Hello All:
I am thinking of building a horizontal mortising table similar to the ones
made by Multi-router and by Inca. They slide in two directions and are
controlled by a joy stick. Options that I can think of for the slide
mechanism range from very expensive linear bearings and shafts to something
as simple as a bar in a slot.
A while back I saw a design that used ball bearing drawer slides. That seems
like it might be a slick and inexpensive way to go but I wonder how much
slop I would get in a design like that. I really like precise control and
if I absolutely have to buy linear slides I will but I am interested in
saving money too.
Anyone care to comment?
Thanks,
Jim
"Jim Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello All:
>
>
>
> I am thinking of building a horizontal mortising table similar to the ones
> made by Multi-router and by Inca. They slide in two directions and are
> controlled by a joy stick. Options that I can think of for the slide
> mechanism range from very expensive linear bearings and shafts to
something
> as simple as a bar in a slot.
>
>
>
> A while back I saw a design that used ball bearing drawer slides. That
seems
> like it might be a slick and inexpensive way to go but I wonder how much
> slop I would get in a design like that. I really like precise control and
> if I absolutely have to buy linear slides I will but I am interested in
> saving money too.
>
>
>
> Anyone care to comment?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
Jim,
A lot depends on what shop facilities you have, which ever way you go you
need to be able to drill pretty accurately in order to get every thing to
line up. If I recall correctly you have a shop bot, what's its accuracy?
My own feeling is that the drawer slides won't withstand the side thrust. I
would go one of two ways. Enco sell linear rod and frelon bearings which I
have used and are good for a woodshop. If you can support the rods rididly
at both ends they are comparatively inexpensive, certainly much cheaper than
linearly supported bars, which would also have to have open type bearings.
The other option, again from Enco, is drill rod and bronze bushings, much
cheaper than the linear bearings, but you need shop facilities to make
housings for the bearings and they would also need dust shields.
Of the two the Pacific Bearing frelon closed bearings would be my first
choice. Compared to roller ball bearings they are much cheaper, for example
3/4" ID closed pillow block are $37 ea whereas the Thompson is $62 ea. As
you would need 4 for each axis it makes a big difference. You probably
don't need 3/4" for the short axis, depends really on the unsupported
length/
There are certainly other options but nearly all of them involve at least a
mill and preferably a metal lathe as well.
Bernard R
"Mark Jerde" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
<snip>
> My public library has the book "Shop Accessories You Can Build" (or
> something like that <g>) by FWW. IIRC there were plans in there for
> building one of these. I don't have the book checked out so I can't look
up
> any construction details.
>
> -- Mark
>
I have a copy of the book and did a check, it has movement in one plane and
uses filing cabinet type slides augmented by hardwood runners. One of the
comments the author made was that the longer the slides the more stable the
system is; he is using 20" slides.
If you wish I can e-mail you a copy of the article.
Bernard R
That might have been the one in FW #141 (March 2000).
"Bernard Randall" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jim Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hello All:
> >
> >
> >
> > I am thinking of building a horizontal mortising table similar to the
ones
> > made by Multi-router and by Inca. They slide in two directions and are
> > controlled by a joy stick. Options that I can think of for the slide
> > mechanism range from very expensive linear bearings and shafts to
> something
> > as simple as a bar in a slot.
> >
> >
> >
> > A while back I saw a design that used ball bearing drawer slides. That
> seems
> > like it might be a slick and inexpensive way to go but I wonder how much
> > slop I would get in a design like that. I really like precise control
and
> > if I absolutely have to buy linear slides I will but I am interested in
> > saving money too.
> >
> >
> >
> > Anyone care to comment?
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> >
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> Jim,
>
> A lot depends on what shop facilities you have, which ever way you go you
> need to be able to drill pretty accurately in order to get every thing to
> line up. If I recall correctly you have a shop bot, what's its accuracy?
>
> My own feeling is that the drawer slides won't withstand the side thrust.
I
> would go one of two ways. Enco sell linear rod and frelon bearings which
I
> have used and are good for a woodshop. If you can support the rods
rididly
> at both ends they are comparatively inexpensive, certainly much cheaper
than
> linearly supported bars, which would also have to have open type bearings.
> The other option, again from Enco, is drill rod and bronze bushings, much
> cheaper than the linear bearings, but you need shop facilities to make
> housings for the bearings and they would also need dust shields.
>
> Of the two the Pacific Bearing frelon closed bearings would be my first
> choice. Compared to roller ball bearings they are much cheaper, for
example
> 3/4" ID closed pillow block are $37 ea whereas the Thompson is $62 ea. As
> you would need 4 for each axis it makes a big difference. You probably
> don't need 3/4" for the short axis, depends really on the unsupported
> length/
>
> There are certainly other options but nearly all of them involve at least
a
> mill and preferably a metal lathe as well.
>
> Bernard R
>
>
Jim Martin wrote:
> Hello All:
>
>
>
> I am thinking of building a horizontal mortising table similar to the
> ones made by Multi-router and by Inca. They slide in two directions
> and are controlled by a joy stick. Options that I can think of for
> the slide mechanism range from very expensive linear bearings and
> shafts to something as simple as a bar in a slot.
>
>
>
> A while back I saw a design that used ball bearing drawer slides.
> That seems like it might be a slick and inexpensive way to go but I
> wonder how much slop I would get in a design like that. I really
> like precise control and if I absolutely have to buy linear slides I
> will but I am interested in saving money too.
My public library has the book "Shop Accessories You Can Build" (or
something like that <g>) by FWW. IIRC there were plans in there for
building one of these. I don't have the book checked out so I can't look up
any construction details.
-- Mark