My set screws didn’t want to come out so I just gently taped on each rod and they both slid out of the aluminum bracket.
A sad day for me. I drilled out the screws as above. I think I may have trashed the thread in the z slider.
But the damn screws were glued in (angry emoji) - how are we supposed to remove a glued in screwed!. I tried the tapping - but clearly not hard enough (I thought that the screw had gone into a hole.)
Hey Andy,
even if it comes too late:
sometimes it helps when you work with heat and cold.
You could heat up your hex wrench, stick it into the hex screw head, heat the screw for a while, then let it cool. It may have loosened the screw in the thread and released the Loctite or Superglue or whatever it is a little.
Or you can use hot air gun to heat the plate and then cooling spray to cool your hex wrench, stick it into the screw in order to cool it.
Also an impact wrench does me good service sometimes but mostly on larger devices.
In every case it is important to have high-quality hex wrenches. I have cheap and pricy here, and I can tell the difference!
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I bought, what I thought, was a good quality hex wrench for the job - cover the bases. I didnt think iof heating (the video made it look no more difficult than the other hex screws). I think I will have to ask @OnefinityCNC if a can get a replacement z slider.
I’m off to weep in my beer (got to buy it first though)
Hey Andy,
this looks like Superglue. It would be nice if Onefinity told us what it exactly is. Not a word about this in the video.
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I would try it in any case, I would would not be surprised if they helped you immediately
empathy emoji Andy
But thing-breakers are the adventurers today
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PS: If it’s really Superglue (cyanoacrylate), a syringe with acetone would have been the solution.
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I have an upgraded x50 woodworker, 80mm 2.2kw spindle, and very happy with the combination. I did not change any of the stepper motors - everything seems to work great.
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I wouldn’t be too upset about the threads. A trip to the hardware store and you can get a new set screw and tap of a slightly larger size. Larger size means larger allen wrench which is less likely to strip.
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Andy, Before you give up hope, get new set screws and try. Given what I am seeing in your pic, the threads in the set screw seem fine so you may be able to just replace them. Also, as someone else suggested, if the original size set screws don’t work, get a tap and one size larger and just retap the holes to the larger size
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Hi, I’m going for the re-tap. I’ve ordered some hex screws. Fingers-crossed. Alternative is to ask 1F if they can supply me a replacement part.
Just didn’t feel right to drill out glued in screws to perform an OEM purchased upgrade.
I assume 1F has had to glue the screw in because it’s role is to push the z rods against the z slider creating a friction fit. I can see how this can shake loose with the vibrations during machining. I think it needs to screw into a threaded hole in the rod. I, therefore, believe I will also have to glue my hex screw into place.
@OnefinityCNC if I do manage to re-tap a larger size or failing that if you are able to provide me a replacement z slider component will I have to glue the screws into place?
Hey Andy,
I agree with the others that from a technical point of view, your Z Slider isn’t lost. But if I were you I would first send an E-mail to support@onefinitycnc.com and write them something like:
- Why do your instructions in the video “Support: Swapping the Spindle Mount on the Onefinity CNC” are missing to note that some screw lock is present and how it can be solved?
- I followed your instructions for replacing the spindle mount, but while I followed them exactly, damage occured. Please would you replace the damaged part?
Glueing screws is one possibility to lock a screw. Usually, a Thread Locking Fluid like Loctite is a common method (yet we do not know what it was that held the screw in place, but to me on your picture it looks rather like Superglue than Loctite).
But a method to lock a screw that I technically prefer much is a Lock Screw, i.e. a second screw that is screwed against the first.
Now that’s a smart idea. I think I’ve trashed the first half of the threads going in. So I’ll ponder whether to re-tap all through or just the first half.
Thank you.
EDIT:
(I’ve emailed 1F support)
(I’m looking forward to sharing my air-cooled 80mm 2.2kw UK purchased spindle experience - fingers crossed)
Hey all,
does one of you remember that before this video was there, there was another video covering the same topic, but it was of less quality. It seemed to be made with a smartphone held by hand. You could hear the noise of assembling and testing cncs in the background (stepper noises), and the person that exchanged the spindle mount had a slight accent when speaking english. I also remember that he used a hammer to tap the bottom plate off the rails. Has anyone seen it?
Hi - this isn’t possible (as I found out) as the two plates use the same hole for 2 of the 8 threaded holes therefore there is not sufficient space. I re-threaded the hole only to realise this (duh! moment) - for me the M4 8mm screws no longer fit and I don’t have a M6 (the re-tapped hole size) 8mm screw as a replacement. I’m hoping Onefinity can supply me a replacement z-slider.
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The 80mm mount moves the spindle out a bit so that it can be raised up higher than the stepper. The clearance on the front is quite small - about .1", but I can’t measure it precisely.
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It’s not a “closed loop”, so you may miss steps which would effect detail/accuracy.
Hey Patrice,
How did you remove the stripped screws(I know you said drilled). I have a similar situation where a ‘tear drop’ hex wrench snapped in the screw leaving it plugged. Even though the hex snapped, the metal is very hard making drilling a challenge.