Posts Tagged ‘CNC Router’

CNC Update 9: Cutting Spindle Mount

Friday, April 30th, 2010

I finally got the spindle mount GCode right and made one of my 4 Spindle mount pieces. Look at the video below.

Here is the finished piece.

HDPE 1/2 of Spindle Mount

Spindle mount test fit, IT FITS!

 Here is a video of one of my test patterns using some 1/4″ scrap wood.

I had to make several manual modifications to the gcode to get it right. Not because CAM software did it wrong, I just didn’t have all the settings right when I created the gcode. Also I don’t have any home switches installed yet so all the absolute values are wrong or at least that is what I think you call them. The machine coordinates I know are not right until I get the home switches installed. I am still learning about all of this and I have a long way to go.

I have ordered some upgrades that should make some nice improvements in cutting speed. I have 3 new Acme leadscrews and nuts coming along with some other enhancements, such as bearing blocks and a motor mount for the Z-axis. My tie wraps are working but are a little to gehtto for me:-)

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CNC Update 8: First Cut! Mach3 cutting Styrofoam

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Well, last Sunday was a very frustrating day. I shorted out my controller board frying one of my easysteppers and all of the buffer chips in my breakout board. I was too frustrated to work on the boards for now so I ordered a new controller board on eBay.

It is a very nice package. It is a 3.5 Amp stepper driver with a parallel interface built in. It is a China unit but it seems to work very well. I also ordered a new Stepper motor for my Z axis. Anyway here is a video of the CNC cutting the Roadrunner Gcode in Mach 3, into Styrofoam. Skip to about 2:08 to see a wider view of the system and the touch screen monitor.

I don’t blame you for skipping through it, kind of dry video but I was excited to see it work! The bit I had in the router was too big so some of the lines ran together but all in all it did pretty well.

More to come.

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CNC Update 7: Simultaneous 3 Axis Motion

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

It’s been a while since my last CNC update because I have been very busy with work, but I have made a lot of progress and a few steps back.

I was able to get all 3 axises put together and aligned pretty well. The only real problem is that my Z axis stepper is not going to have enough torque and it has too much run out in the stepper motor. but for testing it is fine.

First I wanted to explain how I am coupling my motors to the lead screw, AKA all thread :-)

I took a vacuum TEE that I had and cut the barb off of one end.

Amputated Tee

This was too small to just slide onto the shaft of the stepper so I had to press it on using a C-clamp. This makes for a very tight fit. Then I score the barbs parallel to the shaft to give it teeth that can bite into the rubber tubing to keep it from slipping. I then press a short piece of tubing onto the barb and then onto the leadscrew. If needed you can add a tie wrap to secure the tubing even more. Here is a picture of how I pressed it on the stepper.

Pressing on barb

Here is a video of all 3 Axises running at the same time. I am using my arduino to run this test because I fried my buffer chips in by breakout board! That is fine, I will build something better anyway.

Here is a picture of my Z axis flange nut I built. It is hand filed to a press fit so that I can adjust it to align.

Z Axis Flange Nut

 

I have not put any anti backlash devices on these yet, but I have a design in mind for some.

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Coming soon… Home built 3 Axis CNC Router

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

I ordered the electronics today from Sparkfun. This is a project I have been planning on doing for years. Join me for the ride.

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