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My new CNC - COMPLETED

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LAN_403

IntraWinding

Thu Jul 15 2010, 01:25PM

Registered Member #2261 Joined: Mon Aug 03 2009, 01:19AM
Location: London, UK
Posts: 581

Great stuff.

I'm a big fan of PTFE, but I haven't tried the graphite loaded stuff. I'm getting my first lathe later this year - sorry, just a mini-lathe - yours looks big enough to build a lorry!

Is there good software out there that you'll be able to use to control your mill?

-

It's just called a Tap, that's what confused me

Killa-X

Fri Jul 16 2010, 02:04AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Looking good! I get my Nema 23's tomorrow :D Working on a laser carving CNC machine to be used with a 60W CO2 laser for slow-cutting acrylic and engraving.

What program are you going to use? I decided on Mach 3

IntraWinding

Fri Jul 16 2010, 02:26AM

Registered Member #2261 Joined: Mon Aug 03 2009, 01:19AM
Location: London, UK
Posts: 581

Mach 3 is the one I keep seeing mentioned everywhere.

Killa-X

Fri Jul 16 2010, 04:41AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Probably because it's easy to set up, runs on windows XP/Vista/7. It installs a driver so it can manage your ports without any issues. It cannot drive phase motors, so you need a special driver. I made a driver of decaders and counters so when it will work with my NEMA 23.

The output for motors, in Moch 3, you assign ports to Step and Direction. I think it's free? I might have got a demo if it wasnt, because I downloaded it off their site and installed it to a old Dell 4600

Dr. H.

Fri Jul 16 2010, 05:21AM

Registered Member #931 Joined: Mon Jul 30 2007, 05:25PM
Location: Bulgaria
Posts: 486

Hi guys

Sorry about the confusion with the tap ...

About the software - I've been using Mach3 for a LOOONG time and I am really happy with it. The only thig is that if you are going to do big speeds - you need a relatively "fast" PC - in the range of 1.5+Gh. I've used a 800mhz and I had problems above 700mm/s - the software begins to "jerks" and the movement of the mill isn't smooth anymore. The free version will take up to 1000 lines of code if I remember correctly.

Another program that I used in the beginning was the TurboCNC - the advantage is that it takes control over the parallel port without using special drivers, but It had some problems with the G90 and G91 commands.

Killa-X - the CO2 engraver sounds great - post some pics if it is not a secret project

About different drivers for stepper motors (DIY) - for newer motors - the chopper type IC drivers is my personal best. It is just a single chip, capable of micro stepping, up to few amps of current. It just have step/dir inputs and everything else is in the IC (except the current feedback resistors). TA8435H comes to my mind in the moment. It costs in the range of 10$ here.

Other driver I used is the LiniStepper - a GREAT driver. There is a BIG site devoted to it - so plenty of info.

Now - on the progress of the mill - yesterday after a whole day of work we've erected the supports

And surprisingly it needed a very little centering.

Killa-X

Fri Jul 16 2010, 06:49AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Its more a future set. I have a source to get a 60W CO2 laser and power supply. I might have to cool it my self with some peltier or something.

For now, I'm starting the project with a 1W blue laser for tuning the machine until I get a hold of the 60W. Will use it for cutting thin plastics maybe, and etching words/decals in wood...plastic..PVC..anything

I too started with TurboCNC! Then I installed XP and no longer can do a MS-DOS boot. Then I got Mach 3 and found it doesn't work with my stepper type, so I have to make a driver.

Hope yours comes along good, Mines just going to be an X-Y

This schematic is for 1 stepper connection with MACH 3

rp181

Fri Jul 16 2010, 10:42AM

Registered Member #1062 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2007, 02:01AM
Location:
Posts: 1529

I have used a commercial 40W laser a lot, 40W is only good for engraving. It can cut thin plastics, the hardest I have ever cut was 1/16" garolite, it had a tough time getting through that. It ran about 1" a sec (.8% speed on their scale), and I had to run it again at around 2" a sec to get some points it missed).

Killa-X

Fri Jul 16 2010, 04:29PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

rp181 wrote ...

I have used a commercial 40W laser a lot, 40W is only good for engraving. It can cut thin plastics, the hardest I have ever cut was 1/16" garolite, it had a tough time getting through that. It ran about 1" a sec (.8% speed on their scale), and I had to run it again at around 2" a sec to get some points it missed).

Hmmm, I seen videos of 50W cutting acrylic that was 1/4" thick.

So I figured for me, doing probably a max of 1/4" 60W will be plenty :)

rp181

Fri Jul 16 2010, 04:58PM

Registered Member #1062 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2007, 02:01AM
Location:
Posts: 1529

Oops. I should have been more clear. It will probably cut 1/4" acrylic, I was speaking of harder materials like garolite.
For some runs, I would suggest making several lower power passes to prevent burning. Here is some 1/16" FR4 garolite.

Dr. H.

Mon Jul 19 2010, 07:43PM

Registered Member #931 Joined: Mon Jul 30 2007, 05:25PM
Location: Bulgaria
Posts: 486

Hi guys

I've been working on the electronics for more than a month now and it is starting to get together now

The servo controller is based on the Elm Chan's design.

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