Portable Primo ~24in x 36in (PNW) / 3030 Aluminum Extrusion Adaptor

[GermanSteel124]

I ordered the dual endstop wiring kit, kind of seems like a no brainer for $15 since it will help compensate for any out of squareness on the the xy. I’m a little scared of plugging them in backwards on the RAMBo and frying it.

@robertbu

I’ve never constructed anything from aluminum extrusions. At one time, I mused about building a portable MPCNC, and I thought about extrusions for that build. In my design, I had many crossing extrusions, and I had slots in the spoil board that matched these crossing extrusions. These slots combined with nuts in the tracks would be used as a clamping system.

There are a few builds on the forum where they do just that, but I think the t-track or nut inserts are probably just as useful? Much more inexpensive anyway. My Primo in Multi-Colour, Multi-Material on a Alu-Frame 30x30 B-Type Nut 8

@HyeBuilder

I was also thinking of using more 3030 for cross members for more support to then attach a spoil board to the 3030 frame so it can be moved as one complete unit, would it be advisable to maybe add the thickness of the spoil board to the length of the 3030 legs?

The 3030 frame definitely makes the machine more mobile but the torsional rigidity isn’t amazing. It would probably be fine to transport this way if you are somewhat careful, at least in your case if you only have to move it to another room. It’s stiff, but I can lift one corner about half an inch before all the flex happens and the other corners lift. I wonder if it would be noticeably stiffer with PLA parts?

Even this portable table top I welded has a little bit of flex if lifted from one corner. It’s made of 1 inch by 2 inch 1/16th wall rectangular tubing with a 1/2 inch plywood top. I’m going to bolt the Primo to it a least at the for corners. I tried to save money by not using 3/4 inch plywood but ended up having to buy a lot of washers at Home Depot to keep the screws from poking through the top.

I ordered some wire sheathing, it was $10 for a 15 foot roll and I think I am going to try and 3d print the drag chains to save money. The cost of my build is North of $1k at this point.

Here is the cost of my Primo so far, about $1100:

Primo kit: $378
Touch plate, endstop wiring, endmills: $54
Plywood: ~$65
DOM Tubing: $118.65
T-nutz 3030 extrusion, fasteners, connectors: $143.12
Filament and fasteners for 3030 to MPCNC adaptor parts: ~$30
Filament for Primo parts (including extra roll due to fail): ~$80
8 foot aluminum 1" x 1" angle: ~$12
Carbide 3d Makita clone with collets: ~$85
Harbor Freight wheels: ~$5
Various fasteners: ~$20
Wire sheathing: ~$10
Steel for base: Already had, probably $50 - 100

@HyeBuilder

I think I answered my own question by looking at your order list from Tnutz… the legs were ordered at the stock height of 2.5" as the calculator specs out for 3.25" Z. Its amazing what happens when one reads LOL Still a great adaptation for those of us that want to ‘move around’

I was kind of just guessing when I ordered 2.5", I think with my adaptor that adds up to 3.7" legs or 4.85" if you account for the height of the 3030 frame. I really need to build up the waste board closer to the z axis, I might just do that by stacking plywood or 3d printing spacers. I think I saw a post where Ryan said he likes to use that pink insulation as a spacer for the waste board.

I’m planning making a lightweight and easy to disassemble enclosure out of coroplast walls attached to EMT conduit and 3d printed connectors. Maybe I can adhere some sort of foam to the coroplast to try and absorb some noise.