Step 3: Attaching the gantries

Step 1: Note the single drilled holes on the outside of beams A1 and A2. That is where the gantry sides will begin to be mounted. There are two wooden gantry sides, one of which has a large hole for the motor mount. The gantries will be screwed to the base with the sticker side facing outward. As depicted, the gantry with the large hole (motor side gantry) should be attached to the right side of the frame.

The first steps in gantry attachment involve only screwing ONE screw into each gantry base to tack them in. Eventually, all four screws will be used in each gantry after ensuring proper alignment of the rods.

Note that the "circled" hole in the picture to the left is toward the back of the machine.

Step 2: Screw one of the gantry screws (the silver screws that come in a bag of 10) through the hole on the wood gantry (circled in this picture) and into the pre-drilled steel frame. Repeat with the second gantry on the opposite side.

Step 3: Take out the two medium-length precision rods and wipe off any oil with a clean rag. Carefully slide and twist one of the precision rods into the top gantry hole in one of the gantries. The rod should fit in tightly, but not so tight that it needs excessive force to get in the hole. DO NOT USE A HAMMER OR OTHER STRIKING TOOL to get the rod into the gantry hole, as it may bend or damage the rod. If the holes are too tight for the rods to fit, you may very slightly sand the interior of the hole. However, do not widen the hole too much or the rod will not be secure.

Step 4: Place the second rod through the other hole in the same gantry using the same process as above.

Step 5: Now work both rods (one at a time) into the opposite gantry. Note that the rods are now temporarily mounted into both gantries for alignment purposes; they will need to be popped out later so that the x-carriage can be mounted to the machine. undefined



undefined