wrestling with McWire frame

I have just finished putting my RepStrap McWire frame together. That is the pipe part. Less see what it took to do it. 2 pipe wrenches (spanners) one in each hand then 1 hand for the pipe locking stuff and 1 hand for the magnetic angle meter to make it straight. HEY!! Wait a minute I haven't that many hands. So I went back and slowly put the connections together putting pipe locking stuff on each connection and adjusting it all on the top of my table saw ( real flat surface ). After that was all done I looked over an realized that the 1/2 inch bolts were setting on the corner of the table saw. And to my horror I realized that I had not drilled the holes on the flange out to fit the bolts (Yipes....). So quickly removed the flange and cleaned out the treads so that I could put it back together later. Went over to the drill press and chucked up a 1/2 inch drill. Lots of cutting oil, smoke and noise later all the holes have been drilled. I then went back to the frame and just treaded the flange on to hold it in position. I will tread lock it back on later after a nap. Stupid wrenches ( spanners ). Well at least I am one step closer to putting it all together. JUST REMEMBER to drill the holes first.....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2008 05:20PM by Robert Teeter.

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Bob Teeter
"What Box?"

Bob,

I haven't bothered with the thread lock. Didn't seem to need it. I put things together all by hand and then checked alignments and fiddled with a couple of pipe wrenches till things were right. I suppose I could JB weld things in some way later if it become necessary but I don't think it will. My machine isn't going to be used for much but FDM. No machining, so no crazy forces.

Demented

I only thought about Zach's suggestion of thread lock because the latest Harbor Freight Catalog showed up the other day. 1/4 inch Trim Router (item. 44914-2JR is on sale for $19.99 . And it appears that I just cannot pass this kind of deal up. I have finally figured out one rule for this.

If the router goes MAJOR -(minus) Z axis movement DO NOT move the X or Y axis or you will cut your machine in half. (OOPS).

It weighs in at 2.5 pounds. Might be fun to try beside I just need to buy another tool for this.

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Bob Teeter
"What Box?"

Thats perfect for the cnc router i'm building!

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Jay

Ah, then you too would be interested in Fonly lathe also!

[www.btinternet.com]

It is most awesome. I'm building one now myself.

Here are some pictures of the little bit I've done so far.

[picasaweb.google.com]

Also, consider going the used router direction. You can often pick up routers used at hock-shops or garage sales for cheaper. Besides, you'll feel better about tearing it up if it costs less!

Demented