Hi All
Attached is a couple of images of a possible approach to a guide way.
I have used adjuster bars 20mm square Mild steel plus the pyramids to seat and precision locate the 25mm round shafting (Pre drilled at 120mm spacing as per the Thomson spec sheet)
These bars could be made on a small mill.
Ideally after rough cutting at the local plasma or laser cutter’s shop.
Only the ends, back and V’s would need to be machined. The rest could be left as is.
In fact there if the shop had one of the latest machines only a few thou would be left to finish square.
The spacing between the V’s could be set by milling one first then locking the table and using the first one as a reference for the other, for the final cut. If done carefully it should be possible to get it to a few tenths.
There is a fair amount of drilling and tapping to do, and a lot of alignment to set it up but the result should be “Spot on”. All the adjustments are lock nutted. The top and bottom adjustment jams the bar between the ends of the beam. The in and out adjustment is lock nutted through the web of the beam. Using the same threaded rod that is holding the Roundway.
Note the nut behind the bar to tension that. The holes in the web of the beam are drilled oversize to allow adjustement.
This beam 310 UB40.4 has a 6.1mm web. I guess that is the weakest link in this setup. It is beyond my ability to calculate the deflection under a load perpendicular to that face. But for wood or Aluminium cutting it should be fine? The illustration is about 1500mm long Although I plan to make it 3600mm long
It would be interesting to know the Deflection If any member would like to do it I would appreciate hearing from them.
Just doing a bit of brainstorming at the moment, there may be a better way, in fact an alternative method is bugging me right now!
If it looks OK I will post it.
Cheers
John Mac