Hi all, I’m starting to source options for the XZ plates.
My previous idea to purchase plate material and first hand cut and after that cnc the permanent set fell through, as the supplier disappeared.
Now I have found a nearby shop that could manufacture the plates for me, but as I’m from Eastern Europe it comes with a few issues. First of all, there is no 1/4 inch material, it’s either 6 mm or 8 mm thickness. Price is not that different, it’s steep either way 42 vs 54 Eur.
So I was wondering is the required 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) so far away from the 6 mm? And is there any potential benefit/downside to going 8mm?
if you use 6mm, you need to use washers, if you use 8mm you need longer screws,
but
the license for the LowRider 4 does not allow you to have them produced somewhere else for money. You can ask a friend to make them for you, you can cut them yourself, or you can buy them from Ryan. Ryan does not make too much money off the people sourcing everything themselves, so I guess it’s fair to give him the few dollars for the plates at least.
I know it’s expensive from the US, but there might be an international version soonish (@vicious1 can tell you more about it and whether you can order the plates as a standalone).
Sorry to sound like a killjoy. I had my first plates cut here in Germany as well before I understood it was a breach of the license, so I am not going to judge, just giving the hint.
In no shape or form it was intention to attempt to breach the license. My understanding was that no entity could produce the item to sell for profit, list it in their shop, etc, but that I was in no way limited to how I can source the part for personal use. Like externally producing for my needs a set vs ordering 10 sets and selling them.
Furthermore, if an EU based option would surface, it would be amazing, the current pricing in the store is very reasonable.
To rephrase the question, if I manage to score some 6 or 8 mm aluminium and cut it myself, in your opinion, would there be a stiffness benefit from going with 8 mm vs the downside from the increased weight?
Another option is printing (0r 3d printing) a template and sticking it on the raw material. The hole spacing, slot for the belt and the bit at the front the hits the endstops are the only critical shapes so they don’t really need a CNC to make.
I have 8mm plates because that was what I had. The weight difference is irrelevant. I am also using pipes with 3mm walls and it makes the weight of the gantry nearly double. I still run my Z at 2000mm/min…
You could also print the plates first and then cut them as soon as the machine runs.
42 vs 54 Eur.
