Looking for CNC Mill Part I

[Oski]

Thanks Eric and Panzypoof. Will talk to Sayal on Monday.

[DICKEYBIRD]

Originally posted by balsaman
I found two sites with free plans for wooden clocks for download.
Jay-sus Eric, now you've gone and done it Just what I need....another new hobby! That stuff is REALLY tempting. Let's see now, I could whack one of those out in a weekend....NOT!

[balsaman]

No, but you could wack out the gears.....:D

Eric

[PanzyPoof]

there you have it the answer for xmas presents for all those you never know what to get.

[crankorgan]

Found this


http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/planes2/links.html


John

[crankorgan]

Hi gang,
Got Routezilla past the proto stage!

John

[balsaman]

John,

Yes, I saw that on your web page. Looks very robust! It will be even more popular than your Pheonix! If I had only thought of the removable base trick before I built my machine, I would probably have gone that route. Good thinking John!

Great Conference too BTW.

Eric

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by balsaman
John,

Yes, I saw that on your web page. Looks very robust! It will be even more popular than your Pheonix! If I had only thought of the removable base trick before I built my machine, I would probably have gone that route. Good thinking John!

Great Conference too BTW.

Eric

Eric,
The Dremel has less play than the Porter Cable. Routezilla is for cutting signs and lawn art. You can move Phoenix. Routezilla needs two people. I have to remove the Y-Z axis assembly if I am to move it by myself. The machine does not use aluminum channel and it has less parts then my other machines. I should know in about a week what it can do! I need a long walk, but it is still too cold. I need at least 32 degrees.

John

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by balsaman

Great Conference too BTW.



I figured it would be good to have a place people can talk about cheap CNC machines without being picked on by the big boys.


John

[balsaman]

You can move Phoenix. Routezilla needs two people.

Only two?:p

Mine weighs a ton! I dont move it at all. CNC's are meant to stay put!

Yeah, freezing here too. -22 degrees C this morning. Hope it warms up so you can clear your head soon.

Eric

[PanzyPoof]

Hey Looks like Crankys search for a plane to build;)
My first attempt at setting up CAD plans for the CNC is getting inspected by TreeMagnet ! Like a Kid getting a paper graded here:confused:

[balsaman]

You will be setting up parts like there is no tomorrow in no time! Glad you have magnet boy over there to assist!

Eric

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by balsaman
Only two?:p

Mine weighs a ton! I dont move it at all. CNC's are meant to stay put!


Eric,
I have to design machines that are movable or I will have to start supplying divorce papers with the plans!

LOL

John

[PanzyPoof]

Eric well I picked up the basics for AutoCad
so I can now Redraw a DXF say a scan of a part, Ok there Hmm? waiting on my grading:rolleyes: any way running the machine is not too hard Turbo CNC most of the time. Still have to learn part placement for cutting on my grid pattern, and then I want to learn how to do letters for signs etc.
Ya Treefungus;) has
been doing most of the work but shortly I should be going it alone:p
I've been kinda wondering which machine is more practical for this RC hobby of our's
A foam Machine or the Mill. And I'm betting it's the CNC Mill?? Ya both OK!
Should Start a Poll Eh?
I'm gonna start a new thread on My new CNC Plane. The Macchi 33 I was give a set of drawings by one of the designers and that's what I've been doing till now. Ya same one as Zoltar's building. She a Beauty:D
Say Cranky thats a big machine!
Have ya take a ciliper to it to see how tight it is along X ? Big Stuff:cool:

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by PanzyPoof
Say Cranky thats a big machine!
Have ya take a ciliper to it to see how tight it is along X ? Big Stuff:cool:

Routezilla still needs some parts and adjustments. Right now I am trying to clean up the mess I made getting it this far. Normally
I cut MDF outside. With the cold I cut it inside. The dust from it is like spackling dust.

John

[dave_in_notts]

Just finished reading all the posts , and nearly finished checking out the links.
So far:
Going to use turbo cad, autocad NAFF! got cadiopia, looks good
I've got turbo cnc and dancad
Hardware nearly finished ( three days ! :D )
Searching for steppers, stepper board E.T.C.
no photo's 3 axies , 4 nearer summer ( 30 to 1 gearing on head)
What axies is the forth?
Thanks to everyone in this thread for all the info, it would not have been possible without you :D

Dave

[plymouthcolt]

"The cost to build the machine should be under $200 for the parts."

