Frame Design Questions

Hardware
1

So I’m getting ready to order my new Maslow 4, and getting excited! I had one of the original Maslow machines several years ago. I wanted to get everyone’s opinion on my frame design. I’ve got room to build the hourglass frame, which I really like, but in terms of performance, is the horizontal frame better than the upright? Seems like the horizontal would be easier in terms of clamping things down and working with the machine rather than having it hanging, but I just wasn’t sure. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

2

I don’t have any issues mounting workpieces for my vertical frame. It’s also much easier for me to access the entirety of the frame/work area with it stood up. That said, there are things that are more effort because I take extra steps like putting support pieces on the spoilboard so I can set my workpiece on them like an easel before securing it to the spoilboard and removing them so they aren’t in the way. That said, it’s 2 blocks with 2 permanent screws each that just sit by my frame, so its really not a cumbersome step.

3

I don’t think there’s a clear-cut winner in the upright vs flat decision. Gravity can be your friend sometimes, and your enemy other times, so the upright frame can be easier and harder to work with. I built my original Maslow upright (obviously) and my current M4 setup is flat. I will probably be building an upright frame for the M4 because when winter comes I don’t feel like operating my M4 in a snowstorm and my indoor space isn’t large enough for a flat frame. Here are some of the benefits I can think of for each design. Feel free to suggest others. Edit: added items suggested by others.

Upright

  1. Takes up less floor space
  2. Gets a gravity assist during Extend All
  3. Less sled friction when translating across surface
  4. Most of the work surface is at a comfortable height without a lot of kneeling
  5. Easier access (don’t have to walk around a large workpiece or get footprints on it.
  6. Many upright frame designs have built-in storage for sheet goods

Flat

  1. Can be set up with minimal building. I have four anchors in my driveway and a spoilboard tacked to some rough dimensional lumber for my work surface. It isn’t even anchored to the driveway and works just fine.
  2. The sled has less tendency to lift away from the material during plunges (although this benefit may not compensate for the greater sled friction)
  3. Particularly well suited to very large frame designs
  4. The need to kneel can be greatly reduced by mounting flat to a tabletop
  5. Never drops to the floor (a less common occurrence as the firmware has improved)
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4

I prefer to say Always drops to the floor.

I would add that a flat requires either 1) a whole lot of walking, or 2) getting footprints on your workpiece from cutting across it.

Having it horizontal on a table makes it a lot more pleasant to not have to stoop down a lot.

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5

Flat also causes more friction between the sled and workpiece, while also providing more force perpendicular to the sled to hold it against the workpiece, reducing lift-away during plunges.

From what I’ve seen, friction is more problematic than lift-away, and the latter can easily be compensated for by generating better gcode and having your plunges ramp down to the final depth.

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