bdring wrote:A while back someone suggested using a NEMA 17 as my Z axis motor. This would get all motors to be NEMA 17's. I decided to try it as well incorporate some other ideas. It worked great and it is the current method I use for my axis. I will be releasing the drawings for it soon, and it will be new Z axis kit.
It is a simpler than the old method as it uses a lot less of the "fold back" bearings. The fold back bearings were used to get greater engagement of the belts with the pulleys. It turns out that it was overkill and just using a pulley with more teeth does just as well. It is easier to show this rendering than try to take a picture of it.
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z_lift 3.jpg
I'm building a 900x600 60W laser in a thread over here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2243133I like the design of your lift, but I'm wondering about strength. My honeycomb weighs 18 pounds, and aside from cutting balsa I would like to engrave stone, metal, and glass, so another say 10 pounds would not be unreasonable for me.
Have you done any weight tests using your parts? Will they handle a 30 pound system safely?
Thanks.
Andy