Would this include the stepper motors and controller, or just the hardware store parts?

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by plymouthcolt
"The cost to build the machine should be under $200 for the parts."

Would this include the stepper motors and controller, or just the hardware store parts?

Just the machine can be built for around $125 US. Everything
cost under $300. But that depends if you can build you own controller using my Bare Board Piker.

John

[PanzyPoof]

The sawdust is starting to pile up:confused:
So I went to WallyMart and just bought a Vacume and I'm going to adapt a hose for a pickup close to the tool. Nice little unit
DirtDevil (scorpion)AC powerfull motor should be just the Ticket here!
Also Just made a set of Elev panels for the PBY-Catalina. Yess this CNC is gonna come in handy:D

[Tree_Magnet]

TREEFUNUGS
Listen here PANZYPOOF like what kinda name is PANZYPOOF:D

[PanzyPoof]

:D :D TYPO:) :)

I started a thread for my M33 CNC built plane.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=782883#post782883

[crankorgan]

PanzyPoof,
How fast were you able to get your motors to run using my Piker. I talking JOGGING speed with the motors in the
machine.

John

[hal517]

I'm ready to buy a cnc kit ,, question who has the neatest one going,, ya know the latest and greatest :D

[PanzyPoof]

hal517:)
The only Kit I know of is by Chris (Zoltar)
Word is a new improved machine/KIT will be out soon! Hmm?
http://www.rcmodels.net/cnc/cnc.html

Other then that unit I'm don't know (SEARCH)
If you feel like building one! As you see in this thread Cranky is the one to see in this regard! http://www.crankorgan.com/

[PanzyPoof]

Just hunting in WallyMart and Found this!
Hmmm?
It should work Eh :D

[PanzyPoof]

OK it's Hooked up now:)
And it sucks real well.
Looks like smoke in the slipstream test.
Ya it's a little louder now but :rolleyes: not as loud as the Wife can get when she sees the Sawdust everwhere:p

[PanzyPoof]

Unit is a Gravel Washer for Aquariums, see pet section. $7 cdn.
here's the Bussiness end @ tool.
Perfect:D

[Pierre Audette]

Well I don't know how I managed to miss this thread until now. I'm also taking the plunge into making a small cnc router. I found a cheap pair of old Epson printers, which have a belt drive system with a range of ~14". Not sure what power these stepper motors are rated at, or the voltage they run at. I should have probably done so testing before hacking it to pieces.

In my effort to keep it simple and cheap, I found some UNC5804 driver chips, that can handle up to 1.5A per motor. Would that be sufficient for routing, or should I just make it a balsa plotter?

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by Pierre Audette

In my effort to keep it simple and cheap, I found some UNC5804 driver chips, that can handle up to 1.5A per motor. Would that be sufficient for routing, or should I just make it a balsa plotter?

Both the HobbyCNC board and the Stepperworld board use the UNC5804 IC .

John

[balsaman]

Pierre,

I am wondering about the steppers. They would need to be unipolar (six or more wires). Also, how large are they physically? You would need about 50 or more oz.in. to run a CNC with a small router/dremel. If they are nema 23 (aprox 2.25" diameter) you would probably be ok.

Those chips will be fine. You could also go with John's (Crankorgan) Piker board. He has done all the hard work for you. You just need to populate his board with the components.

or www.stepperworld.com (stick with the FET3)
or www.hobbycnc.com
or more

Eric

[djmrozinski]

If you do have a stepper motor that exceeds the 1.25A rating of the UNC5804. The chip can be used to drive P-channel MOSFETs allowing for the use fo higher current motors. Just a FYI

Dave Mrozinski

[Pierre Audette]

It's probably buried here somewhere in the previous pages, but what level entry software is worth trying to drive a 3 axis CNC?

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by Pierre Audette
It's probably buried here somewhere in the previous pages, but what level entry software is worth trying to drive a 3 axis CNC?

It's all there along with other valuable info!

John

[Pierre Audette]

TurboCNC looks like a popular choice, but from what I've read in the documentation, it seems to drive the stepper through 4 pins, to each one of the coils. With the 5804 chip, all I need is 2 pins for direction and step.

