Re: A "simple" Hexapod project

Those actuators sound good Dan, not sure what the envelope of
movement would be for 8" travel but it sounds like it would make a
mill proper. I however can't even afford those bargain prices let
alone the 6 servo drives.

I have been sketching and thinking more about what Carl said about
the loads on the actuators and perhaps I am making things difficult
for myself. I could use his actuator concept with say 10mm(rather
than 6) threaded rod for stiffness and work well within the possible
stroke of each actuator. That would cut the basic actuator
production time down a heck of a lot. Cut tube, add threaded Nylon
insert, make delrin support for end of the lead screw and that's
about it. Of course I ignore the stepper mounting and gimble
production but who's counting. Making the nut long and also the
screw support long will also help at longer extensions and higher
force.

Can anyone suggest a good source (genrally or specifically) of
steel/ali tubing with a fairly good internal bore? Perhaps 20mm ID.

Thinking more about set up and calibration, I suppose the first thing
would be to mount the table at 0,0 and flat on the bed without
spindle. Then each leg can be attached by jogging each motor (rather
than axis) in turn. Assuming gimble bearings and pins are precise
this will leave the legs at the correct starting lengths,
tension/compression is irrelevant as it should be neutral? Beyond
that point I start to get scared.

Carl, what is the best way to get started? Is it difficult to decide
basic dimensions once the envelope of movement is decided?

More reading to do

Graham