HB2 Construction

Section #3 - The Frame

At last! Here is the assembled HB2. This is up to the point where I have to install the stepper motors. I am still working on the CNC program for making special motor extenders and heat sinks. That seems to be more of a problem than building the frame. I am also working on the Driver Controller electronics box and I just ordered a new computer (PC) to run the whole show.

The PC is a new build and I will have about $260 invested in the whole box. I have a spare 80 Gig hard drive so I ordered a "bare bones" ASUS box with motherboard, built in video, parallel port, 2 Gig memory, DVD drive and an AMD Athalon A64 X2 5000+ 2.6G processor; mouse, keyboard and monitor I have.

These pictures do not do justice to just how good this build looks, so I have made every picture a link to a much larger original version. For visitors with slow internet connections, you can judge for yourself if it is worth the download time. Each large picture is about 1.33 MB.

The right side. The parts on the table are used to make the motor/spindle mount.	Close up of the Z and X axis linear bearings.
The screws are coated, the reason they are black. Looks good with the yellow frame!	X axis end bearing treatment. Screw diameter is 5/8 inches.
This is inside the stepper motor mount end of the gantry.	Same end as at left but from the "front" of the machine.
Motor mount end of the left Y axis screw.	Right side Y axis screw and zero backlash nut.
Another close look at the X axis and the X axis screw and zero backlash nut.	Front on view. I plan to experiment with various spindle mounts.
Rear view of the frame. Good pix of what I call the "Buick Portholes".	These nuts are so simple and zero backlash. With the coated screws, they should last longer than I will.
The screws seem massive and are actually an option. Smaller 1/2 inch screws are recommended.	Another close shot of the Z screw and nut. 1/2 inch diameter here. Plenty big.
The shafts are special hardened surface. All hardware I used is stainless steel.	There are two linear bearings here. There is zero slop everywhere. Nice tight system.
	A nice long shot down the X axis. I asked (and paid for) the heavier screws as I was concerned about flex and vibration over such a long run.

The stepper motors are the last of the major hardware. I have a "ton" of electrical work to do.

There will be additional information published about HB2 (Home Brew 2) project as I move along. This is not a "shake the box and it falls together" Project. It is nice to have a working design, good drawings and material sources defined.