CNC Quilting forum

[ec_buss]

Hi Ed, thanks for the kudos, I really appreciate it.

Yes, I purchase my patterns from Ellen Munnich's site. They are pretty reasonable. The site name is www.quiltrecipes.com. She is really easy to deal with and will do most anything to help short of giving her product away.

ALso, you might want to go to the www.candcnc.com site, which is where you can get a really good macro called DXFtool for CorelDraw X4, that will convert your drawings to DXF format, then you can load it into LazyCAM really easy. The macro will cost you a few greenbacks, but I think it is a really good buy for what you need.

Do me a favor, and when you make the purchase for DXFtool, mention that I directed you to it. Also, take some pictures of your setup. I am really interested in what you are doing, and I love being a mentor.

Good Luck, Ed, You are going to have a great time with this project, it's really a blast.

I'm sending you a copy of my 1024.set file so that you can see what I have done with it. I have made some very special changes that allow me to input the number of repeats that I need, as well as the number of repeats that are still left to sew. Just unzip the file in your mach3 folder, and then you can see what I have doe with it. Disregard the second page, it is still being developed. I am working on setting up a page that will allow me to set the size of the sewing area so that the program will figure out the number of repeats to put in it.

Larry

Thanks for the 1024set, but the zip file was actually your 1024Iset. I'd love to see your screen mods as it would save me a lot of work and trial and error. I just started working on mine and have nothing significant to contribute in that area. Please send it again when you find time. I'll be pleased to post some pics and will do so soon. Again, Thanks, Ed

[lmlamb]

Ed,

Sorry about the .set file. Here is a new one and also the macro files and bitmaps that you need to make it work. Just expand the macro zip file into your macro folder, the cncquilter.zip file needs to be extracted to your macro folder as well.

let me know if all works ok.

[trickey]

trickey

I have nothing that I can contribute in the way of cnc and programing
but as my wife is a quilting fanatic and I am extremely interested in reading
what you guys are doing
I am starting to assemble the necessary bits and pieces and trying to accumulate as much information as possible.
Larry I downloaded a shopping list that you put on this site hope you did not
mind. To alter her quilting frame and construct the mechanicals will be no problem
programing will.
but what I lack in knowledge I make up in enthusiasm.
Hope you guys don't mind me joining in

Dick

[lmlamb]

trickey

I have nothing that I can contribute in the way of cnc and programing
but as my wife is a quilting fanatic and I am extremely interested in reading
what you guys are doing
I am starting to assemble the necessary bits and pieces and trying to accumulate as much information as possible.
Larry I downloaded a shopping list that you put on this site hope you did not
mind. To alter her quilting frame and construct the mechanicals will be no problem
programing will.
but what I lack in knowledge I make up in enthusiasm.
Hope you guys don't mind me joining in

Dick

Hello Dick,

As I write this I believe you are asleep and looking toward a new day. Where do you live in Australia? No worrys, you may not think you have anything to contribute right now, but, if you are like me in any way, you will later on. The fact that you are interested in what we are doing here at the quilter forum, contributes more that you can imagine, it is fodder for the future, in that you have given praise and encouragement. Certainly you can use anything that we might place here, that's what the forum is for, to help one another and to enjoy our hobby as much as we possibly can. We will never mind your asking questions, looking for assistance, or digging for answers. As far as the programming is concerned, I am using Mach3 as the basis for the program, and have made a few changes that you might have noticed. There will be many more changes until the entire system is no longer the original idea, I look forward to answering any questions you may have, and providing as many thought provoking answers and opportunities as I can.

If I haven't said it before, Welcome to the CNC QUILTER Forum, we are glad you are here.

[trickey]

Thank you Larry for your warm welcome.
I live about eighty kilometers south west of Sydney but the city sprawl is catching up.
I will try not to be a nuisance, I downloaded the the freeby of mach3 with lazycam.and have been trying to work it out.

I noticed that at one stage some one in this forum was talking of having the rear roller move to allow more travel for the machine .I modified my wifes frame
some twelve months ago using a motor from a golf buggy.and electronic switches, not cnc but theres a thought.

Dick

[lmlamb]

Thank you Larry for your warm welcome.
I live about eighty kilometers south west of Sydney but the city sprawl is catching up.
I will try not to be a nuisance, I downloaded the the freeby of mach3 with lazycam.and have been trying to work it out.

I noticed that at one stage some one in this forum was talking of having the rear roller move to allow more travel for the machine .I modified my wifes frame
some twelve months ago using a motor from a golf buggy.and electronic switches, not cnc but theres a thought.

