re:minirobo axis names was RE: not stiff enough! (machine dsgn consi

John,

The minirobo axes are improperly named!

Derived from the Air Force spec, The longest TRAVEL axis is called X.
The axis at right angles to X is called Y, UNLESS it can accomodate
LONGER material than the Longest TRAVEL axis, in which case the
shorter travel axis (of the 2) is properly called X.

The moving table of the minirobo can accomodate an unlimited length
material, while the bridge support plates limit the left-right
material size. Therefore we have the classic case. Even if the TRAVEL
of the BRIDGE-mounted axis is longer than the TABLE travel, the table
travel is still called X since it can work on longer stuff!

Hope this helps.

Ballendo

P.S. You're exactly right that the CNC control /CAD/CAM software can
be set up to properly work with misnamed axes. As long as the right
hand rule of axis relationships is preserved, the parts will be cut
correctly.

But it will ultimately make it easier for us all to communicate if
we're calling the same thing, the same thing! :-)

P.P.S. The easy way to remember this is to pretend you have a
long 'banner' sign to cut. Much longer than your machine travels. The
direction you will place it on the machine to cut will be the x axis.

>Gary,
>On some bridge and gantry type mills I am sure that your observation
>is true, however on the MiniRobo, facing the front of the machine the
>X axis is from left to right and the Y axis is the in-out motion

<snip>
It really should not make any difference whether X or Y is the in-out
motion or the left to right motion.<snip>