So let me refine my question, what s/w works on 2 pin control for a stepper motor?

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by Pierre Audette
TurboCNC looks like a popular choice, but from what I've read in the documentation, it seems to drive the stepper through 4 pins, to each one of the coils. With the 5804 chip, all I need is 2 pins for direction and step.

So let me refine my question, what s/w works on 2 pin control for a stepper motor?

Only the best ones! CNCPro,TurboCNC,KCam etc. Programs
that run separate coils are considered old hat. I think TurboCNC
still has the option.

John

[balsaman]

Nothing to do with CNC but did you guy's notice that Ezone reviewed my Giles G202 kit? :D :D :D :D :D

http://www.ezonemag.com/articles/2003/feb/giles/giles.shtml

Eric (the proud father):D

[Pierre Audette]

Quite right John, I played with the s/w and saw the menu where you can choose either mode and which pins are used. It's looking promising!

[hal517]

Balsaman,, there's too many posts to backtrack here ,, question ,, did you build the Giles G202 kit with a homemade cnc machine in the links ,,, :D

[balsaman]

Hal,

Nope, it's a laser cut kit. Nothing to do with the thread really...just bragging to my CNC buddies.:D

Eric

[PanzyPoof]

Oh so you designed the Plane and it's produced elsewhere by Laser and Kitted.:cool:
Good Looking Plane.:D Hmm they should have used a bigger spinner.


Pierre Audette:) Go Dog Go! You need a CNC Plane for Kingston Eh!
See Ezone Canada is cleaning up here:rolleyes:
Oh ya that little vac is not gonna work out as planned it's too small (filter area plugs quickly) and screams like a turbine. :mad:
so I'll use my small shop vac instead. Quiter huge filter area.
I also had a small problem with the vac pick up tube striking nylon clamp screws. So have to watch out for this now.

[balsaman]

Good Looking Plane. Hmm they should have used a bigger spinner.

Ahh, Dennis, your such a scale "purist" :D

Nice looking M33 BTW.

Eric

[hal517]

One of thes big vacs might move enough air ,, I do wonder what static electricty will do to the cnc set up though,,

[hal517]

Here's a box i have built behind the radial arm saw ,, for a cnc one would build slats in the box i believe to make the vacumm suc harder :D

[Pierre Audette]

I'm slowly getting there. I just finished building and testing my interface card, and fired it up with Turbocnc and a loose stepper motor. I actually ran a sample cnc file just as a test. Ah, the sight of a leadscrew turning by the will of a PC. I ran into some troubleshooting problems, as I blew one of the driver chips. Good thing I had mail ordered four at once.

I just need to get going on the x-y table I'm making out of old printer drives. I picked up a cheap Dremel clone at a pawn shop this weekend. All this tinkering has curbed my model building, which hopefully will be optimized soon enough. :D

I'm looking for a simple sample file for testing once it's ready. Anyone have one for a S400 motor mount?

[balsaman]

Hi,

I decided I won't give away any files that are items for sale on my web page. If you like, I can send you another small test file. Here is one of a servo hatch. let me know if you want the gcode for it.

Eric

[balsaman]

I send you the file. Here is what the parts look like. Needs a 1/8" cutter White lines are the original part, blue is the tool path, yellow is tool up. It will do both slots, then the 8 holes, then the outside

Eric

[uscra112]

Where I work we can have trouble with static in our measuring machines, but that's because we have low-level signals coming off the feedback devices. Even RFI can bother us. Lacking any such in a stepper machine, you probably won't have any trouble.

[Pierre Audette]

Well I got the X-Y table done, still need to do the Z axis, but I just couldn't wait. I strapped the Dremel on, and manually moved it up and down at the right step. I put some 1/8" thick foam on the table and let her rip. And voila, foamie servo hatches! Not much use, but it does confirm that the electronics, h/w and s/w are working properly.

[balsaman]

We need pictures to fully apreciate your efforts! Good going on the foamie parts!

Eric

[Pierre Audette]

Still working on it. I now have 3D capability. I need to modify my controller board to increase the voltage to the steppers (they're slipping). Not enough torque and they're still cold, so I can crank up the volts by using lower value power resistors. Pictures soon.....

[Pierre Audette]

Here goes, it ain't pretty, but could possibly qualify as an entry for a junkyard war. X-Y table made from two old printer drives, drawer slides & other pieces from Home Depot. Working area of about 15" x 15" x 3".

