Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: aluminum Vee rails ?

On 05/20/2012 09:57 AM, Ron Thompson wrote:

> On 5/20/2012 8:30 AM, turbulatordude wrote:
>> my concern is the roller contact points on the aluminum holding up
>> over time. a small router may not have too much pressure, but over
>> thousands or tens of thousands of cycles, will the aluminum retain
>> it's shape and distance between centers ?
>>
>> Dave
> Maybe you should consider the life of the machine you want to use it on.
> If it's a prototype, this is probably fine. If the machine sees constant
> use, the rails are consumable items and can be replaced or upgraded.
> If you anticipate constant use, use better rails.
>

There are two rational solutions: Mill off the top rail and replace it
with steel or use a hard surface.

Replacing the top rail with steel after it starts to show wear with the
polished, hardened steel rails is pretty realistic, but co$tly and labor
intensive.

Hard chrome or hard anodizing should be wear resistant enough for long
term use with Delrin wheels, however the wheels will wear out. Hard
coatings may need to be lapped to ensure they don't wear out the wheels
prematurely, using UHMWPE wheels (which are a bear to machine) may solve
the wear problem. Hard coat (hard anodizing) has been filled with a
number of solid lubricants (like Teflon) to preclude wear, this is
costly but could be a good solution.

Dave 8{)

--
/"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream
media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to
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(quoted from http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30060)

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