Hi all!
Sorry for the delayed response. I have been swamped with course work. I drew a picture below for the measurements. I also provided a screenshot of the measurements that were given during calibration. Another feature of this design is that the box beam can be moved forward/backward to account for different material thicknesses. (That was important for me to have because I usually cut 4mm but I also may want to cut something that is .75in every now and then.
The point of the box beam is solve the problem of chain angle from ring to sprocket. The box beam allows the motors to protrude outwards to compensate for the additional length between the motors. Having additional distance between motors without the motors protruding out will cause pinch. (Imagine if the distance between the motors was 100ft on a standard frame, the chains would be rubbing and pinching like crazy towards the sprocket.) Hypothetically, one could attach another 2x4 to the other one by using screws but it wouldn’t be as strong and It may not compensate for the chain angle correctly, unless it was calculated (ring to sprocket) If the chain must extend diagonally from the sprocket to the ring otherwise it will cause the chain to “pinch” as the sprocket is turning. (By diagonally I mean that the chain doesn’t go in/out on the z axis) I have pictures of a chain setting that would pinch (bad) vs one that wouldn’t (good)
The box beam can me moved forward/backward by loosening one bolt, hitting the beam with a mallet or pushing it; with the goal of moving it, then proceed to do the same with the other side. A level can be used to gauge straightness.
The eye hooks is meant to support the chain, allowing for it to be easily fed into the sprocket, rather than the chain just dangling and moving it around. The eye hooks have worked perfectly fine for me, however trying something with bearings would be cool. It is possible but unlikely that I just got lucky with the eye hooks, as I have done 24hrs+ of cutting with them.
Thank you very much, some of my earlier posts discuss chain pinch. These posts have others explaining what chain pinch is.
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