Here is the frame I’ve designed for the Maslow. I’ll need to fine tune it when my kit arrives, but this is what I have at this point. I know, I know, the first thing that comes to mind is “this is totally overbuilt”. However motor to substrate rigidity is essential to the Maslow design. Even a millimeter of flex in the frame contributes to less accuracy in the cut.
There are several issues I’ve tried to address with the construction:
Rigid construction to reduce flex in motor supports under load.
Adjustment for chain to substrate distance.
Adjustment for substrate frame angle
Skirt support for sled while cutting near edges of media.
Frame mobility.
The motor support beam is 12 ft. long and 2 ft. above the cut area to increase the chain angle when the sled is at the top of the cutting area and reduce the angle when cutting at the bottom corners.
I used unistrut for the beam as many of you have suggested. However unistrut will bow and twist slightly under load especially with longer lengths so a second piece of unistrut is bolted securely to the first to prevent that distortion as much as possible. The vertical struts that hold the motor beam were also doubled up to stabilize them as well.
As I’ve described before, the top beam is adjustable to align the chain for different thicknesses of material. The frame angle is similarly adjustable. And 4” casters are installed to allow this heavy assembly to be moved easily.
When my kit arrives I’ll be able to fine tune the frame and deal with sled design, chain routing, etc. This design is not “set in stone”. I welcome any suggestions!