¶ Introduction
Please note: This guide is based upon building a 750x750 StrongHold ONE CNC.
Measurements for the 750x1250 and 1250x1250 machine sizes are provided in the relevant steps.
It is strongly recommended to assemble the base frame on a known flat surface (such as a solid table, work surface or similar). Assembling the frame on a carpeted floor, or other non-flat surface, can cause the finished frame to not be square. This can cause issues with quality and performance.
¶ Step 1 - Prepare the machine base extrusions & brackets
- 2x 1000mm 40120 Extrusion [ 1500mm for the StrongHold ONE 750x1250 or 1250x1250 ]
- 920mm 4040 Extrusion [ 1420mm for the StrongHold ONE 750x1250 or 1250x1250 ]
- 2x 864mm 4040 Extrusion [ 1364mm for the StrongHold ONE 1250x1250 ]
- 2x 412mm 4040 Extrusion [ 662mm for the StrongHold ONE 1250x1250 ]
- 16x 4040 Cast Corner Assemblies
- 4x 4040 Extruded Corners Assemblies for the spoil board
¶ Step 2 - Assemble the front & rear 4040 extrusions
- 864mm 4040 Extrusion
- 4040 Cast Corner Assembly
- Install one corner assembly onto each end of the 4040 extrusion as shown. Tighten the M8x16 screw to secure them.
- Ensure the corner assemblies are flush and square with the ends of the extrusions after tightening the screws
- Repeat these instructions for the second 864mm 4040 extrusion
¶ Step 3 - Assemble the middle 4040 extrusion
- 920mm 4040 Extrusion
- 4040 Cast Corner Assembly
- Install corner assemblies on to both sides of each end of the 4040 extrusions as shown. Tighten the M8x16 screw to secure them.
- Ensure the corner assemblies are flush and square with the ends of the extrusions after tightening the screws
¶ Step 4 - Assemble the central frame support (x2)
- 412mm 4040 Extrusion
- 4040 Cast Corner Assembly
- Install corner assemblies on to both sides of each end of the 4040 extrusions as shown. Tighten the M8x16 screw to secure them.
- Ensure the corner assemblies are flush and square with the ends of the extrusions after tightening the screws
¶ Step 5 - Assemble base frame ends (x2)
- Front / Back Assembly from Step 2
- Central Frame Support Assembly from Step 4
- Position the central frame support in the middle of the assembly from Step 3, as shown.
- Tighten the marked M8 cap head screws to secure the extrusions together
- Repeat these instructions for the second central frame support
¶ Step 6 - Assemble the base frame - Part 1
- Middle Assembly from the previous step
- Front & Rear Assemblies from Step 2
- Position the three assemblies as shown
- Ensure that the ends of all three 4080 extrusions are aligned
- Tighten the marked M8 cap head screws to secure the extrusions together
¶ Step 7 - Assemble the base frame - Part 2
- 1000mm 40120 Extrusion
- Align each of the 40120 extrusions as shown
- Ensure that the ends of both 40120 extrusions are aligned with the ends of the frame
- Tighten the marked M8 Cap Head Screws to secure the base together
¶ Step 8 - Prepare the base frame end plate parts
- 2x Rat Rig StrongHold ONE CNC - Motor Plate
- 2x Rat Rig StrongHold ONE CNC - Idler Plate
- 12x M12 Washer
- 12x M12x45 Cap Head Screw
- 4x M8x22 Cap Head Screw
- 4x M8 Washer
- 4x 4040 Drop-in T-Nut - M8
- The main difference between the motor and idler plates is the Stepper motor mount holes.
¶ Step 9 - Assemble the front idler plates
- Rat Rig StrongHold ONE CNC - Idler Plate
- M8 Washer
- M8x22 Cap Head Screw
- 4040 Drop-in T-Nut - M8
- Make sure the counterbore for the bearing is on the same side as the T-Nut.
- Loosely thread a 4040 T-Nut on to each of the M8x22 screws. Do not tighten them at this point.
- Repeat these instructions for the second idler plate.
- Set these assemblies aside until Steps 11 & 12
¶ Step 10 - Assemble the rear motor plates
- Rat Rig StrongHold ONE CNC - Motor Plate
- M8 Washer
- M8x22 Cap Head Screw
- 4040 Drop-in T-Nut - M8
- Loosely thread a 4040 T-Nut onto each of the M8x22 screws. Do not tighten them at this point.
