DesignΒΆ
The design of the gantry was a rushed one. The overall machine has a gantry length and width of 880 mm, a width of 850 mm, and a Z height of 20 mm. These are the capabilities of the machine. The machine itself is a test for us. The machine runs on a big core XY gantry system. I had doubts about that system, but it worked fine with proper tension of the belt. For belts, we are using 10 mm GT2 with steel wire reinforcement belts. For a driver, we are using the NEMA 23 stepper motors. The gantry system we are using is inspired by CLANK, which was initially designed by Jake Reid. It is based on bearings driven directly on an aluminum extrusion.
The Z-axis of the machine is run using a lead screw, which has a travel of 45 mm and an allowable machining depth of 22 mm. The Z-axis is a linear rod guide. At this moment, the machine is a single module with snap and screw connectors. The module changing of the machine is easy. The module can be changed by snapping the dovetail joint into place and tightening the Allen head screws on the Z-axis.
The rotary axis has two tools at this point: a drag knife and a creasing wheel. The tools can be changed easily in the module and can be used with the 4th axis module. Currently, the module rotates with the help of stepper motors homed using a limit switch.
The drag knife uses the heavy-duty blade available on the market, which can be set up on the tool using the grooves in the tool holder and tightening the screws in the tool holder. We can use the drag knife after snapping it into the 4th axis.
The creasing wheel tool is snapped into place in the same way as the drag knife, and the creasing wheel is snapped from below and tightened the screw below using a nut, and we are ready to go with the creasing wheel.