Onefinity Woodworker New Z Axis Finished: Overview, Installation, and Evaluation

This is the final video of three that I have produced to share the making of a new Z axis assembly for my Onefinity X50 Woodworker CNC.
I have it now finished, and as the title states, this video will...
1) provide an overview which includes my goals, design choices, and components used
2) provide details of the installation, which includes the motion components on the assembly, as well as mounting the assembly on the X axis gantry *also some add-ons (dry run laser, endoscope camera, and a few new chip management designs)
3) and finally it will provide deflection/rigidity data of the new assembly, as well as a before and after comparison with the original Z20 Z axis

[@roblmurphy4135]

I"ve only gotten as far as the goals, and I'm already hooked on the plot. #9 is my grail; the machines I work on at the day job amaze me with their lack of attention to ... "rack" for want of the right word.

[@tmtoronto3741]

Don't stop there!😄Goal #9 was important, and had influence on the linear motion components I selected. I only added an extra ~20 mm over the stock Z20 Onefinity mount. It was definitely worth the time and money as my new assembly is so much more rigid, and affords a lot more flexibility in available accessory mounting options.

[@roblmurphy4135]

@@tmtoronto3741 full video was worth the wait; I'll be following your lead as I modify my Onefinity. Since I'm waiting on a truck I ordered before I pull the trigger on the Foreman, I'm designing peripherals. (one number I have not definitively established is the Z; travel, and deepest point)

[@tmtoronto3741]

@@roblmurphy4135 thank you! Although I like the Onefinity, I would encourage you to look at another small Canadian CNC company (Sienci Labs out of Kitchener, ON) that just launched a new CNC called the 'Altmill'. I really like the design - probably would have bought it if available 2+ years ago. There is a wait though.

[@roblmurphy4135]

@@tmtoronto3741 I'm looking at the Altmill, biting back my initial bias, (it happens to the best of us) and comparing fruit to bananas. Weird how one detil gets in my craw; I like the Onefinity, but I prefer to have the long rails mounted below the level of the spoilboard. I know, of all the aspects to decide a multi thousand doughnut purchase... I was following your videos to learn about the spindle. Still tempted by the RapidChange ATC. So far nobody has screamed foul. Keep going, you're doing a great service.

[@tmtoronto3741]

@@roblmurphy4135 I like machines designed like that as well, but I think that adds cost, as the structure and precision of the frame takes on a greater importance. I think Onefinity did a good job of providing a reasonably rigid design at a reasonable entry level price point. Besides the Altmill, most other well built entry level machines jump to a next level pricing tier. I think that is a difficult category, as some small start-ups/business owners may just decide to jump to the more commercial $15-20K CNCs.