:00
Nikonauts
Just call me: Nikonauts
 
Johore
Malaysia
hi,

my question might be a little bit naive, why do you need such long z-axis?
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  #22  
Old Tue 23 December 2008, 06:09
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
I´ve had a couple guys express interest in having me cut foam molds for race car and custom car body panels. Plus, the incremental cost was insignificant. As I´m set up now, my z travel is only about 11 inches. If and when one of these jobs come through, I will make modifications for 24 inches.
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  #23  
Old Tue 23 December 2008, 12:25
Jonny V
Just call me: Jonnyv
 
Athens - Laurio
Greece
This is my first post....
Congrantulations... my friend this is beaudiful
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  #24  
Old Wed 24 December 2008, 12:45
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
Thanks Jonny. I am on vacation in Brazil right now. Will post some more pictures when \i get back. I hope to be cutting within a week or two after returning. Don´t tell my wife that I am suffering withdrawals from working on the machine.
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  #25  
Old Wed 24 December 2008, 14:10
YRD
Just call me: Yuri #17
 
Brasilia - DF
Brazil
Where?
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  #26  
Old Wed 24 December 2008, 20:36
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
Maragogi
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  #27  
Old Thu 25 December 2008, 06:14
YRD
Just call me: Yuri #17
 
Brasilia - DF
Brazil
2.500 Km
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  #28  
Old Thu 25 December 2008, 16:50
KevinL
Just call me: Kevin
 
Kansas
United States of America
Wow, Gerald has got a memory like a steel trap! Yes, we are in Maragogi. About 120 kilometers south of Recife. I´m curious, the guys from Brasil, what kinds of things are you going to be cutting with your machine?
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  #29  
Old Thu 25 December 2008, 17:02
YRD
Just call me: Yuri #17
 
Brasilia - DF
Brazil
Wood and aluminum ... Gerald although not like this material

Aluminum: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=nGH6kT...e=channel_page

and future: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=w28SzD...eature=channel


and before: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=rbcGQI...eature=channel
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  #30  
Old Thu 25 December 2008, 19:58
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
I love aluminum!

. . . . . . . when it is used correctly (yes, airplanes are perfect example), but I hate it when alu is used just because it looks clean/modern and when steel will do a much better job. You can also make steel look clean & modern.
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