How rigidly do the Y-rails need to be mounted along the length?
Let me explain my question:
I’ll be setting up my new 4’x8’ LR4 build on the floor in my garage soon. I’m planning on buying the 10’ MDF strips from Lowes for the rails and will be attaching them directly to the concrete floor. I’ll be using tapcons or small anchors. My first thought was to just put one anchor in each end of the MDF strip (they would be 9 feet apart) , but then I got concerned that there could be considerable flex in the middle of the MDF strip if it’s attached that way. How much pressure is exerted laterally on the Y-rail? Should I put an anchor every foot or so? Or maybe consider using metal strut channel instead?
Currently I don’t have time to build a table, or the space to store a table once it’s built. The floor situation is a temporary solution to finish a few projects before we move. There’s no need for anyone to say it - I realize it’s going to be a PITA to change bits and work with it on the ground! Once we’re moved I’ll cut some table parts on the ground here before I pull it all up and rebuild at the new place.
My searches couldn’t find any other posts about this, apologies if it’s been answered elsewhere already.
Lots of people have started on the floor, no shame there at all. You’re going to want a spoil board anyway - why not embrace it being a temporary base for the whole machine and make it wide enough to support both edges. That way you can secure the rails as often as you’d like but not need to screw anything to the floor.
I am planning to have a 49x97 spoil board there on the floor as well. I get what you’re saying but with my table size from the calculator being 61.25” x 109.875”, it is larger than 5’x9’. I’d have to cut down 3 sheets of material to make that size, which is a bigger expense and a bunch of left over material I’m trying to avoid. Unless I’m missing something…
I didn’t realize you needed the full sheet capability right out of the gate. How about a few cross-wise strips (could be cheapie 1x 4 or similar) under the spoil board long enough to support the outside rails? You can then shim them to be sure your spoil board and machine rails end up parallel/coplanar.
I’d be careful securing to a garage floor - they are often poured with some subtle slopes to help guide rain or snow melt dripping off of cars toward the center and out the door. I built a boat in my garage and failed to account for the slope and ended up with a twist in my hull when I glassed it all together. Not enough to really affect performance, but enough that it bugged me knowing it was there.
My floor is flat, I’ve checked that so I’m not worried about introducing twist or something along those lines. Also not worried about putting holes in the floor, there are already plenty of others and they will be so minor I can fill them in later if it feels necessary.
The instructions call for no more than 300mm spacing on the Y clips, which leads me to believe there is fair amount of force acting to bend/deflect the conduit one way or another and the clips constrain that. Considering that the MDF strip is probably less rigid than the conduit, I’m going to assume it would need to be fastened at similar intervals. I mean if I attach all the clips to the MDF strip, and then only fasten the MDF strip to the floor at each end, it would be basically the same as if I only used one Y-clips on each end of the conduit. The clips in the middle would be worthless because the MDF strip isn’t constrained and could bend/bow. It looks like most people are gluing and brad nailing these strips to their table builds so they are very well constrained before screwing in the Y_clips.
Maybe I just answered my own question but still curious about others thoughts.
Thats a hard one to answer as I have never ran one like that. But If it were me I would probably error on the side of caution and throw a few spread out through the middle. On the X min side make sure you don’t end up with a screw in line with were the bearings will ride.
I am a retired older guy. Are you actually going to do all of your work constantly at floor level? Good for you! Now when I need to get on the floor around my LR4 I tend to stay there for a few minutes debating “Do I REALLY need to stand up again so soon?”
Ha! Yes, I’ll be hosting a LowRider Pilates class - want to join?
Congratulations on retirement! That sounds nice. I work from my home office 90% of the time and I’ll take any chance I get to escape my desk. Really though the floor setup is only a stopgap and I’m just going to grin and bear it. My knees are going to hate me but pain is temporary, CNC glory is forever!
