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June 5 2009

I considered using roller chains to drive the CNC and 1/2" wide L belts for the differential. I

ordered a 10' length of #35 roller chain and 24 tooth sprockets to see what they would look like. In

the mean time everyone I asked said, "It won't work!" Was taking for ever for the chain to get here

so I went ahead and ordered all the L belt pulleys and went that direction. The roller chain finally

came in yesterday and after looking at it I am pretty sure that it would of worked and saved me a

few hundred FRNs. If there is a next time I am sure going to give it a try.

The bearings and pulleys are mounted on the gantry.

Mounted the motor and differential belt. All looks real

good, to me.

The belt clamp for dragging around the Z-axes is

installed. I will wait until I get the bearing and pulley

setups configured for the Y before I order the belts.

That will give me a few weeks to save up for what I

hope is the last big cash layout.

Tomorrow I am planning on starting to mount and

connect up the electronics.

Used aluminum hard drive cooler from Tiger Direct

for the 2 Gecko drives. The heat sink unbolted and

turned upside down on the stand. I then tapped the heat

sink and bolted on the little drives.6/13/2009

The controls are connected and all is well except the Z

drive.

There is plenty of room and good air

circulation with the intake and exhaust fans. I modified

some of the bearing setups and it's time to get back to

the table. I am having some grief trying to figure out the

motor mounts but we will get them figured out.

  6/26/2009

Fabricated and installed the motor mounts and

connected the differential belts.

Y Drive

Z Drive. I used the XL belt for the Z and a 260 oz/in

motor. I think it will work for us.

4'x8' CNC Plasma Torch Construction Log.

Page #2.th.

 II found a blob of solder under the board, dug it out and it powers

up but it's toast. No motor output so I am going to order another Gecko

 Monday, oh well.

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The Z axes is going to have a floating head attached.

The stepper is just for raising and lowering the whole

assembly to get it out of the way. When it is time to cut

it lowers the torch to the material and the floating head

will keep things at the proper distance. I think I know

what I am doing with this part.

All the belt clamps are installed and I ordered the belts

this morning. Rather costly as Econo Belt doesn't havelong enough belting for the Y, I wound up having to

order these from McMaster-Carr.

This weekend is the 4th. of July and I am planning on

getting the table wired up, the belts on and tune the

motors. I would like to be able to give it a test run and

see if she is gonna jump off the saw horses. Looking

foreword to finishing the machine up and start burning

some steel.

July 11, 2009

On the next page I have a group of general images. Themachine is tuned and the table is setup. Next step is to

finish the floating head then build the legs and deck to

hold the material.

 

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