24 x 48 Rack and Pinion, or Leadscrew MachineA sturdy machine with a variety of options. Rack and leadscrew machine with aluminum gantry.  Paper templates are included.  Rack and Leadscrew machine with wooden gantry and carriage Attributes include
The machine is intended to be built in a modest shop with basic tools. Though not mandatory, a table saw and drill press will facilitate construction. This machine was designed to permit a number of options in drive components and materials. ................
Racks and pinions, or leadscrews can be used with the X and Y axes.
Racks permit long axes since they can be abutted to give infinite length. Leadscrews can offer more precision and simpler construction, or the option of lower cost with the use of hardware store (All Thread) threaded rod. The pulleys for the leadscrew to stepper connections were sized to be interchangeable, so drop in upgrades are possible. Therefore, the machine can initially be built with inexpensive leadscrews and later be upgraded as need and budget warrant. The stepper to leadscrews coupling on the table bed axis can be one long belt with 1 stepper; 2 short belts with 1 stepper, or 2 slaved steppers. Dimensioned drawings and scaling directions are included for these options. ................ The table frame is made of standard 2x4 and 2x6 framing lumber.
The gantry beam can be made of a 2x6 board or aluminum channel. The other gantry and Z carriage components are sized to be made of either stock sized aluminum flat bar, or plywood. Most of the aluminum components are cut to length and drilled. There is no need to completely cut the aluminum parts from larger stock; this yields less waste and cutting, and lower material costs. All rails are steel pipe from home centers. This material is solid, inexpensive, and can be upgraded to drill rod or similar. The rails’ bearings are 608 or 1603 bearings, which are inexpensive and easily found. A list of suppliers for the non-home center parts is included. ................
The 24 x 48 inch cutting area prototypes described in the plans were sized to use stock sized materials efficiently.The gantry uses an uncut 36 inch pinion axle (a steel rod) and/or a 36 inch leadscrew, and/or a 24 inch rack. These options give a gantry axis cutting distance of 24 inches. The table bed axis uses 48 inch racks and 60 inch pipe rails. These are also stock sizes, and give a cutting distance of 48 inches. Directions are also given for increasing the length to use standard 72 inch leadscrews. ................
The price of the table will vary according to the components used. Generally there are $250 of home center parts, and $125 in pulleys, belts and bearings. The aluminum gantry and carriage version adds around $185 and gives a more solid machine, which is capable of more aggressive cuts. The prices of the leadscrews and leadnuts can range from a few dollars for All Thread to hundreds for Acme with quality leadnuts. $600 is a fair expectation for the basic wooden table with All Thread leadscrews, not including the spindle-router, steppers, drives and power supply. The drives, steppers and power supply can be from a variety of suppliers such as HobbyCNC and Xylotex. These range from ~$250 to $600. This machine uses USA home center parts; therefore, it is sized in imperial units. More info. Table of Contents of the plans. (pdf file) These plans do not include directions
for the software and electronics.
This information is covered by the recommended software and stepper suppliers.
These plans do address the Step per Inch values needed to configure the software for both the racks and pinions, and the leadscrews. The machines work well with stepper and drive systems such as those from Geckodrive, Xylotex and HobbyCNC. The recommended software is Mach3 or TurboCNC. Other software and motor suppliers can be used. The above vendors work with the Do It Yourself market, and supply documentation and help forums for their products.
The Digital Download page gives more information about downloading the plans as a PDF file. |
| 24x48 Plan, Digital PDF | Price | Delivered By Digital Download | Buy w/ PayPal |
 24x48 Also includes the 13x13 |
$29.95 | The file size is
15,014 KB (15 MB) The 24x48 and 13x13 are downloaded as one PDF file. The file name is 24x48_13x13_plans.pdf |
24x48 Plan
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