[Pierre Audette]

Close up on the hand tool. I modified it to reduce the runout on the spindle. The bearings inside were not rigidly held in the casing. I also moved the end bearing further out to the tip.

[Pierre Audette]

Not much to the controller board, some UNC5804B chips, diodes, resistors and connectors, stuffed in an old PC case to use the power supply to drive the stepper motors.

[balsaman]

Pierre,

Looks great! Another canadian with a working CNC! How do the axis work? Is there a belt drive, or a screw? That looks like a very simple controller. My controller uses the same chips, but with FET outputs. You can also use transistor outputs with those chips.

Incase anyone is interested, I wrote a windows program to assist CNCers with calculating the current limiting resistors for a given motor, controller, and powersupply combo.

The link: www.e-zflight.com/files/stepcalc101.zip

Also a screen shot.

Eric

[Pierre Audette]

Belt drive on the printers for X-Y, and a 1/4" screw for the Z axis.

I went with direct connections on the chips, based on the following circuit. I've got about 5 hours running time on it so far, and it's holding up well.
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~ih/doc/stepper/control2/3axis/schmatic.gif

I used this app for generating cnc code for 3D engraving.
http://www2.fwi.com/~kimble/scispec/scispec.htm

[crankorgan]

Eric,
Did you notice how Pierre has his output diodes?

John

[balsaman]

Yes,

They are in series with the winding. I will give that a try this week.

Eric

[crankorgan]

Eric,
I found one diode in each motor common also works. That means you only need two per motor. I don't know if one will work in your one resistor setup.

John

[balsaman]

I will try both ways John.

Eric

[Pierre Audette]

I thought the main purpose of the diodes was to stop reverse voltage created by the motors to go back into the controller.

On a different topic, what kind of feed rates or you guys using with 1/16" and 1/8" end mills on balsa and plywood? I'm getting some ragged edges with the 1/16".

[crankorgan]

Originally posted by Pierre Audette
I thought the main purpose of the diodes was to stop reverse voltage created by the motors to go back into the controller.


Hi,
The diodes can be wired onto the chip several ways according to the data sheet. You managed to pick the best way.


John

[balsaman]

I got the best results with balsa using 1/8" carbide endmills. The one I use has 2 flutes. Plywood works fine with 1/16" and 1/8" bits.

For feed rates I have used 6 to 30 inches a minute on both 1/16" ply and up to 3/16 balsa. The edge looks the same for all the feedrates. I use a router. Dremels may not like the faster feed rates. I run my router wide open at 30" feed rate. Make sure your part is secure!

[balsaman]

Did I mention a CNC router isn't just for airplanes?

Eric

[Ado]

Balsaman...interesting stuff.


Ive been looking at CNC routers and foam cutters for a while and I`m a little...scared....to try and make one.

Does anyone know anyone within the Brisbane Australia area that has either device? If I`m going to build one, I`d like someone local to help out ;)

Cheers,

~Ado

[PanzyPoof]

Had a software crash and Ya Daa, I went for a coffee. Was on the second run of a part. First run was OK. Rebooted after crash and file was OK . Hmmm?
Any way figure it was time to replace my cut
board . It was well worn:D

Looking good Pierre:)
Ado ;) We'll Help as best we can!
Get the Plans and start .
Or get a Pre Built kit .
Hmmm!!:confused: one problem My Xacto Blades are now getting Rusty :cool:
Eric nice gears! Tick Tock:)

[balsaman]

Dennis,

Ouch! Careful now. How's your dremel?

Don't go so deep! Looks like your cnc is getting well used! Cranky would be proud!

Check your PM's.

Eric

[balsaman]

Hey guys,

Two excelent CNC groups out there.

Crankorgan's Hardware Store CNC conference:

http://pub75.ezboard.com/bhardwarestorecnc

CNCZone:

www.cnczone.com

Eric

[Ado]

Pansypoof,

Thanks for the encouragement.

After looking through the first 17 pages, it seems to be fairly easy to build up a CNC cutter. I dont have access to a drill press or a scrollsaw etc. So that sorta stuff is going to be a little hard to get exact. Thats not the hardest thing to get done though, it seems that the plans im after dont get sold overseas(morph or The 7th Sojourn).

