Shapeoko 3 XL upgrade --- Some thoughts

[WillAdams]

Be sure to label the wiring leads

[WillAdams]

Decide if you want a spacer board before assembly. If so:

- prepare the spacer board first. Suggest 23 1/4" x 39" (or 39 1/2")
- drill and countersink four holes in the spaces between the structure before assembly while the spacer board is clamped to it.
- install 4 T-nuts in the bottom of the waste board

[WillAdams]

And if you're cutting 3 48" lengths of T-track into thirds then only 3 1/2 and 7 1/2 spacers are too wide -- get 1 1/2 as well.

[WillAdams]

Okay, here's what I have



brown is MDF Spacer board
silver is T-track
white is PVC

[WillAdams]

Drew up the XL/XXL wasteboard

please verify before use

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/ ... 099_xl.svg

[WillAdams]

Done.



Pretty much all the tools I used (except for saw, miter box, clamps, and a few other odds and ends)

[WillAdams]

Final thought on the Y-axis drag chain -- flip the sheet metaI over, file down the center to accommodate the belt anchors and fasten it to the holes on either side of them.

[WillAdams]

Not really helpful to cut the PVC to 16" lengths --- the stuff is cheap and lightweight, and the additional clamping surface might be helpful.

Cutting the T-track is a pain, and results in a patterning of screw holes which offends my OCD, and results in the 6 outside sections only having two holes, and wanting a third added at the back --- will have to drill that, and source a countersink which will fit in-between the tracks.

Lastly --- save the boxes! it makes for a handy way to cover the machine (fitting perfectly if you have an XL, unfortunately the electronics enclosure gets in the way, but I'm thinking I'll be able to cut a hole in one half for that, cut out the bottom, then tape / glue it to the other half and have a nice dust cover.

[WillAdams]

Follow-up based on a reply on the Carbide 3D forums:

For the XL upgrade from an older style machine:

- re-use the original belt anchor clips for the X-axis (or drill out in-between the M3 holes so as to use the new ones)
- the electronics move to the side of the machine on the XL/XXL --- you'll need to swap around the extrusions to accommodate that.

[neilferreri]

Thanks for the tips!
How did you attach the PVC to the MDF wasteboard?

Done.



Pretty much all the tools I used (except for saw, miter box, clamps, and a few other odds and ends)