Working Surface Size
I'm at the point where I need to bolt down the AR3/4 to some sort of table. I don't have a spare table so I thought a box with a tick counter top type work surface.
Rough dimensions: 60L x 30W x 16H. (24"x12"x7"). The top could be a bit longer to take into account the reach of the arm.
So say I did create and top surface say 80cm x 30cm (32"x12") and I wanted to create a grid pattern. If using imperial then 1" squares? If using metric 25mm squares?
Or should they be bigger squares? Should may table top be larger?
The box part will be have openings at the front and back to allow access to the connectors at the back and the ESTOP switch etc. at the front. Likely the control box will sit on a piece of plywood attached with drawer slides to the inside of the box.
This is what I had in mind. The grid is 25mm squares. Length is about 80cm. Is this too small to be able to work with?
I think your overall plan sounds good. I would make the top a little larger if you have room around 800 × 500 mm (32 × 20") minimum, or roughly 900 × 600 mm (36 × 24") for a more useful work area.
For the grid, I’d use 50 mm squares with smaller 25 mm marks, since the robot is programmed in millimeters. I’d also mount the robot toward the rear-center of the top to leave more usable workspace in front.
Make the top fairly rigid and through-bolt the robot using the four M8 mounting holes as shown in the manual. The sliding control box tray sounds like a good idea as long as it has enough cable slack and can be secured in the closed position.
Chris Annin Thanks. Good suggestions. I've enlarged it and moved the base. I can't go much deeper than 18" for where I want to put this but could go past 32" wide. Have to figure out what the 25mm marks would look like before I laminate some 2x2 lumber into a larger plank. My Surface planer is only good to 16" so that ultimately may be the deciding factor.