11-16-2012, 04:23 AM
I used steel at 4mm thickness.
Originally the design called for 100mm square Al but after deciding to add the option of occasional light routing, I went the steel route.
I'll lose a bit of acceleration with the extra weight and hope to combat that by going with the 425oz steppers instead of the 300's.
Depending on how light you get your carriage, you may need to add some form of additional support to stop it flexing during direction changes. One method, and the lightest is to use a strap with an adjustment bolt in the middle. I'm not sure how to explain it well. They use the same method in sheet metal brake construction for fine adjustments to keep the unit flat and true.
Aluminium extrusions are generally quite accurate and more than good enough for plasma application. My father runs the local Aluminium supplier's warehouse so I get anything from the offcut rack for much less than scrap value, that is if I get charged anything at all
Originally the design called for 100mm square Al but after deciding to add the option of occasional light routing, I went the steel route.
I'll lose a bit of acceleration with the extra weight and hope to combat that by going with the 425oz steppers instead of the 300's.
Depending on how light you get your carriage, you may need to add some form of additional support to stop it flexing during direction changes. One method, and the lightest is to use a strap with an adjustment bolt in the middle. I'm not sure how to explain it well. They use the same method in sheet metal brake construction for fine adjustments to keep the unit flat and true.
Aluminium extrusions are generally quite accurate and more than good enough for plasma application. My father runs the local Aluminium supplier's warehouse so I get anything from the offcut rack for much less than scrap value, that is if I get charged anything at all