Hi, Thanks for the interest,
there is a zoomed (on the picture) view of the cross block which holds the "Y" axis in place. It is actually holding it really well, nearly rigid, and I hope I'll be able to machine aluminium on it (not steel though, it would take ages milling 0,1mm at time).
I based this design on that little "toy" unimat 1, which has more or less some "plastic" blocks with same dimensions (50x50) and if you are VERY careful you can machine something. Then I thought if the parts were made out of solid aluminium I would have a much better rigidity and stability, lets see......I'm very close to do the first experiments......
I also based my design on my reall micro milling machine (axmister SIEG X1) where the Y axis is centered therfore it never takes any "cantilever" loads since the milling head is always on its center.
Some quick static calculations (on SolidWorks/cosmos 3D) gave me about 18kgf to deform 0.3 the Y axis (on its extreme), and 22kgf to bend the vertical colum about 0.3mm (if that was welded though).
Those preliminary calculations gave confidence enough that is is going to work with reasonable precision. This is also a prototype, and some improvements are already written down to be implemented on the next model....
I could be talking about what I did to eliminate the backlash on the screws (cheap threaded bar) and motor coupling.....but this post is already too big. Feel free to ask anything if you want.
Changing the subject a bit, could anyone give me a link of an external motion controller (smothstepper or similar) that is the cheapest the money can buy and which still works well.
As we agreed yesterday, the 64bit parallel port DOESN'T work with mach3. I'm sorry but I had to fell in my skin the "no driver sensed" message, I had all the system ready to go so I didn't spend more than 1 hour anyway. Thats all part of my slow "learning path" and I had to experice it myself......(bloody stubborn I was, LOL)
Regards