Post date: Jan 19, 2014 5:17:04 AM
I'm finally getting around to installing the linear bearings on the Y axis. And by that I mean I've created a plate to hold the rail supports in the proper place:
On the right, you can see the top view, and on the left, the bottom. No, that is not a typo- the bearing blocks will be fixed to the bottom of the mill right under the cutting head so the workpiece is always supported where work is being done. The screws still need to be countersunk, but at least they're darn close to perfectly aligned.
The hole patterns were marked with the CNC mill to ensure alignment (I love having the machine upgrade itself), then drilled on a drill press. By "marked" I mean "shallow pilot holes were created with an end mill". The carriages are on roughly a 7" square pattern (center to center). Since the table will be ~14" wide, putting the supports at the 1/4 and 3/4 points seemed like a reasonable choice for ensuring support across the entire table.
I've also got a new chunk of aluminum to replace the old table- if I'm tearing the table and leadscrews off anyway, I might as well upgrade it.