Z-axis

It's been more than a year since my last post and a lot has changed, updated and added. I'll try to keep things in chronological order.

So my last post was the Y-axis so the next logical step is the Z-axis, hence the title of the post.
To start off, a SketchUp design of the Z-axis.

Again, i like to keep things as compact as possible so I'm using:

• Low profile rail (the same as on the X-asis) 
• 16 mm leadscrew
• Anti backlash nut from DamenCNC (also used on the other two axis)
• A bearing block

The bearing block is just a block of aluminium with a pocket for the bearing and a lit to keep the bearing in place.

To connect the motor to the leadscrew my dad made me a coupler on the lathe.

To connect the nut to the slide, there is a simple strip of aluminium. I don't have a picture of that but you can sort of see it in the video below.

The final touch on the Z-axis, the home & end switch nicely tugged away under the slider.