Mudsharks' #0054 Upgrade

[Mudshark]

I built Another Red Shapeoko but I need to go to the open end plates for working on fishing rods, etc. So there were a number of changes I had seen or incorporated that I wanted to do or make better. A lot of Shapeoko owners will see mods that they have done that I added and I am thankful for open forum that allows you to do this. In prep for the plates for when they came out, I built the bottom board and mounted extrusion to it for the frame mounts. Nice clean look and I'll make spoil boards to attach later.

Nutserts installed with counter sinking, 5MM.

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Top side of board with extrusion for mounting

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[Mudshark]

After getting the plates, I decided not to powder coat them purple metal flake, seriously. I had gotten some 4040 for the Y gantry along with some openrail hardened rail. All in black anodized. I had decided to go to metal wheels on the Y and Z axis. The Z axis is also black anodized with openrail on it. I also got new motor plates so I could continue using my original Shapeoko for other projects.

Main frame members assembled with drag chain installed.

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This is the fitup and shows the drag chain with wiring routed. I used my Hadron to print the brackets for drag chain supports.

X Axis drag chain

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This is a better view of the X Axis drag chain and the support.

Y Axis drag chain

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Finally, a better picture of the Y Axis drag chain and support.

[Mudshark]

I built the Y Axis motor plate with an aux panel to support wiring for the auto zero probe, laser cutting module, the Y Axis cross hair and the limits for Y and Z. I also disconnect the Y Axis motor to connect to my rotary axis so I added a more robust connector than the small molex connectors I have on the X and Y motors.

Wiring and aux panel on Y axis.

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[jkanzaki]

I was looking for those open rail hardcoat

Seem to sold out everywhere. Where did you get them ?

[Mudshark]

Hi jkanzaki, I had purchased my openrail awhile back from openbuilds partstore. I see that they are out of stock. You may want to contact them to ensure they will be getting the rail back in. They went through some sourcing iterations with the steel v wheels when I was ready to order them. If you do order from them, you may need to get more t-head screws and nuts as I only received enough for half of the slots but wanted all of them filled.

[Mudshark]

Here are some gantry pictures. I used all aluminum spacers this time around. The steel wheels are very fickle about alignment. I did get a batch that were too small for the bearings and ended up destroying them.

Below is the bottom of the gantry. It helped to leave off the bottom wheels for the X motor plates so I could rotate. Note: I did swap the X and Y from the original alignment to go to dual X motors, this facilitates some of the software design easier.

Bottom of gantry.

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Next is the front of the gantry. Not a great picture but it shows the Z limit switch which is a SS441A hall effect sensor.

Front of gantry.

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Here is a picture of the Y Axis limit switch, you can see the magnet also. Once again, sorry about picture quality.

Y Axis limit

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[NormanF]

I was looking for those open rail hardcoat

Seem to sold out everywhere. Where did you get them ?

I sent them an email a few weeks ago and they said they will not be selling it anymore. They said something about not selling well.

Sent from my Etch A Sketch.

[Mudshark]

Started on the wiring of the controls. Printed brackets for the electronics panel and mounted the laser controller, Gecko G540 and a small power terminal strip to a piece of aluminum flat stock.

Electronics panel

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Next I printed brackets for a piece of aluminum angle to cover the wiring, this way I can cover it and yet have plenty of extra wire for troubleshooting.

Final wiring

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[Mudshark]

Here are some completed pictures from this morning.

Finshed gantry

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Finished end view

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[twforeman]

Two things:

1. I like the upside down electrical box for the E-Stop switch. That's a clever mount.
2. You said "laser controller" - what laser are you using and what will you be doing with it? I'd like to add a laser to my ShapeOko for engraving. Any tips?

Thanks.