Post date: Feb 3, 2017 12:55:54 AM
Per Betteridge's Law, no.
As it turns out I've been extremely delinquent in posting updates here, so this will have to include some background, as well as what I initially intended to post.
The background: I tried to machine some parts for my laptop case. In doing so, I observed that the Z axis wobbled. A lot. Turns out the bushings in the Z axis are pretty terrible under load. My previous assertion that the Z axis couldn't be all of the error is clearly false- with a single finger I can deflect the tool FAR more than I should be able to (I don't recall the exact numbers).
So now the lid of my laptop is clamped down to the table, and I don't want to un-clamp it and lose my zero. So... time to upgrade the Z axis.
I got that all CAD'd up (big bricks of aluminum for the supporting structures, linear rails to facilitate travel- I should have a picture, but don't want to fire up CAD), ordered bearings/screws, and now I just need to machine the parts.
Which brings me to the update I set out to make here- progress on that front. The Z axis is 6 machined parts: A mounting plate, a carriage, a stepper mount, 2 ballscrew mounting blocks, and a ballnut mounting block. The latter four pieces are complete-ish (sans tapping):
Stepper mount, ballscrew support, ballnut mount, and another ballscrew support.
The mounting plate I haven't started yet, and the carriage (or whatever you want to call the part the spindle clamps to) is... half? done. Everything that can be done from one side has been done, at any rate. So I just need to tap a bunch of holes and finish 1.5 parts... I REALLY want to get that done by the weekend, so tomorrow may be a half day of vacation==shop time...