Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] wooden table for a router

In a message dated 7/13/2003 8:39:44 PM Central Standard Time,
davemucha@... writes:

> work envelope for a 4 ' by 8' foot sheet of plywood, and the gantry would
> be of aluminum. Linear rails for the gantry so only the table would be wood.
>

Dave: In '85, I contracted to build a rather large "X-Y Table" with a 3 hp -
24,000 RPM 400Hz router-motor on it (Pershke; finest there is in that size of
thing) for an English organbuilding firm. Since shipping from Houston to the
East of England would involve too many 37¢ stamps, and since that shop is
primarily a "precision cabinet shop" anyway, I only built the "steel parts" and
supplied the electronics. This meant exchange of drawings and "same-language
communication". They were to tell me when it arrived, so I could fly over to
assemble/test it (and collect my final payment). Their woodworking was very
fine, and the steel parts slipped right in to "rebates" in the side-rails of the
table-frame. The top was Melamine-plated particle-board which would not be
disastrous to carbide woodworking router-bits, if someone had a tad too much
lager of a day, and, as the manufacturer of that material was "next door", this
proved most convenient.

The Y-ways are a pair of 2" diameter Thomson Class-L shaftways about 40 cm
apart (I forget, now, just how far these were, ctr.-ctr.!) which were 65" long.
(Pricey stuff!) The end-frames for this "saddle" were welded-up bar (I've
gotten "artistic" with doing that, and a bit of Dayton Industrial spray-can
enamel does wonders!). I used 1.5" dia. "precision-rolled" ball-screws with dual
preloaded ball-nuts from BSA in San Jose. Wonderful stuff, if pricey!

So, yes, if the woodwork is made of something as tough as rock-maple or even
utili or poplar, jointed, screwed and glued, with the ways bolted to large
bar-stock (½x4" or 6"!) which has been let-into the lumber at least 10 mm., and
if that woodwork has been done at least as nicely as would a well-done
"fabricated steel frame", it can do the job just fine! Some may say that has
advantages for the purpose; from an actual "makin' of it" standpoint, I'd agree!

Jan Rowland



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