I only plan on doing balsa for now, so i dont need anythign thats super strong but I wouldnt mind something thats fairly accurate.

Are there any plans that are similar to the above mentioned that are available to me?

Cheers,

~Ado

[PanzyPoof]

Ado. If you put you're nose close to the monitor you should be able to Build Your Machine from the Info.
Shure it'll take some hunting around and you could be looking at the Parts without seeing them.
A drill press would be nice and there not $$ Pawn Shops are a great source for used
(Hmmm?) Tools. Ebay for motors and bearings or a older PC.
Start looking under every stone!

[mstone]

Ado,

I am also in a Land Down Under. I wanted to buy some plans from Cranky but he doesn't sell outside the US :(. (Not than I asked, I read the fine print on his web site).

As PanzyPoof said if you look around the net you will work
out how to build most of it.

The only thing I am still looking for locally is a decent set of stepper motors. I can buy them at the US ebay sight but the
shipping from the US is the expensive part ($US50 - $US70) depending on the weight.

I can get new steppers for around $AUS250 but that is kind of expensive.

Mark

[PanzyPoof]

mstone;)
Now don't tell me there's no Elec Surplus or bulk componet shops in Aussi town.
That's You're first stop. And pickup a PC power supply too. Get dirty:p

Also check/search under robots supply or ask the local University science geeks where the good are.

[balsaman]

I am not sure but you could try the local business machines repair shop. Most of the steppers we use come out of copiers/printers.

Eric

[mstone]

PanzyPoof,

I did have a local surplus shop not far from work. Went to have a look for steppers just after Xmas and they have closed.

The other surplus shop that used to have all of those old line printers has also closed.

The other surplus shop I use, 700kms away, doesn't have
any suitable motors.

Mark

[PanzyPoof]

700km:eek:
Your on Planet Earth right?:rolleyes: Kidding;)

My Steppers back on page 1 this thread weigh 500g each so you need 3 and 1 spare.
To Be safe!! So 4 Right. OK thats 2Kg and add the package so say 2.25Kg.
Where do you live?? Toronto Can here.
Luts find out the postage$
Motors were Approx $15~ $17CAD last time I looked. Add 15%Tax
Not eager to do this so I can understand Cranky only selling to local North America Only!!
but if you're real stuck. You could Start Begging:rolleyes:
And I could Mail them.
But you still need to scrounge up the rest of the machine. So think it over real good.
Easy way would be order a Complete Kit from Zoltar.
Shure more$ then Building from surplus (BUT Big BUTT Here) It's a complete Kit as I understand.
Have you checked his toy box?
http://www.rcmodels.net/cnc/hobby/setup/setup.html

[mstone]

I,m in Australia so postage is always the killer.

The shipping was what I was quoted by one of the surplus places from Cranky's website I also had to spend $US100. Plenty of steppers but the weight was about 5kgs.

You can sort of understand some of the extra costs in shipping Internationally (customs forms etc).

One of the reasons for posting this here is in the hope that someone in another city of Australia has found a source of motors (not Adelaide).

Thanks for the offer on ther plans. I have enough to start with.

I have decided to build a convertable machine that will hot wire foam as well.

Mark

[Ado]

mstone,

Thats what I`m after too...one that you can quickly convert to do hot wire cutting aswell.

I havent done much in the ways of stepper motor hunting in AUS since I was more concerned about find some plans.

Cheers,

~Ado

[chrisbarker]

O.K. mstone and Ado now you have got me wondering.:rolleyes: How would you make a machine that was convertable from a router to foam wire?
I suppose that you could hang a bow from your Z axis and move your table below in one axis. I have seen 4 axis foam cutters before but it seems too different from a 3 axis router. Are there any machines out there that do that?

Thanks,
Chris

[DICKEYBIRD]

Guys, don't forget Dave Rigotti at http://www.hobbycnc.com/ I think he will ship plans to just about anywhere.

[mstone]

The way I thought I could make it convertable would to have the
X-Axis with a stepper on either side. Similar to the current 4 Axis foam cutters.

The Z-Axis would also need to be driven with two motors directly
above the X-Axis on either side.

The Y-Axis would go between the two Z-Axises and be removable to allow the bow to go in the middle.

Does that make sense?

