# Idea for upgrade: Use X-carriage extrusion on Y-rails **URL:** \ **Category:** Upgrades\ **Created:** [November 22, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140 "2015-11-22T06:38:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanielRoche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@DanielRoche](https://community.inventables.com/u/DanielRoche)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140/1 "2015-11-22T06:38:30Z")
Forgive me if I missed this in my searching… has anyone ever tried upgrading the Y-rail stiffness by modifying them to look more like the X-rail? Specifically, I am thinking of buying two more X-carriage extrusions and hardware, plus two more slide rails for the Y-axes. The Y-axis rails would then be doubled up in the same configuration as the X-rail. I would have to make some custom adapter plates, but can do that on my current set up. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelGrigg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/michaelgrigg/32/12420_2.png) [@MichaelGrigg](https://community.inventables.com/u/MichaelGrigg)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 7:33am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140/2 "2015-11-22T07:33:59Z")
Here is a photo of how I stiffened my Y-Rails. ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/2X/5/53d1ede73dad42304053aa45f245243bd49aaace.jpeg) The end caps have been removed for clarity in this photo. But for my machine I will only benefit from the plates top most hole used for belt tensioning. I will probably remove the front ones permanently and make my adjustments from the back of the machine. I just have to make sure that the Tnut is locked down tight on the belt holder at the front of the Y rails. The table is a torsion box style table. The rails are lifted from the table by MDF spacers that span the entire length of the Y rails. My Y rails are Rock solid. No flex or sag anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![RyanBouma](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/ryanbouma/32/12949_2.png) [@RyanBouma](https://community.inventables.com/u/RyanBouma)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140/3 "2015-11-22T19:15:21Z")
That looks awesome. I have been getting some chatter in the Y direction whereas my X is rock solid. I just started with this machine so I’m worried it’ll only get worse as I get more aggressive with the machine. ---
**Author:** ![DanBrown](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/danbrown/32/44929_2.png) [@DanBrown](https://community.inventables.com/u/DanBrown)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140/4 "2015-11-22T21:03:09Z")
Huh… that just might work! Particularly if you attached the rails solidly together before you slid the extrusions on. If you do this, I’d like to see it! ---
**Author:** ![DanielRoche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@DanielRoche](https://community.inventables.com/u/DanielRoche)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140/6 "2015-11-25T22:47:18Z")
Finally got around to modeling something up… Nice thing is that there is very little custom hardware - to make the Y-carriages, I would just put some holes in the carriage so I can bolt them directly to the ends of the X-rails. This particular configuration does lower the Z-axis, so I would need to come up with a base frame with a different offset, but I think it can be easily done with some extrusions. ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/2X/0/0cc1f813c1f1c226dbb71aef7b76dfa582d84694.png) ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/2X/c/cf5a838a5ffc629e41602d90f0921d25e7def182.png) ---
**Author:** ![JohnScherer](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/johnscherer/32/4993_2.png) [@JohnScherer](https://community.inventables.com/u/JohnScherer)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140/7 "2015-11-26T03:06:56Z")
Aligning that, and keeping it aligned, might prove to be difficult. ---
**Author:** ![DanielRoche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@DanielRoche](https://community.inventables.com/u/DanielRoche)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 8:29am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/idea-for-upgrade-use-x-carriage-extrusion-on-y-rails/16140/8 "2015-11-26T08:29:49Z")
Hey John - Thanks for the feedback. I’m curious though, why do you say alignment would be any trickier than having to adjust the X-axis carriage, other than having to do it three times instead of one? Keep in mind that my intent is to add a base structure to the ends of the Y-rails, but didn’t show it in this model. Cheers, Daniel