My next build is coming together. Spent the past two weeks machining parts. Still have more to go, the MIC-6 heat bed is next. This will be an Ultimaker style printer utilizing Hiwin linear rails.
I need to get our CNC mill set up asap now. Beautiful work
I look forward to seeing the final result!
Looking slick! Why no Hiwin rails for Z, though?
@Thomas_Sanladerer do hiwin make any real difference on the z axis? I feel like since there is no drastic movements it shouldn’t matter too much. Just as long as it’s fairly smooth
@Griffin_Paquette quite often the vibrations from XY are transferred through the frame and excite the cantilever bed at its natural frequency. Long smooth rods are extremely flexible, especially once you add the long lever that the bed is.
@Thomas_Sanladerer Yes I did consider using Hiwin rails for the Z. But I had some 20mm linear rods and bearings left over from another project. I am typically not a fan of cantilevered beds, but I’m hoping with 20mm rods I will achieve adequate rigidity. The travel on the Z is also conservative at around 250mm with 400mm overall linear rod length.
@Kyle1 20mm rods 400mm long is fine as long as the cantilever length isn’t more than, say, 200-250mm or so from the rods to the far edge of the bed. But you’re probably going to want a wider bearing stance on each rod. Two LMUUs on each rod with a gap between them is going to outperform the single LMLUUs per rod it looks like you’re using here.
@Ryan_Carlyle yes I am using two single bearings per rail. Total linear bearing contact length is 100mm. The 20mm rods also have a 300% greater cross sectional area compared to the standard 12mm rods typically used for a cantilevered bed. In other words it is my personal opinion thaat 20mm linear rods are more than adequate at suppressing vibrations. The printer frame will be constructed of 1"X2" 8020 with top and bottom 3/8" MIC-6 plates. I have nicknamed this build the BEEFBOX and I am sure you can see why.
Sounds pretty sturdy. Cantilevering is never ideal but it works as long as you don’t push the dimensions too far.
Wow love the metal work, looks stellar. Would love to build some machines like that, days are just too short. Good work!