Mark

[PanzyPoof]

can ya do a sketch? Are the 2 Zaxis sharing the same Y rail? Or do ya add/ stack the Y rails.

[PanzyPoof]

can ya do a sketch? Do ya add/ stack the Y rails. And with it you would need a Big X trolly to cut any wing of size, 30" would be a good span start.

[chrisbarker]

Hi,

mstone, I think I understand what you are saying. In other words, where the wire would be, you would replace it with a cross slide for the router/dremel. The two Y & Y1 axes would be coupled together to make the Z axis. The cross slide would become your new Y axis. Right?
It sounds like it could work in theory. Not having built a CNC Foam cutter I have often wondered how stiff the vertical axes were and if you were able to keep the wire taught enough. Seems like it needs a backframe.

PanseyPoof, check out this machine:
http://www.8linx.com/cnc/cnc.htm

I am building a normal(?), rolling gantry CNC router. I have finished the x axis trolly and am now working from the Z axis back to the Y axis gantry.
I wish you luck. Please let us know of your progress.

:)
Chris

[MrBungle]

Hi guys

Ado, mstone:

CashConverters(the hock-shop retail chain) is a good source for steppers.
Go to any of their stores and you'll find old dot-matrix printers for $5-$15 each. Each printer has 2 - 3 steppers.
Old Electric typewriters (the daisywheel or golfball type) are great too, with bigger motors.

In the first pic below, the 3 large 2.2" steppers, and the first of the 1.7" square shapped steppers were removed from just ONE typewriter that I bought for only $10 ($5US)!
These old typewritters are very large and heavy and need a few tools to strip them down.
The remaining two 1.7" steppers were removed from dot-matrix printers, the 1.5" square motor from a 5.25" floppy drive and the two 1.6" round steppers at bottom were from dot-matrix printers.
All motors pictured are 5/6 wire unipolar.
I have a box full of motors, of varying sizes, all removed from a few printers.

They have all sorts of other goodies in them too, the second photo shows the motor drive transistors(16 of them), remove these transistors if your going to build your own stepper controllers.
Some printers/typewritters might have stepper driver IC's, so keep an eye out for them.

I'm working on a 4-Axis S/D controller that can be built from a handfull of components (4 logic IC's) available from DickSmith/Altronics/Jaycar stores, only a few dollars for all the parts, considerably less if you re-use the transistors from printers/typewriters.
Right now I'm doing the board design, trying to squeeze everything into a 3x3" single sided board without jumpers, which is proving a challenge. If all goes well, testing etc. and you cant get your hands on a controller, I might be able to supply a board.

Simo

http://www.westnet.com.au/foo2/image_host/motors.jpg
http://www.westnet.com.au/foo2/image_host/trans.jpg


Edit- moved images to new host

[MrBungle]

BTW, all the round steppers pictured are 48 steps/rev, The square ones are 196 and 200 steps/rev.
If you use M6 threaded rod(1mm pitch), the 48 step motors will be plenty 'nuff.
M6 1mm/48 = 0.02mm per step(0.0008" per step)

For more accuracy, M6 fine pitch(0.5mm) can be used, at the cost of speed. Here you'll get 0.01mm/step(0.0004")
Half-stepping will double the resolution again(0.005mm(0.0002")/step).
I don't think theres any need to go this far, speed is more usefull.

Simo

[mstone]

Chris, I think you have the picture.

When foam cutting with CNC the wire does not acctually touch the foam so there should be little drag on the wire.

I also intended to use a bow to keep the tension on the wire. This reduces the need for vertical stability while the Y-Axis is removed.

I will try and to a drawing.

Simo, I didn't think of cash converters. There used to be a shop that had piles of old DEC and IBM band printer but they closed.


Mark

[mstone]

Chris,

Just had a look at the link you posted. That is sort of what I
had in mind. Then you can replace the foam cutting wire with
the Z-Axis (in this case) and tool holder.

Mark

[testflyer]

Originally posted by uscra112
http://www.machinetoolcamp.com/

I just ordered and received his "engineering package" for $100. It shows you how to build a stepper-motor-driven 2 or 3 axis machine in real detail, including complete bills of material. He also sells the motors, drives, interface cards, and other key stuff, and tells you where there are sources for the generic stuff. I was in the machine tool business for years and COULD have done all this myself but why bother when he's done all the detail work for you? For example, you supply the computer, he tells you where to download software, and he sends you a file that matches the software to your particular drive systems and machine. That's no small matter.



