Just finished setting up mine too, one thing different was i found a hinge type router mount for a dewalt palm router to 3D print, i scaled to 135 % and it works great, probably can be print at 134 for more pressure, ill upload some pictures soon.
Thank you to all.
Well it looks great, but when I mounted the sled to the chains i noticed the interference problem. I’ll replace the knobs with bolts for now, and test.
Sweet bracket! The wrench holder is a cool bonus.
No weights?
Thank you gersus,
Found it on Thingiverse, its for the MPCNC, i scaled it up at 135% probably 134% would fit a tad better i found another bracked that uses a printed latch, ill try that on later, i also found the wrench bracket for a ER40 wrench and just slimed it to reduce play. once i get all done ill upload the files to thingy verse.
Ill add weights once i finish adding all the accessories, i like to keep things at arms reach. currently adding bit holders and a “Sharpie pen holder” holder.
My first sled - you know the “rough as guts” one before you make your real sled - was based on this awesome design. Because there’s absolutely nothing like the Ridgid routers available here. Let alone half of the other stuff (like bricks - who thought bricks would be so hard to buy). So … you gotta go straight to building your own z-axis control.
I started with a MakerMade kit.
Here’s some pictures:
With this setup the weak link is now the screwdriver shafts that are about 3mm dia. They’re literally not rigid enough so I’ve got some x-axis slop of about 1.5mm
And after all of that I’ve probably stuffed my upcut endmill with too slow a feed rate trying to figure out optimal feed rates for this setup. Even so, hopefully now I can actually make a new design for my ‘proper’ sled with what I’ve learned.
These routers are $40 a piece here, so I’m thinking of buying several. Then I’ll fit a different bit in each one, set to exactly the same height and ensure that I’ve got a very tight ‘quick-swap’ fitting for the router so I can swap bits super easy.
… and before anyone says “But you can order that from <insert online purveyor name here>” … um … no
Getting things through customs here is a nightmare, unless you’re doing it a lot - it took a month just for the makermade kit - and most of that time it was waiting in customs here. And ebay/paypal doesn’t even recognise that this country exists - their country list dates to 1997 (literally, not joking) and they refuse to change it.
That is excellent! I love seeing people come up with ways of doing complex projects with the simple stuff they have one hand! What country are you in? Thank you for sharing!
Man, that is one bootstrapped Z axis! Loving it!
I’m sorry to hear of your troubles getting stuff imported. Hopefully the Maslow should start opening up doors for you as far as making components for your setup.
The screwdrivers you’re using are definitely smaller than the ones in the linear guide kit that I’ve been recommending. The ones I’ve selected are 8mm, maybe you can find some cold rolled steel rods locally that are around that size?
30,000 rpm is very fast for a Maslow spindle. Because of the machine’s slow feed rates, you’ll never be able to get to take advantage of that spindle speed. To get a good chipload on my tools, I run my machine at 10,000rpm and 500mm/min. That’s with a single flute, 1/4" end mill with a 1/4" step down. Does your router have variable speed? I’d guess not based on the price, but you never know.
I’m in Timor-Leste.
I know there’s at least one other DIY CNC machine in country, but it’s a mid-format flat bed machine about 600mm x 600mm x 50mm depth (roughly).
I’ve seen a few other high quality pieces of shop machinery around, but no CNC.
The favoured tool for anything in this country is an angle grinder. I’ve even got a 12" chainsaw attachment for mine - most dangerous power tool I’ve ever come across, although it does genuinely do a good cut.
Thanks so much for the dimensions. The only steel rods that we get even close to that diameter are mild steel reinforcing rods, so … not straight. I’ll stick with screwdrivers and look for something with an appropriately sized shaft.
I really appreciate these numbers - It’s incredibly hard to find anything like this when you’re first starting - they really need to be someplace obvious.
Nope. But there’s lots of different brands here, and it looks like about 4 basic designs among all of them. So I’ll have a look for variable, or at least slower RPM.
Hmm. Those parts look suspiciously like guide rails, and they’re even 8mm in diameter …
The sides of the router, where the guide tubes were (the ones you can see in the picture) are completely hollow now - and very safe for me to drill through for multiple mounting points.
Although I’m not sure if I can still do my quick mount idea…
First thing now is to reuse that bottom plate and rods to make the main parts of a new z-axis assembly with the router fitted, measure it all up, and then design and cut my new sled to fit.
… and then I put it back together again. Because I found some threaded rod, and a few nuts, and …
Within the next two weeks I’ll build up the “Meticulous Z-Axis”. All the parts are already inhouse. 
@MeticulousMaynard I’ve got some troubles finding the link to the latest F360 document. Could you post this also to the Git repo? I need the source files because I’ll mount a Kress Spindle to the sled.
Link to Fusion 360 Cloud File: Fusion
I could swear it’s in this thread at least half a dozen times at this point
It’s already there, on the instructions page: The Meticulous Z-Axis
Thank you for your reply.
Yes, that’s the link I already got. But if I open it, then I’ll get the version without the ring (but with the wooden linkage). That’s why I asked for the latest version. 
The ring is in there. If you download the file, its a hidden subassembly. I’ve been working on my own setup, which uses the linkage. That’s the only reason that’s visible right now.
OK and sorry for bothering you.
No worries, its part of supporting this development.
It does have me thinking though, would it be favorable for everyone if there was a Fusion 360 backup file in the repository? It would require maintaining, but I could also save individual versions of the different configurations to make it easier.
I also desperately need to put together a proper FAQ for everyone. Sorry, documentation is totally lacking on this project.
Hey thanks for posting this. I printed the needed clamp parts at 134% after I located the source files on thingiverse. For anyone else interested here is the link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2977076
This clamp is well designed and even in PLA the parts are tough, I have roughly 30hrs in printing on this. 80% infill cubic pattern, .24 layer height.
Phew made it to last post. Def some great info in this thread to help me get my z running smoothly. That printed bracket looks awesome so think I’ll start there