- Repeat these instructions for the second motor plate.
- Set these assemblies aside until Steps 16 & 17
¶ Step 11 - Install the front left idler plate
- Left idler plate Assembly from Step 9
- Align the idler plate assembly with the base frame as shown
- M12 Washer
- M12x45 Cap Head Screw
- Place an M12 Washer on to each M12x45 Cap Head screw and loosely screw them through the plate and in to the extrusion.
- Do not fully tighten any of the M12 or M8 Cap Head Screws at this point
¶ Step 12 - Install the front right idler plate
- Right idler plate assembly from Step 9
- Align the idler plate assembly with the base frame as shown
- M12 Washer
- M12x45 Cap Head Screw
- Place an M12 Washer on to each M12x45 Cap Head screw and loosely screw them through the plate and in to the extrusion.
- Do not fully tighten any of the M12 or M8 Cap Head Screws at this point
¶ Step 13 - Install the rear right motor plate
- Right motor plate assembly from Step 10
- Align the motor plate assembly with the base frame as shown
- M12 Washer
- M12x45 Cap Head Screw
- Place an M12 Washer on to each M12x45 Cap Head screw and loosely screw them through the plate and in to the extrusion.
- Do not fully tighten any of the M12 or M8 Cap Head Screws at this point
¶ Step 14 - Install the rear left motor plate
- Left motor plate assembly from Step 10
- Align the motor plate assembly with the base frame as shown
- M12 Washer
- M12x45 Cap Head Screw
- Place an M12 Washer on to each M12x45 Cap Head screw and loosely screw them through the plate and in to the extrusion.
- Do not fully tighten any of the M12 or M8 Cap Head Screws at this point
¶ Step 15 - Install the spoil board brackets
- 4040 extruded corner assembly (For the spoil board)
- Position the 4040 extruded corner assembly in the middle of the extrusion gap as shown
- The displayed measurement should be:
- 220mm for StrongHold ONE 750x750
- 345mm for StrongHold ONE 750x1250 or 1250x1250
- Ensure that the top of the extruded corner assembly is flush with the top of the 4040 extrusions.
- Fully tighten the M8 cap head screw to secure the extruded corner assembly to the frame
- Repeat the above instructions for the remaining 3 extruded corner assemblies
¶ Step 16 - Ensure the base frame is square
- Before continuing with the assembly, the frame must be squared and all screws full tightened
- Using an engineers square, check that the side 40120 extrusions are square to the extrusions forming the base
- On each side, tighten all of the following screws whilst continuing to check that the side extrusion remain square with the base:
- 4x M8x16 within the cast corners connected to the base
- 6x M12x45 on the motor and idler plates
- 2x M8x22 on the motor and idler plates
- Once one side is fully secured and squared, proceed to repeat the process on the other side
- After tightening all screws, check the entire frame once more for squareness. Correcting any issues now is easier than once the assembly is complete!
¶ Step 17 - Prepare the Y-axis linear rails
- 2x 1000mm HG15 Linear Rail with 2x Carriages
- 1500mm for a 750x1250 or 1250x1250 machine
- 34x M4x20 Cap Head Screw
- 50x for a 750x1250 or 1250x1250 machine
- 34x 4040 Drop-in T-Nut - M4
- 50x for a 750x1250 or 1250x1250 machine
- 2x align_40120_hg15 Printed Part
¶ Step 18 - Unpack and prepare two HG15 linear rails
- The linear rails are supplied with a protective oil coating on them. It is strongly recommended to prepare your work surface with paper towels and to wear disposable gloves.
- Paper Towels
- Linear Rail
- Carefully open one end of the linear rail packaging and remove the rail. Place the rail upon the paper towels and dispose of the packaging
- The oil on the rails protects them from rusting. Make sure not to remove all of the original oil during preparation.
- The linear rail carriages are not interchangeable. Do not try to use a carriage on a different linear rail than the one it was supplied with.