That look pretty cool, how about using servo's instead of stepper's?



http://cnczone.com

[PanzyPoof]

Thats some heavy duity system.
Kinda overkill for our rc hobby stuff.
And he states( Expect to spend about $3500 on this machine.)
Too rich for me.

testflyer steppers aren't that $$ I paid $5 each (Surplus)

[uscra112]

I bought that package, too. Wish I hadn't. It's a nice cookbook, but doesn't tell you much about WHY the systems work. And yes, he's aiming it more toward guys making signs and furniture parts. I talked to him on the phone about it once. Steppers are the right way in our context. The electronics for closed-loop servos get much, much more complex, and you have a whole new set of problems having to do with amplifier gain, accel/decel rates, stiffness of structures, mounting the feedback devices, etc., etc.
I think ol' Cranky has offered a lot more help for our hobby-size projects.

[PanzyPoof]

Guys :) I think your right a great looking HeavyDuity setup for the BirdHouse Hobbiest.
I'm shure Tim Allen would love one :D
Maybe you can scale things down some and
build onward? The basic design is there and set so rethink.
hit home Depo and scrounge the back rooms.
Don't just sit there you've take the first step
OK it was a leap :p But forge forward:mad:

Or reOrder a Cranky Kit, and join his CNC
Discussion group quite good.

[chrisbarker]

Hi,

John Kleinbauer has closed the Hardwarestore CNC discussion group. Too bad.
His website is still up though.
John, if you read this, I really do appreciate your efforts and I am sorry that you had to disolve the discussion group.
I think of you as the John Dobson of CNC.

Chris Barker

[balsaman]

Too bad indeed.

Eric

[PanzyPoof]

My bet it was too much work to keep on top of it all. I wouldn't want to run a show like that either!

[AirX]

Hi Guy's,

I just read the post that John shut down the discussion group. I suppose like Pansy said "Too much work and not enough time".
John has inspired me to learn about CNC and I have been working on a design from looking at peoples designs and reading about different ways to make the machines. I will order from John because he knows what has worked and I do not have all the answers to complete the design i am trying to finish. Looks like June will be date I will start gathering the parts together and order the plans.

I want to show you guys what I drew and get your input so I am posting a rendering of the AutoCAD drawing as it is so far.

Eric

[uscra112]

That's a VERY good piece of design work, AirX. Do you have a machine-tool background?

Do you have the lower linear guide on the crossrail UNDER the rail panel, or on the front of it?

[chrisbarker]

Hi There,

I need to retract some of what I said in the last post I made. Today when I tried to logon to the Hardwarestore CNC site I got a message that it is being changed over to a members only site. He is obviously in the middle of changing it. You need to email him for membership.

Chris

[PanzyPoof]

Customer based IS Good! so the Support is there for those deserving.
Wantta Play ya gotta Pay in the USA.
Funny he went so deep into the subject on this thread.
(Now if I delete the first post)












:eek:
(kidding)

[AirX]

Originally posted by uscra112
That's a VERY good piece of design work, AirX. Do you have a machine-tool background?

Do you have the lower linear guide on the crossrail UNDER the rail panel, or on the front of it?

Hi uscra112

Only the tooling I have made for my models and the little mechanical I do at work. I design water treatment facilities for a large international company, 3D all day long, am I in heaven or what! :)

I have Y-Axis on similar rails as the X and Z-Axes. The bearing block is made of skateboard bearings and allthread is used to hald assebly's together for later removal and transportation.

Thank you for the comment, I have a lot to learn. ;)

Eric

[AirX]

Yes it is good to hear Cranky is still using the board for support, i signed in the other day and have not been able to get back to look at it yet. Glad to hear it.

Eric

[PanzyPoof]

AirX:)
Darn you got it all so the goodies get going!
I don't use the Xacto anymore it's a sickness
If I need a part for something my first thought is can I CNC it hmmm:eek: like now I'm looking at my CD jewle cases and thinking! They should have Lables,
Scribe them! Ya OK Hmmm there height is ## and so if I drop the tool to ## will just scribe nicely. Ahhhhh!!!
Do I need Help:confused: