C-Channel Height on the Table

[Scott_Schafer]

I have a question about rail height on the base table. I poked around in the forums to see if anyone had my specific use case, but I couldn’t quite find what I was looking for.

I am building a 4x8 working area machine, and I intend on placing Unistrut on both sides. I am trying to visualize in my head how this will work out with the strut mounting, and best way to avoid a couple of problems. I have the drop belt modification installed from design8 which will move the belt into the strut, and help prevent damage when loading the machine with a full sheet. ( [Unofficial] LowRider 4 CNC: HIDDEN BELTS MOD - Hide/protect wheel side Y axis belt inside metal strut / unistrut / superstrut (v2.0) by Doug Joseph (design8studio) | Download free STL model | Printables.com )

For the unprotected side however, the wheel on conduit side, I am unsure at what height to mount the strut with the conduit attached. If I lower it, the machine would have similar min/max travel height, and expose the rail side belt less, but would that cause any issues? I drew a crappy illustration of what I’m talking about. I am also confused about what best height is for the spoil-board. Should the spoil-board be level with the rolling surface (left side of the picture), or should the rolling surface be level with the table surface underneath the spoil-board. I’ve seen the forum posts of the torsion tables, and they all look like they end up with taller spoil-board than the rolling surface.

Green - unistrut

Orange - spoilboard

Blue - Conduit

Grey - Lowrider V4

It seems that if the conduit side is mounted on the surface, you limit the range of motion of the machine.

[Scott_Schafer]

I may have just answered one of my questions, I just realized that the rolling side plate is offset, and places the mounting point of the x rails higher - so I think that really only leaves my question about spoil-board height.

[Tokoloshe (Philipp)]

Just to confirm it for you: the unistruts are at the same height because of the offset.

I always put my sides on “runners” so the spoilboard would have the same height than the sides. so basically like in your last drawing.

[Tylas (Ty)]

I used the unistrut mod on my recently built table, but only used it on the “min” side to hide the belt similar to your thoughts. I didn’t use any unistrut on the rail side since it has the rail, I just intentionally built the table large enough to drill the rail down flat to the surface beyond the point of my spoil boards - but on the same plane. It’s pretty elegantly simple since it’s designed to be placed on any flat table.

Personally I don’t really see any benefit in my use case to have a unistrut on both sides, my entry point for full length stock is on the min side and the only side I need to have access and belt protection. I would use your second unistrut above the machine to hold up the vacuum hose, I just did an install of that last weekend with baring runners.

Project Cookie Monster

Finished printing all the parts and the V1E kit finally arrived after the Post Office decided to play keep-away from one station to the next for a weeks. Build progress underway: [IMG_5655] [IMG_5654] So far the build is going well, instructions are light but comprehensive, and everything is seemingly lining up very well. Tomorrow, gantry assembly!

[Scott_Schafer]

Nice, thank you, that’s very helpful, and a good idea about the dust collection host. That would allow me to use a cable chain where the hose goes. Yours is the one on the printables page I think? Looks good!

I’m just getting around to mocking up where the the sides will be mounted, and waiting on some screws and smooth idlers.