TrAm-N-AtOr | 3D Printing | Page 1

crimson basalt Apr 5, 2025, 4:20 PM

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Work in progress tramming tool. I need to find/make some models of a more lightweight indicator setup or change some parts to metal. Indicator mount rotates 90°.
Idea is to set the Tramnator 90° with 123 blocks/ETC, then mount, then tram Tramnator to 1 master frame rail. Then tram the rest of the frame rails.
This can capture elevation and XY skew.

Why did I wait so long to think of this!

Once the unit is built and tested, will release files in case others might want to use.

Some parts needed: 2 rails, 2 extrusions or 1 extrusion and 1 square tubing. Some plastic, heat sets, and bolts. Of course, a 1" dial indicator and a mag base for the parts.

storm skiff Apr 5, 2025, 4:21 PM

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crimson basalt Work in progress tramming tool. I need to find/make some models of a more lightw...

I wonder how you'll approach the dial indicator arm holder, I have one out of PLA for my DTI and it clearly deflected under the test force

crimson basalt Apr 5, 2025, 4:29 PM

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storm skiff I wonder how you'll approach the dial indicator arm holder, I have one out of PL...

I have already used this setup, at least the indicator part, in that mount. Yes, it does deflect, but it rests repeating/when stopped. I will end up making an aluminum mount for the rod and maybe even a bottom plate for the lower carriage, to spread the load, and clamp down to it the rest of the parts.

I imagine there will be some play in the carriages also, but as I said, it should come to rest in a repeatable fashion and those carriages are locked by those stoppers. If not, I can tweak the design from there.

The issue for me, at this point, is affixing of the lower extrusion to the plastic, such that I can tweak the vertical position as well as skew. For now, I am just pushing over the plastic and not the rail to adjust XY. For vertical I have some jacks bolts in the bottom and can only shift the play in the T nuts, which should be enough.

crimson basalt Apr 5, 2025, 6:15 PM

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crimson basalt Apr 6, 2025, 5:26 PM

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1fmEQEraCo

YouTube

PIRACER VELOCIRAPTOR

TraM-N-AtoR

Tired of having to drink 24 beers to get the tramming job done? Have to wake up the next day and start again? This is the solution for you!
Beta V0.0.1. Had an idea and went with it. Glad I did. Although this is beta, don't be fooled! If you have a cross gantry or other, this is the tool for you!

I have some strange resonance I believe is comi...

▶ Play video

crimson basalt Apr 7, 2025, 7:06 PM

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I didn't use the pushers on the side of the extrusion mount. A small hammer with an indicator on the side worked well, but I can see having jack screws to control movement would be nice.

I did not have any problems with repeatability other than when the indicator sweeps along the 90° rail, the elevation changes due to play in the lower carriage. For this I have added a 2080 extrusion with 2 rails on the bottom.

I did have some issues with the 90° being 90°. I used 123 blocks and I should have trammed the square tubing to the lower 2040 then assemble.

Since it was on the machine already, I trammed the fixed rail assembly to the frame extrusion. Then trammed the framed rail to the tools extrusion. From there I trammed the 90° rail against the frame extrusion and it was within .001"

The problem I had was the rail risers were not parallel to the frame extrusion. I guess 14 beers in I got sloppy with the drilling.

It does not really matter where your master rail is or if you choose to have the frame be the master, just be sure you adjust the frame rail to the frame extrusion if the frame is the master. All that matters is that the gantry rails are 90 to one another and you have some freedom to tweak the rail position.

*** rail bolt slop only gives about .010" of movement! If your initial setup is not close they will not align (Keep in mind I am using bolts threaded into solid aluminum and not T-Nuts as those will give more adjusting freedom).

I found that is is of utmost importance to get that 90° tube 90°. This way the assembly can be trammed to one of the frame rails and the 90° frame rails will be moved to match the 90° rail on the device.

Another thing is that this could use 2 indicators mounted vs 1, to save time. Not a big deal, it just might take 9 beers instead of 6.

Working on making better pushers before final release.