2018-02-25, 12:08 AM
Assembling the Base
This thing needs some handles.
So, upon completing this entry, I will finally be caught up on everything that has happened. I have been 1-2 weeks behind on everything. The events in this log entry actually happened last Monday. It is Saturday as I write this. I have been spending the week catching up the log, and have not really done anything with my OneUp.
I bought the L-brackets at Lowes, the same time I bought the paint.
Jeez. I always thought L-brackets were standard "hardware," and you might have two or three sizes available. First, I could not find L-brackets amongst the "Hardware." I could only find it amongst screen door hardware, and then my size was limited to "how many holes." If I knew there was only one size bracket (large), I might have cut the base larger. I have other reasons for regretting such a small base, but I'll discuss those later.
The L-brackets came with their own screws, which I judged to be too long. I purchased some #6 by half inch (12.7 mm) screws. I bought two 13-packs. They offered a 30-pack for everything except #6 by half inch.
For the wooden risers, I chose 3-hole brackets. For the OneUp itself, I was going to use 2-hole brackets, but I ended up using 1-hole brackets. I changed for two reasons: 1) I was actually considering putting the brackets on backwards, so that they "bent under" the OneUp, due to the small base. There was a protrusion between the holes (that strengthens the angle) that prohibited me from installing this way. The 1-hole brackets did not have this protrusion, so I could (if I wished) put them on backwards. 2) I cut the number of OneUp attachment screws in half.
Assembly went without incident. Well, almost. My friends talked me out of turning the OneUp brackets around, and they overhang the edge of the base a little.
As for the almost without incident, I painted myself into a corner. My order of assembly went something like this: 1) Screw riser #1's L-bracket into the base. 2) Screw riser #1 to L-bracket. 3) Line up the electronics board in the grooves, holding riser #2 and the electronics board together on the base with the attached riser #1 in order to figure out where riser #2's L-bracket goes. 4) Screw riser #2's L-bracket to the base. 5) Realize that riser #1 is now blocking the screwdriver from screwing in riser #2.
I had to remove riser #2's L-bracket from the base. Screw it to riser #2 and then screw it back in to the base.
Lesson learned: Work through the entire assembly process in your head before you start screwing stuff down.
Connecting the OneUp to the base went without incident. I did, in my haste however, fail to route the Y-axis motor cable under the OneUp to the electronics board before bolting the OneUp down. We had to get some stiff welder's rod, and fish the Y-Axis motor wire under the OneUp after the fact.
Lesson learned: Make sure you know how you are routing your wires before you screw your base down.
The risers work perfectly. The angle brackets are not exactly 90 degrees, and actually bow in slightly. This provides clamping force to help hold the electronics board in place. I could not have asked for a better setup.
Lesson learned: It's a world of difference screwing in a machine screw into a laser cut hole in melamine, as opposed to force-screwing a wood screw into the stuff. I don't think these screws hold too well in the melamine.
During design, my friends thought that I should not be handling the entire thing by the handle. I have to agree with them. This plywood is heavy, and it puts a lot more stress on the handle. Plus, I am not completely confident with my connection of the OneUp to the base. Paul (who loaned me the Tiny Tim saw when I was re-working my 3D-printed SIDEBRACEs) suggested that I put handles on the base, and carry it like a serving tray.
I wish I would have made the base bigger to accommodate such handles. During the week, Jake texted me, and said that he had some handles that he thought would fit. I disbelieve, but we will see at Monday's build night.
The lack of handles, however, shall not prevent me from messing with the electronics.
This thing needs some handles.
So, upon completing this entry, I will finally be caught up on everything that has happened. I have been 1-2 weeks behind on everything. The events in this log entry actually happened last Monday. It is Saturday as I write this. I have been spending the week catching up the log, and have not really done anything with my OneUp.
I bought the L-brackets at Lowes, the same time I bought the paint.
Jeez. I always thought L-brackets were standard "hardware," and you might have two or three sizes available. First, I could not find L-brackets amongst the "Hardware." I could only find it amongst screen door hardware, and then my size was limited to "how many holes." If I knew there was only one size bracket (large), I might have cut the base larger. I have other reasons for regretting such a small base, but I'll discuss those later.
The L-brackets came with their own screws, which I judged to be too long. I purchased some #6 by half inch (12.7 mm) screws. I bought two 13-packs. They offered a 30-pack for everything except #6 by half inch.
For the wooden risers, I chose 3-hole brackets. For the OneUp itself, I was going to use 2-hole brackets, but I ended up using 1-hole brackets. I changed for two reasons: 1) I was actually considering putting the brackets on backwards, so that they "bent under" the OneUp, due to the small base. There was a protrusion between the holes (that strengthens the angle) that prohibited me from installing this way. The 1-hole brackets did not have this protrusion, so I could (if I wished) put them on backwards. 2) I cut the number of OneUp attachment screws in half.
Assembly went without incident. Well, almost. My friends talked me out of turning the OneUp brackets around, and they overhang the edge of the base a little.
As for the almost without incident, I painted myself into a corner. My order of assembly went something like this: 1) Screw riser #1's L-bracket into the base. 2) Screw riser #1 to L-bracket. 3) Line up the electronics board in the grooves, holding riser #2 and the electronics board together on the base with the attached riser #1 in order to figure out where riser #2's L-bracket goes. 4) Screw riser #2's L-bracket to the base. 5) Realize that riser #1 is now blocking the screwdriver from screwing in riser #2.
I had to remove riser #2's L-bracket from the base. Screw it to riser #2 and then screw it back in to the base.
Lesson learned: Work through the entire assembly process in your head before you start screwing stuff down.
Connecting the OneUp to the base went without incident. I did, in my haste however, fail to route the Y-axis motor cable under the OneUp to the electronics board before bolting the OneUp down. We had to get some stiff welder's rod, and fish the Y-Axis motor wire under the OneUp after the fact.
Lesson learned: Make sure you know how you are routing your wires before you screw your base down.
The risers work perfectly. The angle brackets are not exactly 90 degrees, and actually bow in slightly. This provides clamping force to help hold the electronics board in place. I could not have asked for a better setup.
Lesson learned: It's a world of difference screwing in a machine screw into a laser cut hole in melamine, as opposed to force-screwing a wood screw into the stuff. I don't think these screws hold too well in the melamine.
During design, my friends thought that I should not be handling the entire thing by the handle. I have to agree with them. This plywood is heavy, and it puts a lot more stress on the handle. Plus, I am not completely confident with my connection of the OneUp to the base. Paul (who loaned me the Tiny Tim saw when I was re-working my 3D-printed SIDEBRACEs) suggested that I put handles on the base, and carry it like a serving tray.
I wish I would have made the base bigger to accommodate such handles. During the week, Jake texted me, and said that he had some handles that he thought would fit. I disbelieve, but we will see at Monday's build night.
The lack of handles, however, shall not prevent me from messing with the electronics.
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