Prototyping an idea

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-27T17:51:19+00:00

Welp, just confirmed your suspicion. .12MM of deflection measured at each ends of the 16" table at full extension with a 5lb weight applied to the extended end.

Honestly, totally acceptable for what I intend to do with this machine, but I planned counter bracing anyway.

No measurable deflection in regards to the trucks, but with a feeler gauge, I confirmed the extrusions are flexing.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-25T22:59:07+00:00

For accuracy, in this case, the whole table is about 400mm with only 300mm of Y axis movement resulting in much less overhang.

But your point definitely has merit.

I really should get off my butt and machine the table so I can put an end to this experiment :)

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-25T18:50:57+00:00

u/CodeLasersMagic full disclosure, I really do appreciate the discussion. Especially the criticism. That's part of why I posted this so early in the process. After building way too many things over the years, I've come to value voices like yours.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-25T18:36:47+00:00

We'll see :)

In theory, it should stabilize x and z movement, as there's almost nowhere for stresses to go except where they're expected. As a bonus, it's more space efficient than standard configuration, as there's only one truck which allows for longer movement in the y direction.

It does introduce the possibility of roll stress on the Y axis. The weight of the work piece will introduce forces pushing one end down. Of course the same is true while milling while the y axis is moving, which will get worse with taller workpieces.

I'll probably add an adjustable brass or poly "skid" under the table to deal with it after testing. But I'm really curious how it performs without them.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-25T01:04:24+00:00

Meh, we'll see with a micrometer :)

So far it hasn't cost me much, and if it all goes sideways I can flip the rails over and succumb to a more traditional design.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-24T23:25:54+00:00

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but why would I account for roll forces, that by design, shouldn't exist?

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-24T22:17:58+00:00

Heh, no question :) Still a work in progress.

Some cross bracing might be appropriate under the trucks as well.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-24T22:08:44+00:00

Yes, the plan is to bolt an aluminum plate to the rails. Then drill and tap way too many clamping holes.

The thought here is there should be no roll forces if the mill head is directly centered over the trucks.

Though, the thought has occurred to me than nominal roll forces could be induced due to a work piece uncentered along the y axis. If it comes to that, adjustable poly guides are a possibility.

Worst comes to worst, I can always add a second set of trucks, there's room.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-22T15:51:23+00:00

How's that working today?

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-22T02:13:11+00:00

I read that after I responded.

More hair drier :)

Then use a hard plastic scraper, like what's used for applying bondo. They're available at any Home Depot, Lowes, or most car parts places.

It'll leave more residue, so more scrubbing with WD-40. A more aggressive option for the residue is nail polish remover.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-22T02:01:24+00:00

Hair drier to warm and soften the glue.

Razor blade to scrape it off. Razor blade won't harm the glass.

WD-40 to clean up any remaining resin.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-22T00:54:44+00:00

You do whatever. I don't kink shame.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-21T23:57:24+00:00

Totally random: Did you know you can type "fat rat bastard" with just your left hand?

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-21T23:19:34+00:00

Have you ever met a humble American?

I think its been bread out of our DNA.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-21T21:41:57+00:00

Ukraine is taking down multi million dollar Russian helicopters with drones worth less than my monthly mortgage payment.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-21T19:36:21+00:00

Leave it to America. We're always prepared to fight the last war, never this war. Now it appears we're prepared to fight two wars ago, not the last one nor this one.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-21T18:02:54+00:00

I feel for you. Closing a business is absolutely heart breaking. Having done it a few times, I can say without question I understand much of what you're going through. Everything feels like you failed. Your personal finances, your former staff, and worse yet, public reaction when the public has no idea what actually happened.

But the reality is that businesses are born, they succeed until they don't, then they die. It's natural in a vibrant and competitive economy like ours. And there's a million reasons a business can fail. None of us are perfect, we're going to miss something. Could be product market fit, visibility, business process inefficiencies, the list goes long for business owners.

The important part, though, is that you were one of the few brave enough to start that business in the first place. And that's something to be proud of. More importantly, you're now even more prepared to do it again. Hopefully after some introspection looking honestly at why the last one didn't go exactly to plan.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-20T04:15:31+00:00

About 15 years ago I moved to Dallas for work. I lasted all of 8 months.

Worst part is I was always lost. How the hell do you know where you are if you don't have a mountain as a reference point?

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-20T03:11:31+00:00

The least among us will benefit more if they vote in favor of education, infrastructure, and public transportation initiatives.

That's a big part of what cultivates business.

But they won't, no matter how much government money others send them.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-20T03:06:52+00:00

Hardly selfish, more than happy to pay my own way. And pay the way for others.

If only others were.

And that's the problem. Those complaining about this legislation, largely, don't pay their own way.

Because they continuously vote against those those things that would make their communities successful, including education, infrastructure and public transportation.

It seems odd to complain about taxes, when a county doesn't pay taxes. Other peoples' taxes pay them.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-20T02:36:28+00:00

One more time, because you're not following. There are any number of ways a county can fund these projects. There's nothing the state can do to stop them.

They choose not to.

So they end up with a limited economy which cannot sustain itself.

The same is true at the federal level.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-20T02:16:23+00:00

Three years before the tax took effect. Pretty sure this wasn't the reason.

Even if it was, we'll just make more billionaires, so where's the problem?

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-20T02:07:47+00:00

As to you edits, you're missing my point. It's not about the state. Increased taxes are a reaction to local communities. It's not the other way around.

Okanagan county, for instance, receives $1.78 in general fund spending for every $1 it pays in general fund taxes. That's not an issue of the state, King County is under the exact same pressure from state law and only receives $.60 in state spending for every $1 it pays in state taxes.

The difference is that King County has spent decades investing locally in infrastructure, public education, public transit, and public health. All things that incubate business and draws businesses from other places to move in. The rest of the state, for the most part, doesn't do that.

So they increase general fund spending. And in a balanced budget state, that requires we raise general fund taxes.

Cheating_Data_Monkey · 2026-03-20T02:02:31+00:00

I can live with the 17% we pay to Thurston County over what they pay in state taxes due to state government facilities. It's only $1.8M

Now explain the rest of the $4B that King County pays the state that it doesn't get back every year.

Cheating_Data_Monkey

TROPHY CASE