Thread: Solsylva Gantry Materials?

Hi Dan,
Welcome to the forum.
As you have found out the problem is trying to convert the imperial or fractional dimensions of these plans to our metric language. Our available materials such as bolts, sheet thickness, pipe sizes etc are not the same so you have to sit down and adjust the plans accordingly. There is a risk of miscalculating as the dimesions need to close on a lot of the components.
My first experience was downloading the Jgro plans and then sitting down for hours re-working the dimensions. I stopped when I got to the pipes and ended up designing my own machine in the end.
There are a few that have or are building to the designs you metioned so with luck they might chime in and give you some support.

Welcome to forum.

I Agree with rod, and i am sure most of us started in the same way. I spent a while downloading jgro and rockcliff etc and re-drawing them in cad only to find out the same thing as rod. So i built my own cnc from idea on the net. Its easier to build around what you can find since its stressful trying to find the right parts and then having to pay postage half the time. lol.

With that said, i have heard of a few different things used on these machines and jgro. Bunnings sell gas pipe (not sure of quality), your local metal supplier should eb able to source ground rod, and your local hydraulics should have something very similar to some hollow polish ground rod but it is used in their pumps and shafts. Im sure there are others and someone might help out with sources but the main thing is to work with easily available parts and you'll find the build will go together smoother and stress free (...well less stressful anyway).

Daniel

Just a thought, how much are you willing to spend to get your machine up and running. Because if you wanted to upgrade the machine slightly you could always use round linear rails. They are smoother and aren't all that dear in retrospect. You could always then use them again if you decided to upgrade to a new machine. (which im sure someday you will)

Just an option to think about.

daniel

Rod and Daniel

Thankyou both for your advice. I understand exactly what you are saying about metric conversions, that's the main reason I have steered clear of MDF machines - the thought of adjusting those drawings does not appeal at all. That was the main reason I have been looking at the Solsylva gantry, in the hope that it will be easier to accommodate local materials. My plan is to use this machine to cut templates and small molds for composite r/c sailplanes.

Dan