1 Topic by jz

  • jz
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  • Registered: 2017-05-26
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Topic: assembling acrylic parts kit - table leveling

Hi, working on assembling the acrylic kit. So far, so good until we hit the step to level the table.  The acrylic kit appeared to include the table assembled  with the FN, FO, FP and FQ pieces already attached (+10).

But when we try to level the table it is not running flat. Any ideas?

We put the table on the motor spindle and rotate it. Try adjusting the high side down, does not appear to make a difference. Checked the assembled parts, appear to be correct. Looking through the center hole I can see through the pinhole in table top, so I think it is aligned on the center.

Motor spindle looks like it is perpendicular to frame. And as we spin the table to test the levels, it eventually slips down on to the frame.

So any suggestions on what to do, or any advice on what we are doing wrong, is welcome.

TIA

2 Reply by khenning

  • khenning
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  • Registered: 2016-01-06
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Re: assembling acrylic parts kit - table leveling

I had a similar issue with my acrylic kit.  There are a couple of places that things can get the turntable out of alignment.  Make sure that the parts that the spindle go through are all aligned, since this can also (apparently) cause the table to be out of square with the shaft of the motor.

The thing I found has been an issue for me whenever I try to screw stuff into MDF (which my turntable was made from).  Even with a pilot hole I've always found that the MDF "puckers" around the screw.  In my case this prevented the parts that screw onto the turntable from seating flush against it.  After assembling the turntable I simply took the turntable apart and used a chisel to get the bottom of the turntable flat again (sandpaper would work too).  Re-assembled and this took care of that issue.

3 Reply by jz

  • jz
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Re: assembling acrylic parts kit - table leveling

Thanks for the help. I did disassemble it, found the MDF had splintered up and around the screw holes. Cleaned it up and re-assembled but still no luck. The assembly still floats around with the four screws untightened and hard to find the exact center.

Measured the large disk, then used a compass to draw a circle on the base to help align the assembly on the center of the hole, but still no luck with getting the bed to rotate flat.  Also tried aligning using just two screws.

We had some good momentum on this project (working with kids) but now it just sits there, almost finished but not working.

4 Reply by khenning

  • khenning
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Re: assembling acrylic parts kit - table leveling

Something I found was that I initially also had an issue with the camera being twisted a few degrees with respect to the case.  Where I believe that I had the issue was that, after I had aligned the camera initially I had put the cover for the camera ribbon cable on the back of the unit, however the spacers didn't clear the ribbon cable (the spacer was on top of the cable on one side and on the other side the spacer was hard up against the cable and in fact bending the ribbon cable outward a little).  I took the cover off, re-aligned the camera, and then put the cover back on and re-tested and noticed a bit of a twist to the camera, so I've been running with the ribbon cable cover removed.  Since I have the unit in a light box I am not worried about the exposed electronics.

5 Reply by jz

  • jz
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Re: assembling acrylic parts kit - table leveling

update with positive news: took the MDF platform off and tried to get the three acrylic pieces to run flat. Numerous attempts failed and eventually noticed the outside edges of the cut acrylic disks were not vertical but angled. It was consistent with the acrylic cutter not being exactly perpendicular during cut.

Building the frame, it didn't matter, but when trying to stack three pieces together the inside shaft was not going to be straight.

Contacted support, they are shipping are replacement parts. 

Experimented with printing the turntable and coupler and it appeared to run flat.