What is one of your greatest challenges so far? With a project you’re working on now, and how did you make out, with this challenge??

nice

In the last 9 months I constructed my own wire EDM machine from mostly discarded materials. A year ago, I built a sinking EDM. The power supply was built with directions from a book witten by Robert Langlois "Build an EDM". I thought going from a sinking EDM to a wire EDM would be easy since I had a power supply.

Well, the wire EDM was a bigger challenge than first thought but I got it working. The X/Y axis are powered by DC gearmotors, also homemade. The feed screw is 1/2-20 threaded rod. In part of the gear reduction I installed an encoder which was a gear with 50 eq sp holes. The space between each hole was .001" of travel. I then used fiber optics to site through the holes and send counts to an Allen-Bradey PLC. So, to move .250", counters were preset to 250 counts. The PLC determines which gearmotor is forward, stop, reverse. Only rectangular holes can be made, but it works.

Hope the pics print
Jim

http://metalworking.com/DropBox/_2002_retired_files/wireedm5.jpg

http://metalworking.com/DropBox/_2002_retired_files/wireedm3.jpg

Always wanted to learn CNC so last fall I built my own machine.
x/y/z axis run on linear ball bearings on Thompson shafting. I used a Xylotec driver board which connected to the printer port of my laptop.

The goal was to make my home built wire EDM CNC controlled. Now I'm having so much fun the the CNC mill, I doubt the EDM with ever be converted. The wire EDM has to many original features to be changed
Jim

What does a EDM do?

EDM stands for electronic discharge machine. They generate a spark between an electrode and the workpiece. This spark wears a path through the workpiece. The path takes the shape of the electrode. In a sinking EDM, an electrode could be made square and then square shaped holes can be burned and so on. Sinking EDM's are priceless when a tap or drill bit breaks off in a workpiece. The taps and drills can be burned out using a small electrode. The main reason I built one.

In a Wire EDM the wire is the electrode and since the wire is round it can feed in any direction under CNC control. Fresh wire is feed into the work area as it wears.

The pic is my home built sinking edm. Both types of machines are impressive to watch run.

Jim

http://www.chaski-test.com/pictures/669-edm6.jpg

That is really cool...

That took a lot of planning as well as planning-nice job.;) I am going to start purchasing quite a bit of equipment in a month and begin manufacturing small percision components for my RC planes & helis. One in paticular (heli) is no longer being manufactured, so I have the need to make the parts I need myself.

Myself I have experience in the engineering department with an auto manuf., as well as a few years working with some really proficient machinists over the years. I have a bit of catching up to do myself..;)

Hey Bro..

I'm converting a Vertical mill to CNC, that's my new project right now.

I am looking forward to see it happeneing . Very interesting and would like to build one sometimes in future ..

Good luck

Originally posted by aashu
I am looking forward to see it happeneing . Very interesting and would like to build one sometimes in future ..

Good luck


Well when your ready, I'll help you built it.

Let me check my pockets !! :D

Dig deep......the more money you throw at it, the easier it becomes!

Jim,
All i can say is "WOW" i am very impressed by your self built edm.
What diameter wire does your machine uses, is it an AC or DC generated, is it programmable, what do you machine with it?

I'm all ears!!!

Klox

Jim,
Great looking machine!
How close to the big ones it is?
Have you cut anything yet?
What type of rpm and feed rates is capable of generate?
I always been intersted in bulding my own.Do you think you could help me?
How much wil it cost to built one?
Thanks.


Gomez

I am working on a 5-axis tabletop CNC. It will be controlled from a PC through the USB port. It's only a few weeks old, and largely still scribbles on paper. Challenges? I have to figure out how to use the USB port, design and build a real-time controller, write CNC operating software for Windows, and oh yes, design the machine itself. Please tell me that I am not crazy. It's already too late to convince me to change my mind. I'll post more details as things progress.

Well when your ready, I'll help you built it.

I am interested to build a CNC on my ZAY-7032 Milling/Drilling machine. Can you point me to a web resource to get a comprehensive info on how to do it? Kindly note that I am located in Manila, Philippines and there a lot of materials like servo motors, drivers, etc. that are hard to come by in my area. They have to be imported mostly and the hassle of importation has to be reckon with. Also, I want to be able to port the cnc to a future full size knee mill machine and thus, I do not mind using bigger servo motors, drivers, power supply, etc.

Your kind response will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Weedy