I’m finishing my machine, but I’m always looking for ways to save space. I wonder – has anyone tried mounting the machine at something like an 80 degree angle vertically, so it could be mounted to a wall? I feel like the Y axis should still be able to lift without issue, and you need to clamp material in order to mill anyway, right? As a bonus, all the dust would fall down into a stripe on the floor for easy cleanup.
Before I start down this path, I wanted to ask – does anyone see a reason why that couldn’t work? Is this stupid?
It’s either insane or genius. The two are often not far apart. I’m guessing the added strain from lifting the weight of the spindle sideways might not be good, possibly causing a backlash effect.
It can work. The biggest down side is when the job stops the steppers eventually power down and you gantry will drop. A few of those and you will be causing some damage. Beyond that it is designed with gravity in mind, changing the direction in which gravity acts could cause some issues, the larger the machine the worse they would get a smaller machine wouldn’t have many issues. I think a better approach is just build it on a nice torsion box and put it on a table when you want to use it and shelve it or put it under a table when not in use.
Gut feeling says it wouldn’t like it much.
Believe it has something to do with stepper motors generating electricity and backfeeding into the ramps/ drivers and burning them out. A number of companies offer brake add-ons for steppers…not sure how that would affect your ability to mount and cost however… And that would last only as long as it was powered. That said… way cool idea and if feasible… I can always use more space.
For now I’m going to google torsion box and edumicate myself a bit
I just tipped my machine over to test it. The axis does indeed slide down under gravity, but it does it slowly and smoothly. When energized, the steppers had no issue moving where they wanted. I didn’t do a job, though – just a “does this explode” test.
I might try it later if space gets tight. My build is probably mediocre – it’s on a sheet of 1/2" OSB on top of a frame of 2x4s, all mounted on a collapsable card table. The legs have wobble, but the actual mechanism on top is solid. I had to do it like that because it’s wide enough that I have to be able to collapse legs and carry it on its side to get it through doors (it’s 32" square).
For now, I’ll file my idea under “worth considering later” pile. I have a lot to do before that, though.
I could imagine a set of counterweights to offset the weight of the assembly as its moving up/down (say Y axis is moving in a vertical fashion). Simple pulley and adjustable weight system, so you can dial in the EOAT weight. Do the machine/Control. It would then seem as normal.
X asis would need testing and not so simple to compensate as the weight would then pull “off” the conduit. Vs pushing down on them.
Z axis would be recommended to mount as to “capture” the weight, meaning the EOAT would be mounted facing up, with the load pressing down into the holder.
I’ve been considering the same for a LowRider size machine. It will probably be a mash-up of parts with a Yibuy New Retractable Spring Balancer Tool Hook Holder Hanging 3-5kg https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DW6D6B7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_c5ydCbVHMW32Y or similar to take the load off the steppers. If you have seen anything similar please let me know.
Unfortunately my pointers would be perhaps the Maslow, as it was designed for this. Mine is designed to be flat, the first was had a tilt in mind but I highly doubt it would be worth it, as I have made the LowRider two to revise some design choices from LR1. If you were trying to squeeze a few degrees would be one thing but “near vertical” goes 90 against the direct I designed it in.
Here’s what I’d sketched earlier…I also like the idea of having a panel saw. Intention is to have the angle oversized so it can be pushed out of the way when using as the aforementioned.
The Maslow looks a bit too flimsy and inaccurate for my liking. Not quite the engineering finesse of the MPCNC and LRCNC’s.