Cable carrier?

[stargategfx]

Who here has converted the cable support on the 'bot from the black acrylic wand to a cable track system?
Was it difficult to install?
How about sizing?, I'd like it to carry the vacuum tube as well.
Where to purchase?
I've just broken the wand for the second time, and this time it sheared off the limit switch wire.

[fleinbach]

Boyd,


Is this what your looking for


361

http://www.igus.co.uk/default.asp?c=gb&L=en

It is called Igus Energy chain. I paid $200.00 to outfit my PrtAlpha 144 It handles both the X and Y car

[gwilson]

Frank would like to see a shot of the other side. I am looking at this too.
Thanks
Gerald

[fleinbach]

Here is a shot of the rear chain. The main reason I went this route was because I didn't have the headroom for the cable carrier but now that I have these I wouldn't go back to the old system.



362

[stargategfx]

Thanks Frank, yes that is exactly what I meant.

[waynelocke]

I purchased some IGUS chain on ebay for my sb.
Wayne

[cnc_works]

My gloat...$30 for 30 feet at a surplus electronics store. It really is a better (though more expensive system)than stock.

My vacuum runs on a piece of electrical conduit running lengthwise over the 'bot strung with shower curtain hooks with the hose hanging underneath.

Donn

[wayneo]

I purchased two different sets of IGUS chain on ebay. Purchase was reasonably cheap considering new prices.

I installed one along the front of the Y-Car and put all cables in there. I kept the plastic arch thing and use it for the vacuum pickup. I wanted to do this mainly to separate the static from the vacuum pickup and the other wiring.

This worked so well that I mounted the other IGUS E chain along the backside of the machine (X-Axis). It also works really well. It really cleans up the machine and keeps things tidy.

I had to fabricate two sheetmetal trays that the E-Chain rides in.

Wayneo

[jseiler]

if you want to be really crazy, you might follow this gentleman's lead:

http://solsylva.com/cnc/5cnc54.html

Check out the bottom of the page. He used vinyl siding and dado'ed 2x4.

John

[dvanr]

PVC garden edging works in a pinch as well(Cheap!). Thick enough and tough. Just be aware that it does get a bit brittle at colder temps.

[olecrafty]

I just purchased a lot of cable carrier at auction. When it gets here in a couple of weeks I will see what I have. After I figure how much my bot needs I will sell the remainder at a very reasonable price to any botters that need it.

Kaiwa
olecrafty@charter.net (mailto:olecrafty@charter.net)

[stargategfx]

Thanks for all the responses,
Kaiwa, I would be interested if you have enough left over!

[john_david]

I would be interested also again if there is enough

JD

[olecrafty]

Boyd, John and others interested. The cable carriers that I purchased at auction are in. Looks like there will be plenty for 4 or 5 bots maybe more. Soon as I get it sorted out will let you know on the forum.

Kaiwa
olecrafty@charter.net (mailto:olecrafty@charter.net)

[gamisano]

After searching ebay, and other sources I noticed that the e-chain is pretty easy to come by. What I would like to know from those who have installed one is, what size is appropriate for a PRT with a spindle harness? I just want to make sure that I don't order something too big or too small. Thanks!

Guido

[fleinbach]

My small one on the Y car is 52" and the X car is 90"

[David Iannone]

I just finished my cable carrier yesterday. It works great.

363

364

[fleinbach]

I forgot to mention my table is the 5' X 12' for the 52" Y car and 90"X car E-chain.

[bleeth]

I bought mine directly from IGUS and got the 1 3/4" (app) wide x 1" High to make sure the spindle cable had easy room and bought the type with the snap open links for easy installation. 4' length was more than adequate for my table which is a standard PRT. It doesn't run any better than the "arch" but it sure looks better.

Dave

[wayneo]

Hi Guys,
I also modified my SB to use the E-chain on the X and Y axis. Made sheetmetal trays for them to run in. I also left the power cable to the router and vacuum pickup on the SB Plastic Bow thingy. This was to separate the control cables from the power cable and static of the dust collector hose.

