Hello, we are setting up the OMIO CNC Tube Fixture (WCP-0347) on our OMIO X8. Part 3 of the instructions say to use a test dial indicator to check the alignment along the y-axis. The instructions say to attached the indicator to the gantry and they list a magnetic holder as a recommended tool for the setup process. A magnet doesn’t stick to the gantry so I’m curious as to where are we supposed to attach the holder in order to measure the tube figure inside face as we translate along the y-axis. Sorry if this is a dumb question but I’d appreciate any inside on how people rigged up the test dial indicator.
On a side note, the two nut strips that came with the kit don’t fit into the t-slot of the OMIO base. Did anyone else have this issue? I emailed WCP a couple days ago, but haven’t heard anything back yet. We were able to use T-Nuts to secure the fixture, but it would be nice to use the nut strips if that’s what was intended.
We have a mini Noga test indicator arm and it sticks to the side of the linear bearing pretty well. A standard size mag base is probably too heavy for the small area available. You could also double side tape a steel pad or washer to the gantry for future indicating.
We made tnuts for our Omio that we got in December 2021 only to find out they were too wide for the slots. I had based the measurements on my personal Omio that was purchased in December 2019. They are now using a different extrusion for the router bed which has narrower slots.
Wow. That would definitely explain it. I hope there is no issue with just securing tube fixture with t-nuts that do fit into the extrusion. I wonder if WCP is aware of the size change? Maybe when we get good at using the CNC we can use it to shave the nut strips down to a good size.
We just went through this on 3005. I thought it was odd the tube strips didn’t fit. With the Omio being drop shipped though and the fact that others went through it, sounds like we need to give WCP feedback if they haven’t gotten it already about the design change on the aluminum extrusion.
For us, I had just grabbed a bunch of 0.5" x 0.25" aluminum strips from McMaster/OnlineMetals/etc, put it in our manual mill, and punched a few holes every 6" in it and tapped 1/4-20. You could do the same with some transfer punches carefully. I don’t see too much of a downside of just using a bunch of T nuts either though.
For the alignment, my “scratch head” solution was just to C clamp the magnetic base to the upright for the gantry. Seemed to work ok, dialed it in to within 0.001-0.002".
The slots have been a major pain for us. We’ve changed the sizing 4 different times (width x height) and hope its the last. We reached out to OMIO and they basically told us they use whatever extrusion is available.
Some recommendations:
Sand down the edges if you can
Screw it back down on the omio and machine off the edges
Send us an email with your size slots and we’ll work on getting you a replacement. We had a customer about 2 weeks ago report the “new” current size and have been machining to that.
Thanks @R.C We are just getting started with CNCing but option 2 sounds like it might be good practice. I initially just wanted to make sure I wasn’t crazy and missing something obvious
