2.5. Base Assembly

X Base 2040 Profiles (x2)

Y C-Beam Profiles (x2). Slide them inside the X-Gantry carriages.

Thread the 2 Y Lead Screws through the Nut Blocks on the X-Gantry carriages.

Once you're done, you should see about 3cm of lead screw coming out of each end of each C-Beam.

Y Lead Screws (x2)

Take note of the correct orientation for insertion (flat side facing outwards).

Count a total of 52 T-Nuts M5

Insert 2 T-Nuts inside each of the bottom slots of both Y C-Beam profiles (8 T-Nuts in total, 4 for each C-Beam)

Insert 6 on the bottom side slot of both X Base 2040 profiles (12 in total)

Insert 16 on the top side slot of both X Base 2040 profiles (32 in total)

This step should be repeated twice, on the 2 Y C-Beam ends on the front side of the machine (when you're facing the front of the machine, the X Gantry Motor is on the right side).

Low Profile Screw M5x15mm

C-Beam Motor Mount Plate

688ZZ Ball Bearing

Precision Shim 12x8x1mm

Tensioner Nut. For now, screw it in just a tiny bit, so it holds its position.

Thrust Bearing

This step should be repeated twice, on the 2 Y C-Beam ends on the rear side of the machine (when you're facing the rear of the machine, the X Gantry Motor is on the left side).

Thrust Bearing

Aluminium Spacer 40mm

Aluminium Spacer 6mm

Lock Collar 8mm. Set in position, don't tighten yet.

Flexible Coupling - 1/4" x 8mm. Set in position, don't tighten yet.

Nema 23 Motor

Low Profile Screw M5x55mm

This step should be repeated twice, on both Y C-Beam profiles.

Start by adjusting the position of the Flexible Coupling to make sure that both the Lead Screw and the Nema 23 motor shaft are fully inserted inside the ends of the coupling.

Make sure the flat face of the D shaped motor shaft is facing the set screw on the Flexible Coupling. Tighten down the set screws on both sides, then tighten down the larger clamping screws on your coupling.

Press the lock collar against the Y plate and firmly tighten down its set screw.

Grab your X-Gantry Carriage firmly, so it doesn't move, and use a spanner to tighten the Tensioner nut until your lead screw is under tension. Then, tighten the set screw on the Tensioner nut to lock it in place.

Excessive tension should be avoided, as it will increase part wear. You may need to adjust tension once you start using the machine, if you notice whip/vibration on the lead screw.

Press these lock collars against their respective End Plates and tighten down their set screws.

Repeat this step 4 times, on each corner of your base frame.

Do not fully tighten the Cast Corners at first. Leave them slightly loose and make sure your frame is perfectly square first. Squareness is really important - get a friend's help if you can. Best way to check squareness is to measure the diagonals of the rectangle formed by the 4 profiles. They should have the exact same length.

Low Profile Screw M5x8mm

2020 End Cap

T-Nut M5 (inserted in the slot on step 3)

Low Profile Screw M5x10mm

Cast Corner

Do not install Endcaps on this corner (this is where the Y Drag Chain will be connected later in the build).