I'm extending the x axis on my workbee to 1000mm. I was planning on making new y gantry plates from 1/2 inch 6061 to make the x axis stronger. I found a couple of 1/4 inch steel plates at the scrap yard that I thought could be attaxhed to the outside of the aluminum plates. Any ideas on how to attach them? Are they complete overkill?
Not sure how half inch plates or attaching steel will make the X axis stronger - you will still have potential "twist" in the C beam, though that can be managed by using sensible machining settings.
That brings up the question of what is the biggest source of flex. I think, based on my cbeam machine, it comes from the X axis CBeam and the Z assembly carriage wheels (on the X axis CBeam). I've tightened the wheels to the point where the eccentrics are at max. There are lots of posts about mitigating CBeam flex. I assume that the goal of the steel plates is to strengthen the gantry plates and decrease flex in the X axis direction. How much flex is there to start with? I'd start by measuring it. I'm considering a workbee so this is interesting to me. You could set up a dial indicator and then try pushing along the X axis (not on the Z assembly) to see just how much flex there is in that direction. Non-scientific but that will at least give you a sense of how much there is to start with. Beyond the scope of this discussion is the question of how much force does a spinning router bit that is cutting through material impart to the machine structure.
There is a guy on eBay selling 1 inch and 2 inch versions if you don’t want to make your own. I have a set. They also add 2 wheels so 5 total. Just FYI
