Toto's Traversers

Thanks TimberSurf, it's kinda what I thought as well, but for an extra couple of quid thought it was worth a punt.

While looking for dimensions (my vernier caliper is no longer a very near gauge, as it keeps adding 5mm to the readings), I found this pic on the manufacturers site.

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The two nuts engage with each other via the castlations, the spring pushes the nuts apart so they always engage via their outer edges of the thread, even as Timbersurf says when they start to wear.

Then a double

Printed the larger spaced bracket, started the second print for the other end.
Then tried the bracket assembly over the bearings, i'd got it the wrong way, they fitted perfectly, all holes aligned, just 90 degrees out

Unfortunately, with 123D if you save the project, and start another you loose the undo's (with the number of mistakes I make, maybe I should learn to use Fusion 360 - or make less mistakes). So back to the blank sheet and start again - 2 hours later and I've done it again , although this time I had left the project open, so could do the undo's, and rotate the mount 90 degrees.

Showing high levels of confidence, I put two brackets to build at once.

As can be seen, there's not much free space left on the build plate



Just have to wait another 4 hours for these to off the press - time for bed, hopefully we'll continue the story tomorrow night

Paul

 

And there's more

The brackets printed perfectly - well good enough

A pair of Trend Clamp Guides were used to hold the bracket square - the first set square to the edge, the second sandwiching the bracket.

The center hole marked and drilled, and the bracket secured with a screw

Next all the remaining holes were drilled, thew surface was then cleaned up (with the clamps still in place), and finally PVA was applied to the bracket base and the secured back in place with the screw and two temp screws through the center holes of the bearings. Then the clamps were removed

The same done for the other end.

The board was then flipped over and the bearing securing holes were countersunk.

Flipped back over and the bearings secured in place

And finally with the rail

Paul

 

Secured the rails down, and boy are they smooooooooth.
Tried a test with a 5L IPA bottle and drill at one end and moved the traverser at the other end - normally this causes the traverser to squint and jam, this one is perfect.
So impressed I've made a little video.



Now this is leading to reconsidering the drive chain, in the past I've used two leads screws to give equal load to keep the traverser square, but with this set up I'm considering a single lead screw in the center.

Paul

 

Sorry to hear that Col, and unfortunately these days unlikely to catch the ******ds. Lets hope it got wet, and they get a goodly shock when they start it up.

Glad the sketch helped.

For the bearing supports send me a piccy and some dimensions and I'll see what I can knock up, and hopefully will have them ready for Elgin.

Not achieved much over the last couple of days, 3D printer has gone in the huff, I think it's being caused by the filament coming off the reel and snagging, which is a pain in the *** when it happens 3 hours into a 4 hour print.

Going Awol for a couple of days, but hopefully will be back on track sometime over the weekend.

Paul

 

Phew I thought for a minute you were about to say you were taking her out to but her a new Dewalt drill - it I was to suggest that to the Boss, I'd be in more trouble than the thieves that stole it.

Have a good one and we'll pick this up at a later date.

Paul