Re: sourcing - steel vs aluminum - straightness

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Tyson S."
<timbercutter@y...> wrote:

> The steel is what I was trying to avoid, I am a welder and have

access

> to everything I need to do it that way, what I don't like is the way
> metal warps and bends when welded. And I really hate how the metal
> comes off the truck brand new and is all warped and bent. (forklift
> operator wanted to get home and drink beer) I want to build a 4'x4'
> router table and it seems that ALL of the framing has to be perfect
> with no variation at all. If there is .005" warp in one of the

axis's

> then all of your work will have either a .005" high or low spot in

the

> middle of it. I would like to have the T-Slot aluminum cut to length
> and the ends machined square so assembly can be as good as it can

be.

> Thanks to all who offered input on costs, I am checking these places
> out.

It's your decision of course, but there are alternatives.

Some have welded crappy, twisty, bent steel into strong frames, and
then leveled them with any number of things. grinding is one
option, but is probably the most time consuming.

Epoxy or metal fillers will offer a faster time to completion.

And if you weld up a strong base, all you need is a few pieces of the
80/20 for the parts you need to have flat and straight. by bolting
the stuff all along the lenght you get the best of both.

Others have bolted ground square stock onto the welded frames and
used cam bearings. That goes a long way to reduce the cost of linear
rails as well.

Regardless of how you make it, let us know !

Dave