Page 193 - CNC Robotics

CNC Robotics

I tightened the bottom bo lts first. then pushed the face plate up to
align the top of the glides. After align ing the top, I tightened the
top bolts. The bolts on the bottom of the z-faceplate cou ld now be
tightened. but I left the top ones that also support the acme screw
nu t holder a little loose, as its position would need to set when the
acme screw and stepper motor are installed.

The Y-Axis

In order to assemble the y-axls, you will need the following tools
an d materials:

• Guide rails
• Slide from NuArc co py ca mera (or four homemade bearing
holders moun ted on an a luminum plate)

• Carriage bolts. nuts, and washers

• Wrench
The y-axis es sentia lly consists of the two spanning beam s on the
gantry, the bea ring sup port rails mou nted on them, and a slide
from my disassembled copy ca mera. The bearings in the slide are
new, as I was only able to sa lvage four of the bearings from the
ca mera. Because the camera bearings are the sa me size as the
new ones I bought, they are a perfect fit in the bearing holde rs on
the slide. To install the rails , I first put the carriage bolts in each of
the holes for the support rails (see Figure 8.15).

I made sure that I didn't run the carriage bolts too far through so
they wouldn 't interfere when I bolted the rails at either end. I
placed the rails through the bearings on the slide (see Figure 8.16)
and held the top rail in place, so I co uld screw the bolts at either
end of the rail. Next, I screwed in the end bolts on the bottom rail.
With the centers of the rails at the req uired distance from each
oth er, bolting the rail is easy. Remember that the holes you drill
need to be a bit bigger than the bolts you 're going to use, so if the
centers are a little off, it won 't matter (see Fig ure 8.17).

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