Looking for advice on building a Workbee for a makerspace

I use Precision ACME Threaded Rod 1/2"-10 Size (1/2" Travel/Turn) 5 start (McMaster-Carr) on my 1500x850mm CNC. I had to make my own anti-backlash nuts out of Delrin stock. It was rather easy with the rod cut-offs. You have a piece just waiting to be made into a tap. You would need to be able to fit them in the 20x40mm cbeam channel which would be a tight fit, but doable. Or modify the end plates and run the threaded rods on the outside. But then you should put guards on since the threaded rods will be exposed. Mine have no guards, but I am smart enough not to snag myself or my clothing in them. This may not be the case for something open to the public.

 

I do not have a whip problem. However, my pillow block bearings that hold the screws are on the outside of the end plates on all three axis, so the lead screw is in tension. I do not know how the Workbee has that set up. Although, that would not be hard to modify.

 

I just used regular ones. I may upgrade some day, but so far they have worked well. On a side note, my bearings cam with a 3mm set screw in the collar. I drilled through this hole and through the screw with the bit that corresponds with a 3mm tap then tapped the lead screw and put a much longer 3mm screw with thread lock on. It was not easy, but I feel it was well worth it. Also, I did not load the shafts much.