The E-chain is a much better way of running the cables (IMHO).

Wayneo

[dhunt]

WHY hasn't ShopBot seen fit to get away from that stupid, ever-snapping "bow" thing as they refer to it?

If one guy(above) modified his machine for just $200, this could be an optional Modification Kit that SB could offer (or at time of sale,maybe?)for an extra $300?
That Damned Bow has caused me lotsa frustration, and requires my constant attention since it clashes with my dust extraction system
AND it snaps once a year or so!
It's got to the stage where we simply replace it with a strip of 3/8ths. Bendy Plywood, which may not look as cute, but gets the job done.

I've always admired this Caterpillar Track cable handling system on Techno and other 'grown-up' machines,
but figured it was a thousands-of-dollars feature...
- now I hear it can be done for $200??!

ShopBot, this is your next big quantum leap progress advancement for the ShopBot design in general,
and it would be nice to see it as standard equipment by the end of next year.

Merry Christmas to you all,
and God bless the sterling people at ShopBot who are constantly improving a great machine!

[paco]

David,

if you don't like the blue color of the Bot, don't post about it or you'll probably get black listed... hi, hi!

8o)

Seriously, go ahead and build you own from whatever you want and at the price you are happy with.


365

[gamisano]

I just ordered mine direct from Igus, complete withChain, seperator, and pivot bracket for $89. That covers the cable movement for the gantry, and not the entire side of the table. It is large enough to house the motor cables, the spindle harness, and then some. Very reasonable, if nothing else.

Guido

[olecrafty]

I have sorted the cable carriers and here is a list of what I have available.

IGUS model 27 12 200
inside measurement 1 3/8" X 4 7/8
outside radius 18" across
I have 12'10" $8.00 per foot

OKSO 0625.43 KR 200
inside measurement 1 3/8" X 4"
outside radius 17" across
I have 20" $8.00 per foot

IGUS 25 3 055
inside measurement 1" X 2 1/4"
outside radius 5 3/4" across
I have 2' 10" $15.00

IOIP -II 1.4R 1.9R Cleason Reel
inside measurement 3/4" X 1"
outside radius 4 3/4" across
I have 3' 4" $15.00

All prices are plus shipping
I also have some really heavy carrier if anyone has a need.

email me if you need some carrier or have a question

Kaiwa
olecrafty@charter.net (mailto:olecrafty@charter.net)
Kaiwa

[olecrafty]

price corrections on cable carrier
IGUS model 27 12 200
12ft 10in $40.00

OKSO 0625.43 KR 200
20ft $50.00

IGUS 24 3 055
2ft 10in $12.00

IOIP-II 1.4r 1.9r Cleason Real
3ft 4in $12.00

prices plus shipping
Kaiwa
olecrafty@charter.net (mailto:olecrafty@charter.net)

[pete]

How much and what size E-Chain will I need for a 48x96 Alpha with spindle (thinking cable size here) please - anyone already have some E-chain installed that can advise what they use. Thanks, Pete

[zeykr]

Kaiwa,

Sent you an email just now about the 20' of OKSO 0625.43 KR 200.

[olecrafty]

Peter
I havent' installed mine yet so I could only guess at this time.
Peter and others the longer 2 carriers have sold.

Kaiwa
olecrafty@charter.net (mailto:olecrafty@charter.net)

[robtown]

McMaster Carr sells it also. It's about $11.50 a foot. I got enough to do the gantry (6.56')and an end bracket for about $100.00 for my PRT96

McMaster Part number: 4409T533

[bill_lumley]

Paco , I like the look of your cable and dust collector set-up . What material did you use for the 'bendy part' that the cables attach to ? Is your vacuum hose simply attached to it with tie wraps and last question how did you attach the wood carrier to the Y-car ? Thanks Bill

[paco]

Hey Bill!

