EShapeoko 1.2 Assembly: Frame

The frame is the stationary part of the machine.

It consists of the Y rails, plus all the components that support them. In the original Shapeoko, and the first version of eShapeoko, the two Y rails were held together by two end plates as wide as the machine -- very simple to build. The disadvantages were less convenient access to the bed, and difficulty in enlarging the machine in the X direction.

Many mods of the original Shapeoko, the later versions of the eShapeoko, and the Shapeoko 2, use four narrow vertical plates instead, joined together in twos with aluminium extrusion. These open end plates make the machine easier to use and more versatile. They improve access to the bed and they allow the material to overhang the front and rear of the machine, opening the possibility of machining stock of arbitrary length (in stages, with some form of indexing).

With larger machines, it became apparent that the Y rails needed to be supported in the middle, not only at the ends, both against vertical sag, and against horizontal deflection. The larger eShapeoko machines come with mid-span supports. They need to be attached rigidly to the underlying surface, or they are not able to prevent lateral movement of the Y rails. This is made easier by the deluxe frame, which adds longitudinal members to make a complete rectangle. The end plates and mid-span supports attach to this rectangle.

Deluxe Frame

These are preliminary instructions and will be expanded soon (no change in the actual assembly, just better instructions).

You need the parts from Pack 13, all four pieces of extrusion, all four end plates, and the two or four mid-span supports. Two of the extrusions must have holes drilled in them (see Prep work).

Identify the pieces of extrusion: the transversal ones are 60 or 65 mm longer than your X axis (they're the ones you drilled holes in). The longitudinal ones are 80 mm shorter than your Y axis, and they don't need any holes drilled.

Insert the eight self-tapping blind joint screws into all holes at the ends of the two longitudinal members of the frame. Tighten them all the way in (use a Torx T25 bit in a drill-driver, or the supplied Torx T25 key), then back them out about 3 mm.

Put two M5 x 10 mm screws (with a washer each) through the two holes at the bottom of each mid-span support. Loosely thread an insertion nut on each screw. Slide the mid-span supports into the slots of the longitudinal frame members, facing the centre of the machine. Snug the screws for now.

Slide the heads of the self-tapping blind joints into the T-slots of the transversal frame members, until they line up with the drilled holes. Access them with the Torx T25 key through the holes, and tighten them up. Measure the distance between the longitudinal members: it should be 13 mm less than the length of your X axis. Resting the frame on a flat surface, tighten the blind joints firmly.

Put two M5 x 10 mm screws (with a washer each) through two of the three holes at the bottom of each end plate. Loosely thread an insertion nut on each screw. Slide the end plates into the slots of the transversal frame members, facing outwards, as shown. The orientation of the end plates is important; the taller sides should face each other. Snug the screws for now; you'll adjust the end plates when you install the MakerSlide.

Before you bolt the Y MakerSlide to the end plates, do not forget to put two insertion nuts for each mid-span support, one in the upper slot and one in the lower one. The deluxe frame assembly replaces the two solid end plates of the classic machine. Otherwise, the previous version of the assembly instructions still apply.

Standard Frame

You need all the parts in Pack 13, plus the four end plates, the two or four mid-span supports (if your machine has them), and the two pieces of 20 mm × 40 mm extrusion. You also need the assembled gantry, with the Y rails inserted in the Y carriages.

Standard frame assembly (500 mm × 500 mm machine shown)

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1	EM-LXP	Open end plate	4
2	EM-S5-10	M5 10mm cap screw	8
3	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	16
4	EM-S5-14	M5 14mm cap screw	8
5	EM-N5TI	M5 T-slot insertion nut	8
6	EM-EB-440	440mm 20x40 T-slot extrusion	2
	or
	EM-EB-560	560mm 20x40 T-slot extrusion
	or
	EM-EB-810	810mm 20x40 T-slot extrusion
	or
	EM-EB-1060	1060mm 20x40 T-slot extrusion

The standard frame has only transversal extrusion pieces, 60 or 65 mm longer than your X axis. They connect the end plates in the same way as they do for the deluxe frame.

Before you bolt the Y MakerSlide to the end plates, do not forget to put two insertion nuts for each mid-span support, if applicable (shorter machines do not have mid-span supports): for each support, one nut in the upper slot and one in the lower one.

Once the frame is assembled, make sure that the Y rails are at the same height in each of the four corners. Tighten the screws firmly.

Go To

• Next step: continue using the 1.1 instructions, but for the belts (final step), please refer back to the drawings in the X and Y motors step.
• Previous step: Gantry
• Back to assembly top page