what to do with a free scrap dumpster find ?

i do think this is going to be my duel loop experiment to learn from and come back to the gantry machine later. this free dumpster find has me side tracked but in a good kind of way i think i can pick up glass scales pretty cheap they are reasonable in price. i don't think i will need anything over 600 mm long at the most.

i have a 7i97 for the analog encoder part but need to do something for the VFD spindle end which i think will be analog control as well. probably need to add on for a MPG too but that's getting ahead of the mechanical mess i seemed to have dove into head first when i get the mechanics sorted out i will start getting serious about the electronics.

when i get to the electronics i will be asking a lot of stupid stuff i am sure

  had to sort out the ball screw and motor mount clearances and have a plan for what needs done. i did mount the floating support end but left the rest for later until i get a shaft coupling in my hands. the fixed bearing block needs a riser block that will double as a attaching point as well. the motor mount clears everything except  a web in the center of the table. when i get to the rails mounting holes i can trim it down so it's not an issue. the motor mount needed some clearance for the motor to fit where i wanted and i circled that section on the one side but both sides needed it. the ball screw nut clears the casting so no issues there. i also took a picture of the table extension in place sort of just to show how the motor and  ball screw will be covered and not need anything like telescoping way covers. simple solution to a big problem so i will thank myself later for not being greedy and trying to get some extra travel  and the mounts are made for the box ways just not attached yet.     

Looking niceeeee !

got the rails attached and cleared the obstruction that was in the way. took everything off and put the table on the saddle to check flatness in the only direction i can at the moment and even extended the table about 3/4 of the way and got up on it to see if i could see any defection. i weigh around 200lbs so i would say it is pretty solid so far. i don't see the cross travel being much different the columns for the Y axis is what i am most curious about but that's a ways off before i can check that part.

made a quick video don't mind the mess in the shop i know it needs some attention

vimeo.com/599053252

            some more progress pictures. It's been slow going the way i have to resort to to get things machined. the Bridgeport does not have enough travel to do everything in one shot so i have to establish a center line for the screw and then go as far down as i can and put a datum hole on center of the screw so i can sweep it in after i swing the head on the mill the other way

boring the saddle casting for the cross axis motor was a treat as well wish i had a horizonal mill

  since i had everything up on the mill i got a good set of numbers with the known center line of the screw in relation to the rails so i could work on the drive connections for the table. if all goes well i should be able to assemble the screw and bearing blocks when it goes back together and just have to worry about the fixed and floating bearing block connections. i should be able to get to those connections once the table is on the far end of each of those connections.