CNC Gantry Assembly
For this part of the build we will be using:
20 x Low Profile Screws M5x15mm 12 x M5 Tee Nuts
12 x Spring Washers
19 x Standard Washers
2 x Small Washers
8 x Black 90 degree Angle Corner Connectors
10 x Low Profile Screws M5x8mm
2 x Universal L Brackets (Single)
1 x V-Slot 20 x 40mm (Length: 500mm)
2 x V-Slot 20 x 60mm (Length: 500mm)
8 x M5 Nyloc Nuts
Add spring washers to all of the M5x15mm low profile screws (end beam bolts).
Add standard washers on each of the end beam bolts. Please note that we have swapped out one of the standard washers to a smaller washer where the belt feeds into the rear slot, due to clearance.
Add a M5x8mm low profile screw onto each of the black 90 degree corner connectors (the cast 90 degree corner connectors are pictured, the black 90 degree corner connectors come standard with our kits), along with a tee nut in preparation to install onto gantry support beams.
Install one M5x8mm low profile screw into a single universal L bracket and then into a tee nut.
For homing and/or limit switch kits: Add one tee nut on the front middle gantry slot to connect a homing switch (you can add another for a limit switch if required).
For cable carrier hold down: Add a tee nut on the rear support top slot and another on the upper outward slot. Use a M5x8mm low profile screw and standard washer to attach a universal single bracket to the rear upper slot. This gives two mounting points to connect one end of the Y-Axis cable carrier.
Install one of the gantry sides to the V-Slot gantry members using the pre-assembled 15mm low profile screw, spring washer and standard washer stack. Only take the blots down to around half the travel on each spring washer to allow for fine adjustment later on.
Please note we have swapped one of the standard washers to a smaller washer where the belt feeds into the rear slot, due to clearance issues.
Use the mounting holes on the gantry side plate as a guide to the placement of four pre-assembled 90 degree corner connectors. These will go onto the upper and lower slots on the front facing gantry beam, the rearing facing middle slot on the middle beam and lastly, one into the front facing lower slot on the rear beam (V-Slot 20mm x 40mm support).
Tip: Create a support to hold the gantry while you add the carriage.
Slide the carriage assembly onto the main V-Slot 20mm x 60mm gantry beams, followed by the remaining four 90 degree corner connectors. Double check all the corner connectors are in the correct place and that you have any extra tee nuts you may need (homing, limits, cable management fixing, etc) as after this point all extra fixtures will require drop in tee nuts.
Install the other gantry side plate using the remaining M5x15mm low profile screw and washer stacks, once again taking the spring washer to half travel for adjusting later.
The Robert Hummel plates are cut so that the 90 degree corner connectors can be mounted using a single M5x8mm low profile screw threaded into the plate itself.
For the Blue Ox Solutions Plate set (standard with our kits), use M5x15mm low profile screws, standard washers and M5 nyloc nuts to mount the 90 degree corner connectors to the side gantry plates.
Using a large flat surface, try and align the plates as square, perpendicular and true as possible before tightening the end screws down evenly. It is best practice to tighten in a diagonal pattern around the machine. Using a slower incremental method helps stop the frame twisting while you apply tightening pressure.