I like it too!

The cable carrier itself is made from 1/8" UHMW.

Yes, the 4" hose is attached with tie wraps. If you can find the kind that you can remove (auto parts), that'll help in events of temporary disassembly/reassembly. I probably thrown away a hundred so far from a bunch of modifications which required to remove the hose and/or cable carrier.

One of the Y rail has two free holes (normally used for the rack alignment), that's what I use. One could used the aluminum strut with it's T-slot to mount the cable carrier shelf (which is the way I named it). My shelf is screwed on a 1.5 X 2.5 piece of wood; so both give about 3" which just fit aside the aluminum strut giving the same clearance under the gantry.
Yeah, it still made out of wood because the prototype work just fine... The latest addition, the cables guides, give the units it's full usage. Somewhere in another thread I posted pictures from other point of view with close up of the cables guides.

I'm currently building a Blog of some of my projects; maybe I could make on post about the cable carrier built. Think that people will like that?!

I cannot remember the specific thread but Mike Richards inspired his units from mine but with it's own flavor. He posted a couple of pictures.

[bill_lumley]

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/28/12162.html?1142023446

Paco here us the post you refer to . Where is your blog loacted ? I am in Canada (Ottawa) and just getting started on this journey. I purchased a used PRT a few weeks ago


Bill

[davidallen]

I'm using flexible electrical conduit (the blue bendy stuff from Home Depot) to hold the wires on the Y-axis. Connectors and fittings are readily available or adoptable from other areas (i.e. plumbing).

I also use slit wrap (1" plastic tubing split along the length) to control the wires along the X-axis.

Both are inexpensive and have held up for several years.

da

[paco]

The Blog is barely getting started. Let my add some more material and I'll post about it on the Web site section. Stay tunned!

Hey David!

Gotta take some pictures.

[dhunt]

Just saw a picture of The New ShopBot,today..
and can't believe that's a bow going across the big gantry.
Somehow in my mind, the new wonder product was definitely
going to do away with the ever-breaking bow,
and would have $200-worth of Igus Energy chain on it,instead.
Like the guy above said...'I paid $200.00 to outfit my PrtAlpha 144'
Finding it difficult to justify 12Gs for a bowed machine,
when there are others out there around the same price, with no bow..

[Brady Watson]

David,
The ShopBot wire guide 'arch' is a trademark of a ShopBot...somehow it just wouldn't be the same without it! Unlike the black ABS wire guides of the past, I haven't heard of anyone breaking one of the clear ones. If it doesn't break, and it holds the wires, I don't think it's a big deal. I'd rather put the $200 back in my pocket and not hear energy chain going tick-tick-tick every time it moves.

-B

[paco]

I personally chosen to fit something else on my tool because the SB arch wouldn't fit my basement ceiling. I think the arch wire guide is in the SB spirit; simple and efficient.
I believe the currently supply wire guide is made from polycarbonate (from what I saw). About 2-3" X 3/16-1/4" thick.
If you can break 2" X 3/16" polycarbonate, no matter the length of the piece, capture that on video, I want to see that!

[myxpykalix]

I hope they don't try to use yellow plexi on their arch as that could be construed as a copyright violation....You have heard of the "golden arches" haven't you? lol

[fleinbach]

The main reason I replaced my arch with the echain was ceiling height.

Dave, I too paid over 12G's for my shopbot and after spending that, $200.00 was insignificant to me but then I also had no choice either due to ceiling restriction.

Brady, I think I got the silent echain cause I don't hear any clicking, but of course there's lots I don't hear these days anymore just ask my wife.

[paco]

Bill (and all)!

I've just posted about my wires guide adaptation on my blog (http://pacosarea.blogspot.com/2007/02/wires-guide-for-my-cnc-router.html). Check it out for details and a bunch of pictures.

[bill_lumley]

Thanks for taking the time to document Paco . This answers ALL my questions