'got my Z axis finished...

[slp_prlzys]

...well sort of

The idea came from this site http://www.customgraphicshop.com//cnc/spindle.htm,
owned by rgillam,(thanks Randy).

I'm using exactly the same spindle,
but I had a pulley made so I didn't have to
attached the head sideways like on rgillam's.
I'm also using a round belt from a old sewing machine.
Is there a v-belt at that size? the belt is round and
just seems to be just rubber unlike the original belt
which seems to have some threads in it.

I had a hard time building it, armed only
with a hack saw, and a cheap drill press
(which I have to turn by hand sometime,
especially when using spade bits so as to
avoid excessive noise, I live in an apartment).
If this thing works I hope to convince a friend to move
it to his garage, or build a better one), now that
I found a place to buy metal/aluminum in retail, the
parts I bought from the place is the 1" square aluminum
cost me $10 for 2pcs of 10-7/8, the plate where the spindle is
attached cost me $15 for a 3/8x6x7, the other plate
was given by another friend (it's so nice to have friends
'tho I get laughed at, at times, they can't figure out yet what
I'm trying to do).

The motor is temporarily placed, if I could have it properly
supported I'd prob'ly keep it like that it's sits perfectly
there right now. My plan is to have it at almost the same position,
but using another plate over-hanging from the top of the spindle
where the screws are. O yeah pls. excuse my screws I used cheap
screws on some areas I use what's readily available to me,
I learnt the hard way that I should be using proper screws(I meant the
hardened one) when one of the screw head comes off as I try to tighten it.

This whole setup plus a nema23 stepper weighs 15Kg, so much heavier
than I expected. The spindle seems to have .002 runout maybe more I'm
using a cheap indicator, I'll have to check again, right now I'm starting
to figure out what to do for the X & Y. The thing has no real plans
just being decided what to do on the fly.

To sum it all up, I'm glad about it, given the limited tools and materials.
I could be more dangerous with the right tools


_later_

[2muchstuff]

Stock drive products has small v-belts. https://sdp-si.com/eStore/Direct.asp?CP=Index.htm

You have done a great job with the tools you have at hand. If you put your mind to it, anything can be accomplished

[slp_prlzys]

...almost, just need to couple the motor and the leadscrew,
motor mount was very tricky as I have not foreseen the
actual position of it. I should have raised the rail the leadscrew is
too close to the long plate there's not enough clearance for the
motor to be properly positioned.

Y-axis would take a while need to find materials first.

2muchstuff:

thanks, I'm kind of obsessed with this thing ever since
I became a member at the Zone

I think I really need the new belt, I tried running the spindle
it's sweeeet! but the belt seems to expand and contract
during speed changes.

[daogre]

That's an impressive machine.

Are you working from someone elses plans or drawings?

[2muchstuff]

A Rubber o-ring belt more so than a timing or v-belt will stretch at higher speeds or when a load is applied to it. If the load is great enough the belt will stretch, shudder and eventually fly off.

[slp_prlzys]

yeah, it's a rubber o-ring, it stretch and then suddenly contract
when slowing down, I'm afraid it would fly off.


daogre: No real plan, the idea all came from this ZONE,
the spindle idea specifically came from rgillam's site.
You just have to be creative(didn't know I really have that)


Update: No pic yet, it's done it's only missing coupler for
the motors, I tried some suggestions I got, didn't seem to work.
I'm opting for universal joint like those use in socket wrenches,
hopefully I'll get something moving by the end of the day
tomorrow.

_later_

[slp_prlzys]

took me a while to post pic,
but here it is a succesful cut,
I used turbocnc with it.
I'm not really satisfied with my
settings as I couldn't figure out
the right configuration.

I'm trying EMC2, I have manage to
install EMC2 on a Slackware distribution.
It took me 2 full week to figure out how,
having no previous knowledge of Linux
it's not highly recomended to do it
from scratch. I just happened to have
the Slackware from a magazine that's why I used it
instead of the recommended Ubuntu.
I'm glad I have tried it tho, now I'm
a bit familiar with Linux

I managed to have some motor movement
now, but it's more difficult to configure than TCNC,
as settings are only in the *.ini file, and I haven't
an idea if it could be change on the fly.

that's all for now folks.