Dick

Hi Dick,

No Worrys, if you need anything with Mach3, just fire away. Yes, we have been tossing around the idea of automating the rear takeup roller. I would just about give my right arm to see some photos of what you did with that golf buggy motor. It might lead to some idea. I have a kind of plan in my head, but not on paper, my main issue is with the stability of the roller.

[trickey]

Larry
I have not been able to upload have not used this system before
but mainly as I understand you were having problems with stability of the rear roller
I will try to reload it
but I overcame that problem by making the rear roller slide in and out by using the golf buggy motor to turn the rear roller using the quilt as the quilt turns on the roller it moves the roller in to keep a constant tension on the quilt I used some bungy cord on each end of the rear roller ,so I could have longer length I of bungy cord I pivoted around a roller will try to upload again
but if you could give me another email address I will send some photos of this system
this gave me an extra eight inches of movement I did not move the front rollers
hope this is of help

[lmlamb]

Larry
I have not been able to upload have not used this system before
but mainly as I understand you were having problems with stability of the rear roller
I will try to reload it
but I overcame that problem by making the rear roller slide in and out by using the golf buggy motor to turn the rear roller using the quilt as the quilt turns on the roller it moves the roller in to keep a constant tension on the quilt I used some bungy cord on each end of the rear roller ,so I could have longer length I of bungy cord I pivoted around a roller will try to upload again
but if you could give me another email address I will send some photos of this system
this gave me an extra eight inches of movement I did not move the front rollers
hope this is of help

Dick
My email is: lmlamb@windmill-sbs.com

[ec_buss]

I've been thinking about the rear roller movement, and am wondering if we could use a couple steppers (one on each end) controlled by the y axis to move the roller in and out, synchronized with the machine movement, thus keeping it in a constant position relative to the sewing machine. Would have to come up with some kind of tensioner, similar to the spiral spring on some garage doors. Just a thought for consideration. I'm not ready to go there myself yet.

I've posted some pics on the site of my quilter (search buss machine or by my my user name). Used a belt drive for the x and a screw drive for y. Incorporated some quick disconnect methods so the wife can still use manually if she choses to. I'll be happy to share more details if anyone is interested. ec_buss@yahoo.

[lmlamb]

I've been thinking about the rear roller movement, and am wondering if we could use a couple steppers (one on each end) controlled by the y axis to move the roller in and out, synchronized with the machine movement, thus keeping it in a constant position relative to the sewing machine. Would have to come up with some kind of tensioner, similar to the spiral spring on some garage doors. Just a thought for consideration. I'm not ready to go there myself yet.

I've posted some pics on the site of my quilter (search buss machine or by my my user name). Used a belt drive for the x and a screw drive for y. Incorporated some quick disconnect methods so the wife can still use manually if she choses to. I'll be happy to share more details if anyone is interested. ec_buss@yahoo.

Ed, I do believe you are a mind reader I was thinking that same thing. By coordinating the movement and synching the two motors to the Z or maybe A axis. The main issue at this time is designing a mount for the movement, which I have been working on. When I get a design down on paper I'll publish it to the forum for you guys to look at and comment on. I intend to build a mock up to work the bugs out of the design.

[lmlamb]

I've been thinking about the rear roller movement, and am wondering if we could use a couple steppers (one on each end) controlled by the y axis to move the roller in and out, synchronized with the machine movement, thus keeping it in a constant position relative to the sewing machine. Would have to come up with some kind of tensioner, similar to the spiral spring on some garage doors. Just a thought for consideration. I'm not ready to go there myself yet.

I've posted some pics on the site of my quilter (search buss machine or by my my user name). Used a belt drive for the x and a screw drive for y. Incorporated some quick disconnect methods so the wife can still use manually if she choses to. I'll be happy to share more details if anyone is interested. ec_buss@yahoo.

Ed

I took a look at the photos you posted and I must say you have done a bang up job on that screw drive! Very nice. Is that a singer quilter that you are using? It looks like you completely re-built the carriage around the motors and screw drive! What size are the steppers that you have there?

Good work Ed, keep it up!


"Never discuss secrets with the monkey while the organ-grinder is in the room" Winston Churchill.

[trickey]

Hi Larry

I you used the buggy motor only it being 12v dc it would work in clockwise or anti clockwise using relays .therefore if I put the bungy cord to act as a tensioner it not only keeps the quilt in tension it also retracts the rear roller under tension when the motor is in reverse I only needed one motor.
I only used the buggy motor because it had enough toque to hold the rear roller thus I can move the roller ratchet out of gear and rely on the motor to hold.
When not in use my wife can then just lock the rear shaft and the machine is completely back to normal.With the added bonus of rolling the quilt using the electric motor.

Dick