u/cathode_01

I did some poking around but haven't really seen anyone building a DIY version of Nexen's incredibly expensive roller pinion drive system. Is this system just not better enough to justify the complexity of trying to DIY it, compared to buying inexpensive spur gear racks and pinions, or using a GT or HTD belt drive?

I modeled up what I think is the correct rack profile and I'm going to attempt to print a sample piece of it with my resin printer which I believe should have the dimensional accuracy to make sections of pinion rack.

https://preview.redd.it/x2yp9u61gx0h1.png?width=1028&format=png&auto=webp&s=1b6b0daa57f87e83e51a3a019fd23e3521e54d61

https://preview.redd.it/c2j864vyfx0h1.png?width=560&format=png&auto=webp&s=dca270469bff7b28b68e729ac4e8bca8f5ead1da

For context, I'm currently working on DIYing a large format CNC gantry router with 1700mm x 3700mm x 400mm travels. I plan on using some type of rack and pinion system for both X and Y, with a ballscrew on the Z axis. This roller pinion system was attractive at first because of the idea that it can handle extremely fast movement and also has zero backlash, because in theory there's always two rollers meshed with the rack teeth, on opposing teeth faces.

I've got a situation where I have designed a parametric shipping crate and created a drawing studio with several sheets in it showing various details. What I've discovered is that if I want to change one of the configuration parameters that drives the model, I have to go to 'Change Configuration' and enter the new value on every drawing view. I don't see any way to make all instances of a part share the same configuration values.

Is using a global variable studio the only way to apply uniform changes like this?

I do some small amount of woodworking, but wood is just one of a variety of materials that I like to make things with. I have a 16" jointer in my shop that takes up a lot of space and gets used for only a few projects a year. This year I'm building a large high performance CNC router table. I'd like to hear some stories from folks with experience using both tools. My theory is that a large router table with a powerful spindle could provide the same ability of facing and edging a rough-sawn board that a dedicated jointer can do. I want the CNC router anyway, but I'm hoping that I can sell the jointer to help pay for the CNC build.

I've ordered a 9kW ISO30 electrospindle (chinese HSD 919 clone) with ATC capability, and the overall size I'm designing for this machine is 3700mm X-travel, 1600mm Y-travel, and 400mm Z-travel. I know this probably sounds overly ambitious or crazy, but I have experience building complex machine tools from scratch so I'm confident that I can get this one to the finish line.

Also, the jointer honestly scares the crap out of me to use, so the idea of having a CNC router to prepare rough sawn lumber seems safer to me. If anyone has been in the same position - have you sold your jointer after getting a CNC table? Did you regret it or was it a solid move?