LaserCut Mendel Post processing

LaserCut Mendel Repstrap Post Processing of LaserCut parts

This page is a work in progress, please help us by telling us where more detail is needed, or where the instructions need to be more clear.

Introduction

Throughout the intructions on this page we have taken photos and provided a description about how to perform the "Post Processing" of the LaserCut parts, when you are done with these steps, you will have a set of LaserCut parts which are ready for assembly into the LaserCut Mendel.

It is assumed that your skills and abilities with the tools and materials involved are adequate for the job, advanced skills should not be required, but your ability to pay attention to detail and handle the pieces accurately will make a big difference on how your machine fits together later. We are not in any way trying to teach you the skills needed to process these parts. Along with that, we do not get into any safety discussions, and OFTEN in the photos provided, there is no safety equipment shown, this is intentional to make the image of the steps more clear. You should always always use and follow safety instructions which came with your equipment.

I feel bound to warn you that the tools involved can be dangerous! They can remove fingers, and put holes into your body. If this makes you nervous, please re-read the introduction, before deciding to tackle these steps yourself.

Post Processing has three main processes to it, Routing, Drilling and Gluing/Clamping. Some of the major components (listed in the Table Of Contents below) require only one of these and others require more, I note which processes are involved.

Tools used

To perform the following procedures, you will need these tools:

• Router Table
• 5/16 in Diameter or 8mm Roundover Routing bit
• Drill Press
• 21/64 in Diameter or 8.5mm Drill bit
• 0.154 in diameter or 4mm Drill bit
• An assortment of small clamps (I use spring clamps, other will work too)
• Good wood glue, I use a polyurethane glue, but other should work

I also use a micro-pin nailer, but you can glue and clamp each piece, where I have pinned them (pinning just saves clamps and in many cases time).

Frame Vertices

Processes: Glueing/Clamping, and Drilling

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Although the picture only shows 2 LaserCut Pieces, there are twelve of them and they are glued together to create 6 vertices, as shown in the following picture:

After the glue has dried, the vertices need drilled. I created a jig to help hold my vertices in the correct position and to keep them square and upright. Take extra care to get these holes positioned just right, having them off center will cause serious problems squaring your machine. You may also find that you need to trim excess glue from the parts, in order to get them to sit squarely in the jig.

The holes are centered the one direction, and placed as closely to the lasercut holes as it can be without intersecting them.

X Axis Bar Clamp

Processes: Routing

LaserCut Pieces Used:

X Axis Carriage

Processes: Glueing/Clamping

LaserCut Pieces Used:

X Axis Vertical Drive Plate 180 end

Processes: Routing, and Gluing/Clamping

LaserCut Pieces Used:

X Axis Vertical Drive Plate 360 end

Processes: Routing, and Gluing/Clamping

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Y Axis Bearing 180

Processes: Glueing/Clamping

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Y Axis Bearing 360

Processes: Glueing/Clamping

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Y Axis Bar Clamp (Style 1)

Processes: Routing

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Y Axis Bar Clamp (Style 2)

Processes: Routing

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Y Axis Idler

Processes: Glueing/Clamping

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Y Axis Motor Mount

Processes: Glueing/Clamping

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Z Axis Belt Tensioner

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Z Axis Motor Bracket

LaserCut Pieces Used:

Z Axis Leadscrew Base

LaserCut Pieces Used: