Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Ways, guides etc.

>
> In the machine I am making, I want to mount a 1" boring bar on top of the
> moving platform (tool holder platform, similar to a crossfeed on a lthe).
> This boring bar would reach out beyond the end of the rail assembly about 9"
> and hold a true cut, hopefully near .001 inches while making cuts of .010
> "deep and 1/32 " wide in aluminum. What do you folks think? Could I get
> that kind of performance out of that kind of assembly in a machine that is
> going to work about 3 hours a day, six days a week with a service life of at
> least 2 years, or would I do better to build up dovetail or box ways? If the
> prefabbed unit will do the job, I think I would prefer it, if it is only 1.5
> times the cost of the alternatives.

Dear Tom,
You seem to use your machine as a pounder (Mortajadora-Stoßmaschine) .
The precision linear guides will even last longer than any dovetail or box slide.
But don't use the guide rail alone. Give it a rigid back bone out of cast iron.
If You use one big guide put two carriages on it.
If You get only small ones, put two guides parallel with two carriages each.

You will be amazed about how rigid you can build.
Example: Last week I saw a brand new surface grinder for small parts. With a 4" magnet table
directly mounted on on single carriage on a 7/8" (22 mm) rail. And the 1,5 hp motor directly
mounted on two 1/2" (12.5 mm) rails. It looked weird but was absolutely rigid and smooth.

Good Luck
Sven Peter



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