The overall structure appears to be steel. He uses bearings with channels to serve as linear guides. The z-axis mechanism is reversed to enable longer travel. All of this is not the most interesting part. Octavio is a medical doctor. This goes to show that individuals of all backgrounds dabble with this technology. Take a close look at the bearings used to guide along the rail (U groove and "V groove bearings" work well for this type of linear rail mechanism). I know, you're saying that this method is used on other CNC machines. Sure, but he is positioning the bearings and using minimum hardware to serve multiple purposes. You can see that he is using the same shaft for each pair of bearings. The back bearings (the bearings to the right) glide horizontally along the y-axis and the front bearings serve the z-axis up and down movement. This linear motion mechanis for the y and z axes is very clever. Octavio is currently trying to reduce the gantry weight. He says that the z-axis alone is 50 pounds. He has a goal of 20 pounds by changing the metal to aluminum using stamped parts.

As you can see in the images, the chain is connected to a bearing that is driven by the motor on the other side. As I have said in many parts of the website, backlash can be introduced in a machine at various parts including the lead nut, couplings, clamps/nuts at the skf bearings, gears, and pulley mechanisms. With the use of a chain and a sprocket, the backlash is minimized as long as there is sufficient tension. Tension is only required in a chain drive to reduce the backlash in both directions.

GT Series oil film tables are designed with general-purpose V-Groove bearings, combined with a magnesium or aluminum slip plate. Oil is supplied through portholes in the granite slab and is dispersed throughout the underside of the slip plate. The oil film provides a low friction surface, a damping medium for restraint of resonances, pitch and roll moments. Yaw restraint is provided by the V-groove guide ntn bearings combined with the armature guidance system.

GT Series guide bearings are primarily designed for use with ETS Unibase shakers but are available for any existing or new shaker.

Light weight magnesium slip plate

Economical aluminium slip plate available

Self contained oil reservoir with filter

Yaw restraint provided by V-groove guide bearings combined with the armature guidance system

Less expensive technique to perform horizontal testing