[Notes from a Creator] Today it will be COMPLETE!!
The replacement motor has just arrived! After I finish this post I'm
off to buy some Onsrud cutters for the router and an extension hose for
the shop vac, I'll slap the new motor on the z axis, and I'll be OFF
AND MILLING!!!
It's about damn time.
Over the weekend I did some testing and tuning using only the x and y
axises and a sharpie mounted in the router.
As you can see, with the first run (at the bottom), it started off
pretty good, but as it progressed the x axis kept slipping. The problem
was that since the set screw in the drive sprocket was so small (#8, no
head), I couldn't really torque it down tight enough without stripping
the socket and/or allen wrench. Thankfully my friend Calvin was around,
and offered me a couple socket-headed screws that took a much larger
allen wrench, allowing me to apply plenty of torque. While the larger
heads did rub the chain, a little quick grinding with my dremel took
care of that. As you can see, the final test showed no slippage at all.
Another mod I implemented at the suggestion of others was the addition
of two brackets to help support the x axis drive shafts:
We had noticed that when the drive chains were tightened, it would
cause the 1/4" drive shafts to flex. To counteract this, Jeff designed
and milled out several pieces of MDF to hold an additional bearing for
each drive shaft. This way, the shaft would be supported on either side
of the drive sprocket, taking most of the lateral tension off the
sprocket. They work great.
Off to finish the machine!
EDIT:
Manually re-added the pictures.
off to buy some Onsrud cutters for the router and an extension hose for
the shop vac, I'll slap the new motor on the z axis, and I'll be OFF
AND MILLING!!!
It's about damn time.
Over the weekend I did some testing and tuning using only the x and y
axises and a sharpie mounted in the router.
As you can see, with the first run (at the bottom), it started off
pretty good, but as it progressed the x axis kept slipping. The problem
was that since the set screw in the drive sprocket was so small (#8, no
head), I couldn't really torque it down tight enough without stripping
the socket and/or allen wrench. Thankfully my friend Calvin was around,
and offered me a couple socket-headed screws that took a much larger
allen wrench, allowing me to apply plenty of torque. While the larger
heads did rub the chain, a little quick grinding with my dremel took
care of that. As you can see, the final test showed no slippage at all.
Another mod I implemented at the suggestion of others was the addition
of two brackets to help support the x axis drive shafts:
We had noticed that when the drive chains were tightened, it would
cause the 1/4" drive shafts to flex. To counteract this, Jeff designed
and milled out several pieces of MDF to hold an additional bearing for
each drive shaft. This way, the shaft would be supported on either side
of the drive sprocket, taking most of the lateral tension off the
sprocket. They work great.
Off to finish the machine!
EDIT:
Manually re-added the pictures.