Frustrating lack of information about MakerSlide specifics

[reflectivist]

I did not mind the original questions or how they were presented. @relflectivist sounds like he was legitimately frustrated and I tried to help him out. He sounds like he is trying to build some cool stuff, so let's help him out.

We are all builders. We are building machines and friendships.

Thanks Bart! Much appreciation and respect. I was having a pretty miserable day and probably put that question out in a more venting/blaming sounding way than I would have ordinarily or should have, so, sorry for that, and thanks for understanding. I'm looking forward to putting the MakerSlide I pre-ordered to good use and glad to get the order in while the getting was good.

[r691175002]

I think you will find it is hard to get information on acceptable loads for makerslide because nobody really knows.

I wouldn't use it for anything much past a dremel though.

[Patrick34]

Here are some theoretical numbers I have crunched and posted a while ago in the frames section. Maybe this will be helpful to you.


Re: MakerSlide, Max Usable Lengths

Postby Patrick34 » Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:39 pm
So, anyway, back to the original question...

MakerSlide Deflection: How long is the MakerSlide usable at length unsupported?

I did some theoretical analysis using Solidworks COSMOSWorks on the MakerSlide up to 2000mm in length @ 5#, 2#, and 1# loads in the center of a beam with unfixed ends (worst case). Here are the results:
Length (mm), Deflection (mm) @ 5lb
400, 0.007
600, 0.024
800, 0.057
1000, 0.11
1200, 0.191
1400, 0.303
1600, 0.452
1800, 0.644
2000, 0.883

Length (mm), Deflection (mm) @ 2lb
400, 0.003
600, 0.01
800, 0.023
1000, 0.044
1200, 0.076
1400, 0.121
1600, 0.181
1800, 0.258
2000, 0.353

Length (mm), Deflection (mm) @ 1lb
400, 0.001
600, 0.005
800, 0.011
1000, 0.022
1200, 0.038
1400, 0.061
1600, 0.09
1800, 0.129
2000, 0.177

Sorry for the mixed English(IPS) and Metric values. It was just what I happened to enter in the analysis program because I estimated the weight of the gantry to be no more than 5lb, and didn't feel like dealing with the decimal equivalent in Newtons. The unit conversions were taken into account in the calculations by the software.

Basically what this means is that the MakerSlide should not deflect more than 1mm when 5lb is in the center of a rail up to 2000mm in length.

This calculation actually would be useful for a gantry weight of up to 10lb because during by setup of the problem I had forgotten the fact that the axis requires two rails (one at each end of the gantry).

I would like to know how close these numbers are to reality.

**IMPORTANT** These values are calculated for the MakerSlide standing on edge NOT flat.**

If this is accurate, these numbers could be useful to those using the MakerSlide in other design situations.

Please add to this info as possible.

[Patrick34]

I did get some confirming data from others that these numbers are a good ballpark for the performance of the MakerSlide.

[northbear]

I do not like to load the wheels at more than about 6lbs per wheel. ...

The wheels are weakest in twisting load. You want to avoid heavy or leveraged loads in that mode.

I know this post is a bit old, but when you say 6 lbs per wheel is this in the radial or axial direction?

Thanks!

[bdring]

That is the load in any direction. That is just a rule of thumb. A lot depends on your design.

If you have a 4 wheel carriage that is 2 inches long vs. a carriage that is is 5 inches will have a big impact on your stiffness.

[northbear]

Thanks for the response!

I understand what you mean about it depending on the design. I guess what I am looking for is a recommended (or estimate) of load rating in the axial and radial direction per wheel. I can then calculate / estimate the load due to the weight, moment load, etc for the most heavily loaded bearing and compare it to the recommended load (see linked dual Vee catalog below pg 23-24)

http://www.bwc.com/pdf/catalog//DualVee ... g_2010.pdf

The wheel most similar to the makerslide wheel I can find that has a load rating is the BWC Dual Vee Polymer wheels

I am looking for something like the information in the last picture for the makreslide delrin wheels. I completely understand if you don't know or it hasn't been tested. But I thought I would ask and see if you had this information or if you were willing to give your best estimate based on your experience. I would think that when you say 6 pounds in either direction, you are probably being conservative in the radial direction as this direction should be stronger then the axial direction.

Thanks again for your help! (and a great design!)

[jm82792]

I have been looking at makerslide briefly since I thought maybe it could work.
Those numbers you got for deflection scare me away from using it for much of anything.
I am no expert but when I am cutting things with a Microcarve a4 (11" by 9.5" working area that uses 3/4" hardened thomson shafts for XY) I know that my 10 pound palm router is pushing 10 pounds of force on my 1/4" bit that's chewing up hardwoods. If those numbers are close then I definitely agree a dremel or light routing is about all you can do with it in the area of CNC.