03. X-Axis Gantry & Stepper Installation

4x Rat Rig StrongHold PRO CNC - HG25 Spacer Plate 3mm

16x M6x22 Cap Head Screw

16x M6 Washer

8x M5x20 Cap Head Screw

8x M5 Washer

4x sh_pro_x-gantry_tool Printed Part

StrongHold PRO Base Assembly - Rear Left Corner

sh_pro_x-gantry_tool Printed Part

Position each pair of X-gantry tools as shown

The rear tool should rest against the motor plate

The front tool should be placed facing the rear one, and spaced so there is roughly a 20mm gap between the tools

Repeat these instructions to position the second set of tools on the other side of the base assembly

It is highly recommended to have two or more people for the next few steps in particular

The X-axis gantry is large and heavy and can cause injury if it were to fall

The printed parts are designed to support the weight of the X-axis gantry, but they will not prevent it moving or tipping

Lift the X-axis gantry assembly up and slowly lower it in to position on top of the printed tools as shown

When lowering the X-axis gantry, make sure the plates at either end do not collide with the linear rail carriages or the ball screw components

Continue to support the X-axis gantry as it may tip forwards or backwards until secured

At least one other person should continue to support the X-axis gantry during this step

Align one of the HG25 linear rail carriages with the holes on the X-axis gantry plate

Rat Rig StrongHold PRO CNC - HG25 Spacer Plate 3mm

Insert the spacer from below. It will fit in the gap between the linear rail carriage and the X-axis gantry plate

M6x22 Cap Head Screw & M6 Washer

Install an M6 washer on to each of the M6x22 screws, then insert them through the X-axis gantry plate, the HG25 spacer plate, and screw them into the HG25 linear rail carriage

Do not fully tighten the M6x22 screws yet

At least one other person should continue to support the X-axis gantry during this step

Align the second HG25 linear rail carriage with the holes on the X-axis gantry plate

Rat Rig StrongHold PRO CNC - HG25 Spacer Plate 3mm

Insert the spacer from below. It will fit in the gap between the linear rail carriage and the X-axis gantry plate

M6x22 Cap Head Screw & M6 Washer

Install an M6 washer on to each of the M6x22 screws, then insert them through the X-axis gantry plate, the HG25 spacer plate, and screw them into the HG25 linear rail carriage

Tighten all eight M6x22 screws

At least one other person should continue to support the X-axis gantry during this step

Repeat Steps 4 & 5 to secure the right side of the X-axis gantry to the base

Once all sixteen M6x22 screws are fully tightened, the X-axis gantry no longer needs to be supported

sh_pro_x-gantry_tool Printed Part

Carefully remove the front two X-axis gantry tools from the assembly

The tools may require a small amount of force to remove

StrongHold PRO X-Axis Gantry Assembly

Carefully push the X-axis gantry towards the front of the machine. Once the X-axis gantry tools are no longer between the gantry and the base, it should move smoothly

Remove the remaining two X-axis gantry tools

Slowly and carefully move the X-axis gantry over the full length of the axis

Be mindful of the ball screw blocks, do not allow the gantry to collide with them!

1610 Ball Screw

Rotate the ball screw by hand to align the ball screw block with the matching holes in the X-axis gantry

Once all four holes are aligned, install an M5 washer on to each M5x20 screw and insert them through the gantry plate, screwing them into the ball screw block

After all four M5x20 screws are installed, fully tighten them

Repeat these instructions to secure the ball screw block to the other side of the X-axis gantry

3x Disc Coupler

3x NEMA23 Stepper Motor

12x 58mm Aluminium Spacer

2x M5x70 Cap Head Screw

10x M5x80 Cap Head Screw

8x M5 Nylon Locking Hex Nut

Disc Coupler

Install the disc coupler on to the end of the 1610 ball screw shaft

Using a 2.5mm hex key, tighten the marked screw to secure the disc coupler to the shaft

M5x80 Cap Head Screw

NEMA23 Stepper Motor

58mm Aluminium Spacer

Insert one M5x80 screw through each hole on the NEMA23 stepper motor

Install one aluminium spacer on to each M5x80 screw

Install the NEMA23 assembly on to the X-axis gantry. All four M5x80 screws should pass through the plate and the NEMA23 shaft should fit into the disc coupler

Continue to support the NEMA23 assembly until it is secured in the next step

M5 Nylon Locking Hex Nut

Install an M5 nylon locking hex nut on to each exposed M5x80 screw

Fully tighten all four M5x80 screws to secure the NEMA23 stepper motor to the X-axis gantry

Rotate the ball screw by hand until the marked screw is accessible

Using a 2.5mm hex key, tighten the marked screw to secure the disc coupler to the NEMA23 shaft

Disc Coupler

Install the disc coupler on to the end of the 1610 ball screw shaft

Using a 2.5mm hex key, tighten the marked screw to secure the disc coupler to the shaft

M5x70 Cap Head Screw

M5x80 Cap Head Screw

NEMA23 Stepper Motor

Insert the M5x70 screw through the marked hole on the NEMA23 stepper motor

Insert one M5x80 screw through each remaining hole on the NEMA23 stepper motor

58mm Aluminium Spacer

Install the NEMA23 assembly on to the Y-axis plate

The M5x70 screw will thread into the motor plate and the M5x80 screw below the M5x70 screw will thread into the existing M5 hex nut. The remaining two M5x80 screws will pass through the motor plate. The NEMA23 shaft should fit into the disc coupler

M5 Nylon Locking Hex Nut

Install an M5 nylon locking hex nut on to each exposed M5x80 screw

Fully tighten the M5x70 and all three M5x80 screws to secure the NEMA23 stepper motor to the motor plate

Rotate the ball screw by hand until the marked screw is accessible

You will need to rotate both Y-axis ball screws together, otherwise the X-axis gantry can twist

Using a 2.5mm hex key, tighten the marked screw to secure the disc coupler to the NEMA23 shaft

Disc Coupler

Install the disc coupler on to the end of the 1610 ball screw shaft

Using a 2.5mm hex key, tighten the marked screw to secure the disc coupler to the shaft

M5x70 Cap Head Screw

M5x80 Cap Head Screw

NEMA23 Stepper Motor

Insert the M5x70 screw through the marked hole on the NEMA23 stepper motor

Insert one M5x80 screw through each remaining hole on the NEMA23 stepper motor

58mm Aluminium Spacer

Install the NEMA23 assembly on to the Y-axis plate

The M5x70 screw will thread into the motor plate and the M5x80 screw below the M5x70 screw will thread into the existing M5 hex nut. The remaining two M5x80 screws will pass through the motor plate. The NEMA23 shaft should fit into the disc coupler

M5 Nylon Locking Hex Nut

Install an M5 nylon locking hex nut on to each exposed M5x80 screw

Fully tighten the M5x70 and all three M5x80 screws to secure the NEMA23 stepper motor to the motor plate

Rotate the ball screw by hand until the marked screw is accessible

You will need to rotate both Y-axis ball screws together, otherwise the X-axis gantry can twist

Using a 2.5mm hex key, tighten the marked screw to secure the disc coupler to the NEMA23 shaft