MY HobbyCNCPro Package Step by Step

[diarmaid]

One of my few problems, none of which have been very significant, is related to the header pins.

My components list says I have three (3) of the 2x4 header pins (As shown in the first picture below). Also I have twelve (12) jumper shunts. This is correct.

The instructions tell me to install the header pins and to refer to the 'PCB Connections Drawing' for correct orientation. I don't know what is the right drawing, and couldn't see any referance to header pins on my single included Driver Kit drawing. This could be due to my lack of skill in reading electrical schematics.

Anyway, they dont look to have any distinguishing markings on either end so I just put them in short pins through the PCB and soldered them. I put 4 jumper shunts on the longer pins (2nd Pic Below) of each of the three, because they 'clicked' in place on this side and were loose on the short side. I think the instructions could specify this a bit better, although it may be obvious to someone more experienced. Is this the correct way to do this please someone?

Also, there are four (4) places where the header pin component could fit (3rd Pic Below) and the instructions do not specify which three to put them into so I put them into the three left most places. Is this correct?
Thanks all.

[diarmaid]

Final stages!

I had to install the 6 position terminal blocks facing outwards as shown in the first pic. You can see in the pic the outwards facing by the holes for the wires, and the solid plastic 'rear' side is facing into the board. No biggie, Im a soldering pro at this stage! ...The big blue things by the way.

The two position terminal blocks had to be soldered in, and the three (3) voltage regulators (Black with white tops standing up in the bottom right corner). Shown in pic 2 below. I was confused for a second with one of the two (2) position terminal blocks. It also has to be facing 'outwards' and since it's exactly in the middle I was wondering which 'outwards' it should be facing!! :hehe: Anyway, its printed on the PCB so it wasn't hard to figure out.

The third pic below shows the board after following all 20 instructions. woohoo! I still have to install the driver chips, but can't do that until I test the voltage, which is actually a very straightforward process that I'll cover later. I cant check the voltage until I get the right transformer so thats my next purchase. It might take a week or two in the post so I guess after a flying start I'm delayed for a bit.

[diarmaid]

Ok so, when I got up this morning I had decided I would try and get my head around this kit and did nothing until this evening. Once I actually sat down and started following the instructions it was SOOOOOO EASY. Thats not an exaggeration. Very straightforward and step by step. From post number nineteen (19) above to my previous post (No. 26) showing the finished product thus far took a little under 2 hours. Thats 2hrs with no soldering experience and a lot of worried anticipation in case I screwed up the first stage of my $298 investment (With shipping to Ireland but Excluding tax!). Anyway, it was easy. Im looking forward to the next step. Writing this review is taking longer than putting the kit together!

Im actually glad now that RoHS requirements meant that I couldnt get the 'plug and play' Xylotex kit. This soldering business isn't actually all that hard, just daunting like anything you have'nt done before then realise how simple it is after doing it once. My reasoning is that if I had been able to get the Xylotex kit, then whenever I build future machines I would have looked to get a plug and play operating system, believing that doing this type of soldering thing would add a lot of complexity. But after this I will have much more options in future knowing that I can construct it myself if need be.

I suppose since Im giving such glowing reviews I should give the usual disclaimer!...

I am in no way associated with HobbyCNC or Dave Rigotti. Im just a new customer. Blah Blah...etc etc etc

[HayTay]

Bang up job, so far, diarmaid. You are cookin' right along.

Bummer you have to wait a couple of weeks for a transformer. You must have something in your house that has a 24VDC power supply that you can use to test the circuits so far. It might be worth a quick trip to the local electronics emporium, or second hand store to search for a temporary power supply. I'm using a recycled 35VDC power supply from a scrapped HP DeskJet 1600C to power my machine. It was supposed to be a temporary supply, but it works so good I decided to leave it as is. Just a thought, trying to get you throught the "hurry up and wait" stage(s) of the project.

I'm glad you're actually starting your CNC router after all this time and all of your posts to date. Stick with it!

[diarmaid]

Thanks for the encouragement HayTay. Thats a good idea, I'll look into it during the week.

[toneV8]

Scanning the instructions is a violation of our copyrights. Please do not do this.

Thanks for telling me. I just want to see how instructions look like before buying HobbyCNC Driver Board Kits.

[blfinche]

diarmaid,
Great minds must think alike. I was at the kitchen table soldering my kit together yesterday. It went together without a problem. I thought I had a cable, but it was a null modem cable. I will have to wait until tomorrow to check the operation of the steppers.

Bobby

[diarmaid]

I just want to see how instructions look like before buying HobbyCNC Driver Board Kits.

Tone, I can catagorically state that the instructions are short, clear, precise and to the point. If you have no experience putting this type of thing together then your just like me! And I've had no problems so far.

[diarmaid]

Hi all. Dave and HobbyCNC have e-mailed me a very generous offer to replace my lost capacitor free of charge. I didn't even ask them for this. I actually e-mailed a list of capacitors I can get locally. (Probably none were appropriate, I dont know) Thanks Dave . If the folks in the 'Low Cost Laser Engraver' thread had after sales service like this they'd do much more business!

EDIT:
PS: If anyone can answer my Question.2 in post number 25 it would be much appreciated. Dont want to short or blow anything when I eventually start this up.

[diarmaid]

I bought a laptop transformer that can be adjusted to 24V. It was quite expensive but I can return it once I dont open it. Before I open it can anyone answer this question please:

At 24V it puts out 5Amps. Is this enough amperage to operate my machine in the long run? (Not just to test the PCB) Do I need over 9Amps for the 3 motors?

Thanks for any replies.

[massajamesb]

If you have the 200 ozin motors Dave sells, then that power supply will not be sufficient. I believe those motors are 3 amps/phase. Running more than one motor at once won't work all that well. Shoot for a 10 amp supply. I had a 4.5 amp supply like what comes with a competitors kit, and it would work fine with one motor. I found a 20 amp supply on Ebay for 15 bucks, and it works great.

[diarmaid]

Thanks for the advice massa. I have found a 25VA Transformer on ebay for €12...

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ETE-STEP-DOWN-TRA...QQcmdZViewItem

...which I will buy later this week. I'll return the one mentioned in the previous post that cost a crazy €60!! Hopefully this new one will arrive around the same time as my capacitor and I'll continue with the construction process for everyone and post more pics.

If anyone can confirm the process in 'Question 2' above it'd be great!