ShapeOko #457 - from Canada *UPDATED*

[drs29]

Hello,

It's getting to be almost a year since I originally got my kit, and progress has been slow to say the least. I've started working on my machine again with hopes of having her back together and cutting soon! I've been lurking around the forums for a while, and have based my upgrades on some of the fantastic posts I see around here.

Here are my upgrades so far:
- Working area: approximately 2'x2'
- Open end plates
- 40x40 X-axis extrusion w/Hardened OpenRail
- Z-axis w/Hardened OpenRail
- IC's ACME screw upgrade

What I'm working on:
- Metal V-wheels on X-axis and Z-axis (hardened OpenRail surfaces)
- New X-axis motor plate (to accomodate metal V-wheels)
- New X-axis carriage plate (to accomodate metal V-wheels)
- 3D printed blocks to couple the X-axis motor and carriage plates together
- 3D printed belt anchors

Here are some pictures of her so far:

Overview

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Side view

DSCN0689.jpg (44.04 KiB) Viewed 2778 times

Z-axis

DSCN0700.jpg (43.37 KiB) Viewed 2778 times

[drs29]

Here are some shots of the 3D printed belt anchor I'm working on:

Side view

DSCN0694.jpg (28.34 KiB) Viewed 2776 times

Top view

DSCN0697.jpg (37.82 KiB) Viewed 2776 times

Anchor Evolution

DSCN0702.jpg (29.69 KiB) Viewed 2776 times

The one on the left is the current one I'm playing with. The other two are straight from Thingiverse.

I'm also thinking about GT2 belting...

[drs29]

I found a local shop that laser cut a new carriage plate and motor plate to match the 62mm spacing needed for the Makerslide Store metal V-Wheels that I got. I had both plates cut from 12ga mild steel for under $30
These metal wheels work very nicely on the hardened Openrail and have almost no play, my next step is to print some blocks to tie the two plates together.

New Plates

New_Plates.jpg (148.7 KiB) Viewed 2700 times

It's taken a few more iterations, but I'm finally very happy with my new belt clamps. I printed them on a Up! Plus 3D printer using black ABS. I then used two 20mm long M4 cap screws with nuts. They work nicely because you can clamp down the backside, route the belt, then get them nice and tight by pulling them in the front and clamping them down. I think I might get some new end plates cut without the 3 top holes so it looks cleaner (maybe I'll get them cut longer to make the gantry sit higher?)

New Belt Clamp - Overview

Belt_Clamp1.jpg (132.95 KiB) Viewed 2700 times

New Belt Clamp - Closeup

Belt_Clamp2.jpg (144.83 KiB) Viewed 2700 times

[WillAdams]

Looking great!

Does the new steel carriage plate seen significantly stiffer? I'm considering having one made when I next re-build my machine.

[drs29]

It's hard to say if the plate itself contributes to any added stiffness... I couldn't use the stock one with my metal V-wheels, so I don't have a back to back comparison. However, just one of the plates (motor plate on the back so far) with metal V-wheels on hardened Openrail is night and day. There is almost no detectable (by eye, anyway) movement or "slop". Previously I could easily rock it back and forth with my finger when using the stock Delrin wheels. The bearings seemed too loose in the wheel, and nothing I tried fixed the problem.

I can't wait to get the new front carriage plate on with metal V-wheels and connected to the motor plate with blocks. It's going to be tank-like solid!

[drs29]

I've made a few steps forward with the gantry through various iterations of blocks to tie the front and back plates together. They are 3D printed, with pockets cut out for captive nuts so I don't need super long screws. The pockets are hex shaped, and fit the nuts perfectly.

Gantry New Block

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Gantry New Block Top

DSC_3091.JPG (347.11 KiB) Viewed 2556 times

I also have to mention that I'm very impressed with the smoothness and lack of wiggle using the MakerSlide Store steel V-Wheels riding on the hardened OpenRails

Overall new 12 gauge plates are working good, but I messed up the hole placement for the idler wheels, so I have to get another motor plate cut

Now, I need to collect some additional M5 screws in various 5mm increments so I don't have as much screw poking out everywhere, and more metal spacers.

Rendered

XAxis Top Block.JPG (140.32 KiB) Viewed 2556 times

[WillAdams]

Now, I need to collect some additional M5 screws in various 5mm increments so I don't have as much screw poking out everywhere, and more metal spacers.

I've been kicking myself for not buying a plastic organizer full of various lengths of M5 socket cap head screws at a local auto parts store when I first started upgrading my machine. Would have saved me several times its cost in trips to set individual bolts.

[bjbsquared]

Now, I need to collect some additional M5 screws in various 5mm increments so I don't have as much screw poking out everywhere, and more metal spacers.

My solution has been to buy longer screws and cut them with a rotary tool + cut off wheel. Then bevel the cut end with a grinder.

[no_hazmats]

I've been kicking myself for not buying a plastic organizer full of various lengths of M5 socket cap head screws at a local auto parts store when I first started upgrading my machine. Would have saved me several times its cost in trips to set individual bolts.

I order them from McMaster Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com/#socket-head-cap-screws/=ncjfh0 ). Oddly, sometimes the price gets lower for larger screws. I guess it's based on volume. For a box of 25 M5x70mm SHCSs the price is $1.91 - that's less than 2 of them at HomeCrappo. But the best part is, anything ordered by 6pm is on my doorstep at 10am the next morning. That's pretty convenient! They also have the ones with a low-profile head as well.

Shep

[drs29]

Since I needed to get the Gantry Motor Plate recut to fix my mistake with the idler holes, I also got 4 new tweaked open end plates, and I took some liberties

New Plates 2

New_Plates2.JPG (347.59 KiB) Viewed 2460 times

New Gantry Motor Plate w/Serial Number

New_Gantry_Motor_Plate.JPG (311.21 KiB) Viewed 2460 times

Since I'm using my 3D printed belt clamps, I eliminated the three holes at the top of the plate, and raised up the mount holes for the Y-axis. This gives me 22.5mm of additional gantry height.

New End Plate

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