Hey brainchild, I know that spindle/tool choice is up to the user, but I was wondering if you plan to drill and tap the Z-axis block to facilitate a tool holder, or leave that up to the individual? I don't think I've seen this covered specifically, although I know ideas have been bandied about and I've seen your Sharpie holder. Which raises another question. What were the two nylon looking bolts/screws sticking out at 45 degrees from one corner? I'm thinking of making an interchangeable head for various tooling options.

OK, I've thought of an unrelated question, and I'll just throw it in here. Traversing speed accuracy. You were using 30ipm for your Sharpie test, and haven't necessarily found an upper working limit, (dependent on a whole range of variables I know), but what about really slow traversing speed, say around 1ipm. Does accuracy suffer at low speeds? There would be no cutting involved, I'm still exploring the 3D laser scanner.

Check the second pic:

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?s...st&p=291958

The machine can go far slower than 1IPM with ever increasing resolution. It is set to 8x microstepping.

Those were the pictures I was refering too, but what isn't clear to me is whether you intend to ship the Z blocks drilled and tapped for us to fit our own tool holders to, or if we do it ourselves to whatever suits our purpose. And I still don't get what those nylon looking screws are for.

Illuminate things for me, kind sir.

Indeed. I was on my handheld and maybe glossed over your post...

For including/excluding the holes, we can do either. I had thought I'd add them on to establish a bit of a standard we could all work off of, but if anyone needs something else, feel free to ask.

For the Nylon 'franken-adjusters' I mentioned them here post 2:

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?s...st&p=291893

But I guess you're not hanging on my every word? Why not?

I had always planned to test some type of micro-precision lash adjusters made from a sacrifice screw like Nylon, PTFE etc. I had some 1/4-20 Nylon screws around so they became bait. Since these Z bearing pieces were made a bit large, I chose them to test the idea. They work perfectly, but are quite crude compared to anything I'd actually sell. I've only snugged them once when I installed them, so they obviously don't wear quick.

For me, inclusion of the holes would be favorable, as it would save me having to find a way to do the drilling/tapping myself, and I'd work with the specs you offered. I can't imagine that if I had to do it myself I'd come up with anything significantly different, given the size of the piece. But it's far from a sticking point and if you decided not to offer it as part of the package I wouldn't be crying over it.


I think I have read everything micRo related, but I had not associated that particular post with the screws. I hope there's not going to be a test at the end of this!

I agree, please drill/tap the holes for a mount on the Z block.

Set the standard up front, then any mounts you offer will just bolt on without any future mods.

I don't currently have the precision equipment to drill/tap them. I will once I get my micRo.

Rick

Yes please.

Thank you.

KTHXBYE!

Pre-drilled/tapped holes seems like a good thing to me.

For me the predrilled and tapped holes would be very welcome.
My feeling is that the product will be used by many that never used a cnc before, like myself.
And as such a kind of person i would rather not drill holes in an important part of the machine the first day it arrived.
And if a standard is set we could exchange designs and even g-code to machine a mount.

So I'm getting the idea that you guys don't want any drill/tapped mounts?

Nah, I think I'll just velcro my tool heads on.

no, No NO !!!

I for one *DO* want your motor/spindle/mount as soon as it is available, hopefully when you are able to ship my micRo.
That will complete the package and get me started, which is the entire idea of getting the micRo in the first place.

Brainchild, maybe you forgot the smiley ?

On another note, I have been wondering about how I'll be able to mount the X rails on the base board and get them as parallel as possible.

Could you supply a drilling template for them ? Maybe roll it around one of the Y rails so that it won't have any folds in it that would mess up the positioning of the drill holes ?

I doubt a template would be any more accurate than using a good square, steel rule and scribe. Personally, unless there was a recommendation, I was simply going to screw one side down, assemble the micRo and use the travel to square up the opposite rail.

Or is this a bad idea?

I guess we are a bit off topic here, about the spindles, and I accept the blame.

Not a bad idea, I have been kicking it about also. Part of the concern is that in the pics I've seen, the X axis motor/end blocks seem to be screwed in from the bottom, or is their attachment to the X rails hidden ? If screwed in from the bottom, that is another alignment point of error for us to make. Ok, mount one end block, then place the rail in position, but how to find proper place to drill the other end/motor block holes when they are hidden underneath ?

Now you see why I mentioned a template ? To save Lumenlab time, maybe one that we can download/print on our own ?

Rick

I always thought the rails had holes counter sunk on the top. Looking at the picture on the store I think you can make out the holes, and I probably just assumed they were countersunk, but I could be wrong.

And it's not really off topic, as we're just refining our knowledge on the assembly aspects of the wee beast.

The rails, yes. I can see their screw holes. It is the end blocks, the HDPE blocks that the motor and screw are supported by that I don't see what is holding them in place.

Rick

Sorry! Wasn't thinking about the end blocks! I don't have an answer for that one though, so we'll have to wait for Brainchild.

2 more "NOs" to mounts. Good, less work for me.

You're funny, Brain.

You will be supplying the velcro though won't you?

Yes, it is part of my 1990's shoe recycling plan.