I see info on the overall dimensions of the Elite Foreman, but cannot find any info on the maximum z travel.
I would assume the base of the side rails at the bottom and the work table are assumed to be the same, but how deep will the cutter penetrate the work table if that’s the case? I want to make sure that when I mount the 80mm spindle with the iso20 tool holder, I’ve got maximum travel capability if im working on engraving a 2" live edge plate, I’m sure to clear the work piece. Thanks for some feed back.
Onefinity has the z-axis travel listed as 6 1/4".
The z-slider can be mounted at different heights, depending on how you want to set it up. Though, as I’ve found, if you mount it too far up, the suck-it dust boot won’t reach the spoilboard. The spindle can also be moved in its mount, if you need more room.
I can clear a 4" rotary table and also reach a tool setter thats mounted beneath the spoilboard. You won’t have issues with the thickness of slabs.
Dan
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Hey Art,
the travel of the Z-20 assembly is 163 mm. The absolute position of the Z assembly can be adjusted by attaching it on the X carriage at one of four possible mounting heights. See manual on support page.
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Thank you for the info. I have my router on order and am presently designing my table and my thoughts were having enough z clearance in the machine or if l needed to design an adjustable work platform that could be dropped down based on project thickness. I don’t have my spindle yet and another question is if there is a difference in drop from the motor housing to the lock nut on the solid er20 and the iso20/er20 collet nut. My though is that the iso20 collet nut is lower then the normal er20 collet nut.
Art
Hey Art,
I consider the entire Z assembly as the weakest point of all Onefinity machines and intend to replace it for this reason.
But to answer your question: The Z assembly differs strongly from other CNC machines by its unability to protrude the milling motor mount downwards beyond the end of the Z linear rails. See here to understand this. This means the absolute position of the bit end can only be influenced by 1. lowering the entire Z assembly in its one of four possible mounting positions, thereby loosing clearance under the gantry (or, with the same result, by increasing the thickness of the wasteboard to lift your workpiece to a higher position), and 2. sliding the cylindrical milling motor more downwards inside the milling motor mount, which increases the leverage forces exerted on it during milling which can lead to chatter and the accuracy of the milling result is reduced, i.e. the play at the end of the bit is increased.
This means if you mount the milling motor (be it the hand trim router, or a spindle) at a position near its lower end (which would usually be considered as recommended to keep lever short and chatter low), you have no chance to reach the wasteboard. This is because of the Onefinity Z assembly design, which is unable to let the milling motor mount protrude downwards beyond the lower end of the Z linear rails, as shown in the link above.
If you look at what I consider the best milling motor solution for hobbyists and semiprofessionals, their mounting position is exclusively at the lower end, at the height of the bearings. This is the best position to clamp a milling motor. With these milling motors, it is impossible to slide them downwards inside the milling motor mount. This, of course, makes them incompatible with the Onefinity style of millling motor mount. What you would need is something like shown here (see also here and here). It’s a feature requested since 2023-02-27.
To come back to your question: If you keep the Onefinity stock Z assembly, it’s up to you to find the balance between sliding the milling motor downwards to reach your workpiece, but increasing lever and the danger of chatter or inaccuracy of the milling results, or, fixing the milling motor near to its lower end to improve accuracy but are reducing effective usable Z travel.
But while you can slide the hand trim router downwards inside the milling motor mount to its very end (you are even forced to in order to reach your workpiece), spindles usually have a region marked where they can be clamped. You may damage them if you slide them too much downwards inside the milling motor mount.
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Thanks for that info. My background is in cnc metal production, moldmaking and hi speed manufacturing and the machines are substantially different with table travel on x & y as opposed to the head gantry movement. Also the z axis travel of 6 1/2 compared to 20 inches on a common VM. Since retirement I’ve become re-interested in the creative programming process and it’s capabilities in woodworking. I chose the Elite Forman as it seemed to be more industrial than hobby in a good work area.
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PS: Here is another example of what I mean with the above.