e chain out of baltic birch?

[knight_toolworks]

I found the drawings to make my own e chain. but if I make it out of plastic I think it may cost more in materials then to buy it. but what about doing it out of baltic birch plywood? 1/4" think the pivots would hold up?

[billp]

Steve,
Years ago a Shopbotter stopped by our booth at the Las Vegas furniture show. He had brought something to show us; a wooden "chain" he made on his machine which was built out of thin plywood, and rivets. It looked like a fat, wooden bicycle chain and he was using it as a cable carrier on his machine.
I think I might haunt the scrap bins of plastic shops once I figured out the approximate surface area such a chain , as there be little/no issue with the plastic binding over time. McMaster Carr also sells sheets of Delrin that might be perfect ( .125"by 2'by 4'- $80 as an example for pricing)- http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastics/=716k46

[curtiss]

DIY v-chain here

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=511&highlight=v-chain

[knight_toolworks]

it would only cost about 250 to buy it so using a 3/4 sheet of plastic would cost way too much since the design uses 1/4"

[knight_toolworks]

here they are out of 1/4" baltic.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/09fbabd0.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/30e0840c.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/bf9f8ce1.jpg

[wmcghee]

How do they work Steve? They look good. I would like to make these for my bot if you don't mind sharing the file.

[knight_toolworks]

they seem fine. Famous last words :D but i changed them a little bit I made the pivot/hole 3/4" to make it stronger. I am also making them out of 3/8" since that was all I had on hand. I am debating on making the cross pieces out of the same and dado'ing them so they are flush or just buying 1/4" stock. with the thicker stock I can also brad nail them together besides the glue.
well let me test it all and if it works no problem on the files. it is easy to adjust for thickness.

[knight_toolworks]

well here it is. but it is not going to work. just too long of a span on it. I have not even put on the spindle wire. I don't think it could take the stress.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/16d80824.jpg

[mikeacg]

It's still plenty cool, Steve. Might be fun to incorporate into pieces of furniture just for the look! Something like a table with folding leaves. The chain could hide the pull out supports and slide in and out of a hidden space (like a tambour).

[knight_toolworks]

yes it was worth the effort. it would work with a smaller machine I think. I will keep them for sure

[norm]

Steve,

Could you post the plans, please. Many thanks for your efforts.

Norm

[knight_toolworks]

here you go
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1939753/e%20chain.zip

[wayne_walker]

Steve,

I did a search and found your post on the wooden e-chain. I went to the link and it popped up the error saying, "it could not be found".

Do you have a good link or the file you would share with me?

Thanks in advance...

Wayne

[knight_toolworks]

You did not take long to pick it up (G) here you go but don't wait.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1939753/e%20chain.zip

[bstern]

Really cool stuff.

If you don't have the time to put into this, you can buy the e-chain direct from Igus for about $100. Anyone who wants the specs can email me or I can post it.

Mine is capable of 2 Zs, compressed air and other connections.
Guy came to my shop to see my cables and speced it. No Charge!

Better yet, order it from shopbot.
Its worth it. There are other parts than just the chain that is needed to do it well.
I ordered my own from igus for the Y axis.

I just got the X kit from shopbot. (Yes they have them!)
Got track all hardware etc..
Well worth the extra dollars.

Oh, and I ordered all the hardware from shopbot to clean up my diy Y axis.

Saving money is all fine and dandy but if you save 5hrs of work and its done right it has better value in the end.

Then again, I really wish I had the time to make the wood chain for fun!

[donchandler]

well here it is. but it is not going to work. just too long of a span on it. I have not even put on the spindle wire. I don't think it could take the stress.

I use quite a bit of E Chain on some equipment I build. I use IGUS chain. They always ask what is the span and weight of cable in it. They calculate which chain to use. Sometimes, with a long span, the chain sags down and slides on top of the bottom section. The track it runs in also has plastic strips down each side for it to slide on if it sags down. It is definitely a science to get it all right, but I have never had any trouble with it. I put it on my X axis on my 60x120 PRT. works fine.

[wayne_walker]

Steve,

Thanks for the files for the e-chain. Could I ask you to save it in the older version of VCP? The version I am using is 4.6 and you sent it saved as 5.3. Maybe it is not possible to save in an older version, I don't know. I have alot of falloff ABS I would like to use. I'm sending it to Laird Plastic for recycle now.

Thanks in Advance.

Wayne

[knight_toolworks]

I could save it as a dxf. I have aspire now so you would be even more out of luck.

[2talltary]

Delrin is the best machining plastic, the workhorse of the plastic industry if you will. Try http://hightechplastics.com/ They have delrin is all different shapes and sizes.