G'day Folks,
Just looking for some input; found the contraptor - I like the general theory… But - want to make some revisions :)
What I was thinking is a dual purpose design; Thinking about doubling the X-axis and running a reprap extruder on one side, and dremel on the other… Then depending on what task - it's able to do either (i'm thinking pcb routing/drilling (nothing too fine - typical dip components) and the occasional hunk of plastic/aluminum) Then have the extruder on the other side of the gantry - so there's little more than a flip of a switch to retask the machine…
However, after some investigation - I'm having a hard time with the aluminum angle; stuffs rather expensive (I'm of scottish descent! this is a problem!) However I have this never ending supply of punched angle (steel) - 1.5"x1.5"x16ga - 5/16" holes at 1" o/c spacing. Nice thing is - it's cheap (looking today - about 1/4 the price of the aluminum - and no holes to drill) - easily found (home depot/lowes/canadian tire/rona/walmart carry it). One major difference, it has a rolled edge (~1/2" radius bend) instead of the nicely extruded sharp 90.
Wondering - what you guys think - is my thinking flawed, any major issues I'll run into if I use the steel angle instead of the aluminum?
Thanks in advance,