¶ Step 19 - Inspect & test the HG15 linear rails
- With the rail still on the absorbent paper towels, carefully and slowly move the carriage from one end of the rail to the other
- Both carriages should move smoothly over the entire length of the rail
- Small changes in resistance are normal, but the carriage becoming very hard to push, or binding completely are not
- Repeat the previous test whilst applying a small amount of force downwards on the carriage
- The carriage will likely travel more smoothly when applying a downwards force, this is normal
- Repeat the process to check the second carriage on the rail
- If the carriage does not move smoothly, or binds completely, refer to the Linear Rail Troubleshooting Guide
¶ Step 20 - Assemble the HG15 linear rails
- Do not allow the linear rail carriages to leave the end of the rail at any point
- HG15 Linear Rail
- Insert an M4x20 cap head screw into each of the holes on the linear rail
- Loosely thread a 4040 T-Nut on to each of the M4x20 screws
- Repeat these instructions for the second linear rail
¶ Step 21 - Install the HG15 linear rails - Part 1
- StrongHold ONE base assembly from Step 16
- HG15 Linear Rail assembly from Step 20
- Install the two HG15 40120 alignment tools as shown, this will make sure the linear rail is positioned correctly
- Tighten every other M4x20 screw, starting from one end
- Tighten the remaining M4x20 screws, starting from the same end as before
- Remove the HG15 40120 alignment tools
¶ Step 22 - Install the HG15 linear rails - Part 2
- Repeat the instructions in the previous step to install the second HG15 linear rail to the base assembly
¶ Step 23 - Prepare the Y - axis lead screw parts
- 2x 1057mm TR8x8 Lead Screw (1557mm for a 750x1250 or 1250x1250 machine)
- 2x Lead Screw Tensioning Nut
- 4x Thrust Bearing F8-16M
- 4x 688ZZ Ball Bearing
- 6x Lock Collar 8mm
- 4x Nut Block for TR8x8
- 8x M5 Nylon Locking Hex Nut
- 4x Precision Shim 12x8x1mm
¶ Step 24 - Prepare the nut blocks (x4)
- Nut Block for TR8x8
- M5 Nylon Locking Hex Nut
- Insert the M5 Locking Hex Nut into the Nut Block
¶ Step 25 - Install the rear right lead screw ball bearing
- 688ZZ Ball bearing
- Push the ball bearing against the slot on the inner side of the plate.
- Push the 688ZZ ball bearings against the slots on the inner sides of the plates.
¶ Step 26 - Install the Y-Axis Lead Screw - Part 1
- While performing this step, make sure to support the Lead Screw to prevent it from bending
- Lead Screw
- Insert the Lead Screw from the back of the assembly through the hole in the ball bearing
- Precision Shim 12x8x1mm
- Slide the Precision Shim on to the Lead Screw.
- Lock Collar
- Slide the Lock Collar on to the Lead Screw.
- Do not tighten the screw on the Lock Collar yet.
¶ Step 27 - Install the Y-Axis Lead Screw - Part 2
- Nut Block for TR8x8
- Screw the Lead Screw through both Nut Blocks.
- Make sure the M5 Nylon Locking Hex Nuts on the Nut Blocks are facing the 40120 extrusion
¶ Step 28 - Install the Y-Axis Lead Screw - Part 3
- Lock Collar 8mm
- Slide the Lock Collar on to the Lead Screw
- Do not tighten the screw on the Lock Collar yet.
- Precision Shim 12x8x1mm
- Slide the Lock Collar on to the Lead Screw
¶ Step 29 - Install the Y-Axis Lead Screw - Part 4
- Pull the Lead screw through the ball bearing inserted on the idler plate.
¶ Step 30 - Attach the Tensioner Nut
- Thrust Bearing F8-16M
- Tensioner Nut
- Install the Thrust Bearing on to the exposed end of the Lead Screw as shown
- Screw the Tensioning Nut on to the end of the lead screw
- Do not tighten the screw on the Tensioner Nut yet.
¶ Step 31 - Install the remaining lead screw components
- Thrust Bearing F8-16M
- Lock Collar
- Do not tighten the screw on the Lock Collar yet.
- Slide the Thrust Bearing and Lock Collar on to the Lead Screw as shown.
¶ Step 32 - Assemble the other Y - axis Lead Screw
- Repeat Steps 27 through 32 to assemble the remaining Lead Screw
- The Lead Screws will be fully tensioned and adjusted later in the assembly process
¶ Step 33 - Next guide
- Continue with the next guide: https://ratrig.dozuki.com/Guide/02.+X-Axis+Gantry+Assembly/200?lang=en