Anyone try using 1" square extruded t slot to reinforce the bed on their buddy?
Anyone try using 1" square extruded t slot to reinforce the bed on their buddy?
Well, since nobody's responded i'll toss in a screen shot of a 3d model.
You will have to excuse me. I have never even seen a buddy. I am abpout a week away from delivery. Does the buddy have a table flex problem? If so, it looks like you have a great solution.
An interesting suggestion. My guess is that it would help some. Perhaps it could be further stiffened by mounting a number of extended gussets to each side the Powerstick and fastening them to the sheet? As I'm sure you've intended, your design provides a convenient hold-down means.
Has anyone actually used this method for building a table?
Not exactly the same thing (more involved than just a frame), but I'm a fan of the 1" 80/20 aluminum extrude (10 series). My workplace has extremely high humidity and an mdf spoilboard (only) was problematic. Zero issues since modification. If I were going to use the extrude as just a frame for mdf, I would maybe bump it up to the 15 series which is 1.5" square. It's a touch more robust and I was surprised on the deflection under stress of the 10 series over 6 feet. Sorry for hazy pic ... cracked lens on phone.
I am also a fan of an all-aluminum table. I did fool with trying to hold an MDF top flat for a few years, but went with a table made up of aluminum extrusions from Hubbard CNC, and love it. It will be two years this summer with the aluminum table and I couldnt be happier.
I actually was going to order a T slot top from Techno-Isel, but they were out of stock for a few months on what I wanted, so I went with the Hubbard stock. Love it!
I think Shopbot should offer an option, for an aluminum T slot table top. Some might not want or need it. But, I would have bought it. Using both for several years, Aluminum is the way to go where humidity changes. Here, it is from 30% to 85% swing, seasonally. Thats a lot of movement.
With the aluminum top, I can cut accurately to within 5 thousandths in depth when cutting sheet goods. No where near that with the MDF, as right after I surfaced the top it would start to move.
I am in the middle of rebuilding my BT48. I have converted it to all THK linear bearings a new Z axis and will be adding a Spindle. I built a t-slot table as you can see in the pic.