Before Starting the Engine

After getting everything back on the rails, it was time to assemble the work surface.

This basically attaching the y-axis rails to the base and placing the gantry with XZ Car.

The steppers motors get their traction on v-groove belts that run the length of the MakerSlide.

Power to the stepper motors on this Shapeoko 2 are delivered by drag chains that need mounted somehow.

Drag Chain Challenges

1. Drag Chain needs securely fastened to the XZ Car
2. Drag Chain needs securely fastened to the Gantry
3. Drag Chains needs to clear terminal blocks and not contact any wiring

Parts Used

1. m4 x 12mm bolts/washers/lock nuts
2. m5x80mm bolt/washers/nuts
3. 2x Extrusion Bracket (Single Slot) - 26017-02
4. 2x Extrusion Brackets (Double Slot) - 25293-05

[Note: The keen observer would notice the work surface changed in the picture above. Yes, we put the plain MDF pieces on thinking the nice Inventables with grid piece would go on top. Nope. Single layer is strong enough. (Our ShopBot has multiple 3/4” plywood layers for the table with an MDF spoil board layer on top.)]

The Z-axis motor is wired with snakeskin and connected to the terminal block on the XZ Car.

The far Y-Axis motor is wired with snakeskin and routed through the trusses of the gantry.

The other Y-Axis motor joins and connects to the terminal block.

Parts for mounting the drag chain arrive.

Replacing the 70mm both with an 80mm Socket Head Bolt gets us room to the the extrusion bracket where we attach the drag chain with an M4x12mm Cap Head Bolt and lock nut.

The 4C cable is connected to the terminal block for the Z-Axis Motor and routed through the drag chain with the X-Axis motor wires.

The Y-Axis and X-Axis terminal blocks are wired up.

Both drag chains are installed an all cables are routed.

Wiring up the Arduino with a Motor Shield and we are ready to test!

We took advantage of the affordances of the frames to attach the two drag chains.

Powering the Arduino up and hooking it up to a laptop, we use the Java-based Universal G-Code Sender to send movement commands to the Shapeoko.

It works! All four stepper motors operate and the XZ Car moves around the work surface. We have some inverted coordinates which will work on next.