Re: Ground-up Mini Mill Question
Originally Posted by
busted bit
On upper end VMC's there is a "saddle" instead of a simple adapter that mounts the slides, ball screw and motor driving the table that rides atop the Y axis slide blocks.
What is the advantage of this arrangement? I'm thinking maybe some added vibration damping and rigidity but that's just a guess.
A long heavy table applies a lot of leverage at maximum extents of travel if the bearings are fixed to a central position on the mill. Add in a heavy fixture or so = more leverage. That's my guess for moving bearing/fixed rail designs on heavy machines, it's done to avoid 'overhang' effect.
Anyone who says "It only goes together one way" has no imagination.