Indexer placement on PRSalpha

[JohnHoffmann]

I am finishing the assembly of my 60x96 PRSalpha and have a question about where to best locate my indexer 6 inch. It looks like I will loose some of my needed 60 inches table Y if I locate it along the x axis from Y 0. Has anybody located an indexer along the x axis at y 60. Do I need to adjust the proximity switches to avoid interference. with the carriage/gantry? Anybody oriented it along y axis at x 96+/? and/or used the y axis kit?

[kubotaman]

John, I have a 60 inch PRS also, along with the indexer. I installed the indexer along the X axis. I didn't move the proximity switches since I made it possible to remove the indexer if needed for large projects. I just have to remember that the indexer is installed.

[coryatjohn]

My indexer is placed at the right side of the table along the Y axis. If you built your table like I built mine (also a 60x96) then you should have a pretty empty area at the far right end of your machine.

The only limitation for doing this is you'll have approximately 48" maximum work piece length. On the positive side, you'll be able to maximize the diameter of the work piece by lowering the indexer base to below the table. I used 80/20 beams (a monster 6" x 3" extrusion) to build the base.

[JohnHoffmann]

Did you place along X=0 or X=60?

[coryatjohn]

x=101
y=0 to 60

[JohnHoffmann]

Yeah, right I meant Y=0 or Y=60. Did you consider the indexer at y+60 ? Is there a reason not to put it there? Placing at x101 or so did you use a kit from Shopbot?

[myxpykalix]

John,
If you go back to the first posts in the indexer section (it's only 10 pages) and work your way back to the present and just look for posts with pictures you will see several examples of how guys mounted their indexers in X and Y and what they did to secure them, it might help you get a better feel for where it is best for you to mount yours.
If it was me i'd mount it in an orientation that made the headstock closest to where you have your control computer and where you normally operate the bot from. You want to be able to get to the tool without doing laps around the bot and be able to see it in operation clearly to stop it before you have a problem.
Start here:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=25&order=desc&page=10