LR4 - South Coast NSW, Australia

Greetings all!

Having stumbled across the V1e site about this time last year (just before the LR4 was released)- it’s taken some time, but finally underway on the LR4 build!

Previously bought the first iteration of the Maslow, but didn’t have the time and wasn’t convinced (unfairly?) on the repeatability/accuracy…. so it never quite happened. Not this time though!!!

The original intent was to build a half sheet LR4 - but having seen some of the folding tables I’m talking myself into a full sheet. Either way, full width beam and the decision can be kicked down the road till it’s time to put the table together.

Ordered the International kit from China and the Jackpot/odds & sods from the USA. Managed to get caught up in the saga that is international shipping (Ryan - if you’re dealing with that on a day-to-day basis then you have my sympathy!). I think the biggest issue is the parcel gets handed off to various parties and the tracking doesn’t necessarily catch up - so there’s uncertainty as to whether it’s still in transit or has disappeared into the ether. That said - everything turned up, so thank you to Ryan!

Started assembling this morning - had read through the instructions previously and was a little concerned as to how easy it would be to follow them, but once you’ve actually got the parts in front of you it’s pretty straight forward and found I was really enjoying myself. Only real query I have is in regards to the idlers & belt supplied - I suspect it’s a non-issue, but the idlers are 10mm toothed and the belt is 9mm wide. Any issue with a toothed surface on the back of the belt?

Anyway - this is where I got to - will start on the beam this week - Happy as a pig in sh*t!

7 Likes

Welcome! Great to see the post of your build @Lurch! Being is Aus does have the logistics guessing game. Glad it all arrived and nothing was missing. I haven’t bought the international kit for the LR4, I bought the LR3 Kit a few years back from Ryan @vicious1. Some others have had to do some mods depending on the wiring attached to the stepper motors. I can’t remember the post off the top of my head but I will have a look and edit this post when I find.

I had my LR3 on a full sheet build with an almost upright tilting table. Have gone with the half sheet for the upgrade to the LR4.

Keep up the great work and any questions, make sure you ask. the community is pretty active. Any ideas also great to have contributions.

1 Like

Cheers - thanks for the welcome!

To be fair - no real dramas with the stepper motors. Had to strip the outer sheath, but beyond that the only other item was a couple of heatshrinks that hadn’t been shrunk on the presoldered limit switches. Didn’t think it was all going to fit through tunnels in the YZ plates, but was proved wrong. Hate to think how many iterations that must have taken to get right!

2 Likes

That should not have happened, but there was another user who reported it. If the international kit hadn’t been pulled anyway, Ryan would have needed to talk to the supplier I guess. :sweat_smile:

1 Like

It can cause slight positioning errors, where position alternates + and - from the target position. I would replace them with smooth idler rollers.

I mean that is true but what are we talking 0.001mm difference from the peak of the tooth to a valley? That only changes the tension, not the actual steps.

I don’t see any issues with it.

2 Likes

Hadn’t even considered that… more about increased wear on the belt. Easy enough to replace if needs be!

I may need a bigger shed - hadn’t appreciated the footprint size!

2 Likes

Mocking up folding tables and definitely need a bigger shed! Only have 2.7m to ceiling - and this is without allowance for casters :confounded_face:

4 Likes

G-day…. I’m upgrading my LRv2 now. I’m based in Sydney.
I built a table very similar to the vertical rotating table you have designed. (see pix. )
All parts are printed and have FluidNc installed. Now I’m off to Bunnings to source some tubing.

6 Likes

Very nice! Have resigned myself to the fact that I won’t be doing a full sheet table (not without major modifications to the garage ceiling…….. will hold off for the time being!) - so will go for a full width and perhaps 3/4 length table.

1 Like

You could fold the table sideways rather than length ways.. or even fold it against the wall on a hinge/ bracket.

did think about that, but suspect it becomes unwieldly? Structure of the rolling base would be massive and with limited wall space, the footprint would be more than I’m after. If I change my mind later on, then it’s no drama to redo the table

Hey Lurch,

Build is looking great. Fantastic to see another Aussie.

What size pipe did you go with? Did you have any issues sourcing it?

Cheers.

Cheers Melcour - stalled a little until I can get into the shed to build the table, but looking forward to testing it all out!

Initially went to the local Bunnings - closest they had were 1m long sections of curtain rail which I wasn’t overly impressed with. Ended up getting a couple of lengths of 32mm Gal Conduit from TLE on a visit to Wollongong. Not cheap ($60/ 4m length?) and worth calling ahead to make sure they have them in stock - seems to be the trade counters in an industrial area that carry it - others have to order it in.

Thanks Lurch.

Progress has been made…. though not as quickly as I would like! Have ended up going for 1830x1220 working area on the table. Have made provisions for the folding design above, but figure the best way to do that is by using the LR4 itself! For the time being the torsion box can sit on the assembly table and light enough to move off to the side when I need to.

Using 4mm skins for the torsion box, and will put a sacrificial mdf sheet on top of that, but got caught out with these odd dimensions - normally in Oz sheet material is either 2400x1200 or 8x4 (2440x12220) - saw the 2440 and assumed I was sweet for my 1220 width…. Oh well - Each skin is in two pieces

In the process of tidying up wires etc - tempted to remove plugs from the 24v and router power supplies and hardwire into a junction box as a can find a slim 2 outlet extension cable, but would be a hassle if I ever need to remove the router. Shall ponder some more, but fun part feels tantalizingly close!

5 Likes

Nice, it looks a lot lighter than mine.

1 Like

Cheers - We’ll find out how rugged it is - but can’t see it getting knocked around too much

1 Like