View of the cross-slide from the front of FarmBot

View of the cross-slide from the back of FarmBot

Component list

Qty. Component
1 Cross-Slide Plate
4 M3 x 12mm Screws
4 M5 x 16mm Screws
12 M5 x 30mm Screws
6 M5 x 6mm Spacers
6 6mm Eccentric Spacers
14 M5 Washers
18 M5 Locknuts
12 V-wheels
1 Horizontal Motor Housing
1 Long Cable Carrier Mount
1 Leadscrew Block
1 NEMA 17 Stepper Motor with Rotary Encoder
1 20 tooth GT2 Pulley (with setscrews)
1 Y-Axis GT2 Timing Belt (2m long for Genesis, 3.5m long for XL)

1 hour

This is the estimated time it will take to assemble the cross-slide.

Step 1: Attach the gantry V-wheels

Use four M5 x 30mm screws, M5 washers, and M5 locknuts to attach four V-wheels with normal 6mm spacers to the cross-slide plate.

Make sure you attach the V-wheels to the correct side of the cross-slide plate as shown.

Wheels with normal spacers.

Use three M5 x 30mm screws to attach three V-wheels with eccentric 6mm spacers to the holes shown. The V-wheels should be secured with an M5 washer and an M5 locknut on the other side.

Bottom three wheels with eccentric spacers.

Step 2: Add the Z-axis V-wheels

Flip the cross-slide over so that all of the V-wheels you have added so far are facing away from you.

Use two M5 x 30mm screws to attach two V-wheels with normal 6mm spacers to the holes shown. Secure these wheels with an M5 washer and an M5 locknut on the other side of the plate.

Wheels with normal spacers.

Use three M5 x 30mm screws to attach three V-wheels with eccentric 6mm spacers to the holes shown. The V-wheels should be secured with an M5 washer and an M5 locknut on the other side.

Right three wheels with eccentric spacers.

Step 3: Attach the delrin leadscrew block

Insert two M5 locknuts into the delrin leadscrew block’s hexagonal counterbores. With the locknuts and delrin block facing you, attach it to the side of cross-slide plate as shown. Secure the block using two M5 x 16mm screws from the opposite side of the plate.

Step 4: Attach the stepper motor

Insert the stepper motor into the horizontal motor housing such that the motor and encoder connectors are facing down, out the open face of the housing.

Use four M3 x 12mm screws to attach the stepper motor and motor housing to the cross-slide plate.

Orientation is key

The motor and housing should be on the same side of the cross-slide plate as the delrin leadscrew block and the motor and encoder connectors should be facing down towards the delrin leadscrew block.

Slide a GT2 pulley onto the stepper motor shaft. Make sure that both setscrews are lined up with the flat spots of the motor shaft. Then tighten the setscrews with the 2mm driver.

Step 5: Add the long cable carrier support

Use two M5 x 16mm screws, M5 washers, and M5 locknuts to secure the long cable carrier support to the cross-slide plate. The bracket should be on the opposite side of the plate as the motor. The washers should be on the same side of the plate as the motor.

Step 6: Adjust the eccentric spacers

In order for the cross-slide to slide smoothly and wobble-free on the gantry main beam, you must first adjust the eccentric spacers of the bottom three V-wheels. Adjust the eccentric spacers using the eccentric spacer adjustment reference guide.

Step 7: Slide the cross-slide onto the gantry main beam

Once you have adjusted the eccentric spacers, slide the cross-slide onto the gantry main beam.

Step 8: Feed and secure the belt

Use a belt clip, M5 x 10mm screw, and M5 tee nut to secure one end of the y-axis GT2 timing belt (2m long for Genesis, 3.5m long for XL) to the end of the gantry main beam. The belt must be wrapped through the clip as outlined in the Belt Clip Installation reference guide.

Feed the belt under the end V-wheel of the cross-slide, then over the GT2 pulley and under the remaining three V-wheels. The flat side of the belt should be in contact with your V-wheels while the toothed side should engage with the teeth on the pulley.

Make sure that the belt is not twisted anywhere.

Secure the belt at the other end of the gantry with another belt clip, M5 x 10mm screw, and M5 tee nut. Put a small amount of tension on the belt as you tighten the M5 screw.

What’s next?