The Ox-GEAR CNC is a Maker Store upgrade to our Ox CNC belt-driven design. This Ox-GEAR upgrades the Y-Axis featuring a stronger extrusion paired with the new gear rack and pinion transmission. This allows for the length of the machine to easily go up to 3 meters (or more!) with no more belt stretch! The Ox-GEAR uses gears and racks along the Y-Axis, belt-driven along the X-Axis and lead screw for the Z-Axis.

The Internal Gear Rack was designed right here in house at Maker Store. Our Gear Racks are designed specifically to allow for continuous lengths by butt joining multiple racks in succession. With this feature, there is almost no limit to how long your axis can be! The Internal Gear Rack is designed to slide inside the channel of our V-Slot Linear Rail and works with all our different V-Slot profiles. Along the Y-Axis the Ox-GEAR benefits from the stronger C-Beam Extrusion, which also helps to keep the gear hidden away from dust. The motor is spring-loaded and mounted to keep the right amount of tension between the gear and the rack.

Before starting any build, it is always a great idea to get organised. Start by unpacking your kit and checking it against the BOM (Bill of Materials) at the end of this manual. If you find any parts missing, please contact Maker Store as soon as possible.

You will need the following tools:

• 3mm Allen Key
• 8mm Spanner
• 10mm Spanner
• Metal File
• Screw Drivers
• Builder‘s Square

While these instructions have drawings for the 1500×3000 version. Other constructions' drawings and instructions, such as 750×500, 1000×1000, 1000×1500 and 1500×1500 can be found on the following link Ox-GEAR Version 1.0 Mechanical Assembly Instructions

• It is important to make sure all angles are square.
• As you progress through your build, use a Square to make sure everything is aligned before the final tightening of all screws and nuts.
• When placing any V-Wheels onto the V-Slot, make sure the Eccentric Spacers are adjusted to their furthest point.
• Do not force the wheels on as this may damage them creating a little ‘bump’.

• Assemble all the Solid V Wheels as per the drawing.
• It can help to use one of the longer screws to align everything by threading the parts one by one.

• At this step, the Y Gantry will be assembled. Please note that the Y-Axis Gantry Plate has 7 holes for 7 M5x30mm Screws and the holes placed on the lower part of the plate. those lower holes are to be used with Eccentric Spacers – 8mm Hex – 6mm Height. These Eccentric Spacers make it possible to adjust the pressure between wheels and V-Slot.
• All quantities are for both sides of the Y-axis.
• Precision Shims are encountered in the wheel kit.

Step 3 Insert the M5x30mm screws into the Y-Axis Gantry Plate and layer the hardware as per the drawing above.

Step 4 Repeat this process for the other Y-Plate.

• This section will cover the spring-loaded system for the motor. This system was designed to keep the right tension between the rack and the pinion.

Step 5 Start placing the M5x25mm and M5x27 screws on the Y-Plate and built it up as per the following image.

• IMPORTANT The right amount of tightening in the M5 Nylon Insert Hex Locknut and M5x25mm Screw is when the motor plate became hard enough to be hand turned. This means that this nut should not be over-tight or under tight. Before tightening this part, ensure that you place the motor plate quite close to its final position.

Step 6 Assemble the spring-loaded mechanism as per the image.

That is what you should have achieved so far.

• This section will show how to attach the pinion and motor to the Y-Axis Gantry.

Step 7 Slightly tight the pinion to the shaft of the motor.

Step 8 Tight the motor on the plate using the 4 x 12mm M5 Low Profile Screws.

Step 9 Adjust the centre of the pinion to match the centre of the Wheels and tight the pinion using the long side of your Allen-Key.

• Please Note That it might be hard to find a spot to reach the screw with your Allen-Key. If this happens, you tight as much as you can with the pinion in the right position, undo Step 10, tight the pinion and attach the motor back accordingly to the previous drawing.

Please compare your assemble against the following drawing of Y-Axis right side

Please compare your assemble against the following drawing of Y-Axis left side

• At this stage, you should be ready to start the X/Z gantry which will be covered in this chapter.

Step 10 Attach the spacer blocks by lining up the spacer blocks with the bottom of the OX Z Flate Front

Step 11 Insert the 10mm screws into the smaller holes on the plate and the threaded holes in the spacer, the larger holes will line up with the between the spacers and the plate for the wheels in the next step.

Step 12 Using 3 x 45mm M5 Low Profile Screws screws attach the V-Wheels through the Gantry Plate and the Spacer Block (V-Slot).

Step 13 Use 3 x Eccentric Spacer - 8mm Hex - 6mm Height on one Spacer Block (V-Slot) and 3 x Metric Aluminum Spacers 6mm on the other.

Step 14 Attach the 8mm Acme Nut Block as shown.

Step 15 Attach the NEMA 23 Stepper Motor to the OX Z Plate Back with 4 x 20MM M5 Low Profile Screws, making sure to place the Metric Aluminum Spacers – 3mm in between the gantry plate and the NEMA23.

• This topic will guide you through the Z/X Axis Front and Back Plate Assembly

Please see the side view to layer each component in the right order.

Step 16 Placing the Metric Aluminum Spacers – 6mm, Precision Shim - 10X5X1 and V-Wheels as per the drawings above, attach the front and back plates using the 4 x 65MM M5 Low Profile Screws.

• This section will cover the Z-Axis Assembly, which is responsible for moving up and down your spindle.

Step 17 Attach 6.35 x 8mm Flexible Coupling to the NEMA23 motor, then using the Metric Aluminum Spacer 40mm attach the NEMA23 motor to the Threaded Rod Plate as shown.

Step 18 Make sure the bearing recess in the plate is facing away from the NEMA23 (see above).

Step 19 Using 3 x 10MM M5 Low Profile Screws, attach the Threaded Rod Plate previous assembled to the Z-Axis V-Slot.

4.1 Z-Axis Assembly - Part 2

5.1 X-Axis Gantry Assembly - Part 2

5.2 X-Axis Assembly - Part 3

6.0 Machine's Base

Post Assembly Notes:

Credits