Buzz's Build Of Joe's Machine

[Buzz9075]

The Z axis tool plate is not presently hocked into mach3... another task I will take on once I get the new machines built. What I do for now.

Due to my router attachment set up I cannot get to my router body so a few additional steps here.

The router body to the cutter will conduct electricty.
The Ground wire that runs from my router to the dust collector now has a circuit to the cutter. So for all intensive purpose, any gound in my house is connected to the cutter (more on this in a moment).
I use an Ohms meter, connect one lead to the ground wire, the other lead to a piece of steel.
Set the Ohms meter to scream when it has a closed circuit.
Lower the router tip (SLOWLY) till it touches the plate (using .001 increments).
When the router screems I am touching the surface of the metal...
Do some math and you know where your router bit is at.


Not being an electronics guy this one is a little bit of a puzzle to me.
Here is what I want to do.
Hock the screeming part to a limit switch on one of my CandCNC board and have mach3 pick up this signal so it knows where the router tip is at.
Only problem is if I take the board and directly connect it to the router, the gound cable or any part of the router I am effectively gounding the switch. I have no clue what this means to me but from my level of knowledge (ignorance with electronics) grounding a circuit is not always desired.... anyways a piece of the puzzle to solve in April when I have the new machine up and running.

To top it all of to ensure I don't get a run away cutter in the future I would also like to put a thin piece of metal under the bed layer and hock it up to a limit switch. This way when the cutter goes through the bed it will cause a limit switch to get hit and not go about cutting up the machine.

Man there is so much to figure out.

[Buzz9075]

ccsparky.

This is an example of how I did it (not sure this is the best way). I cut to the white line, then I cut to the red lines leaving spaces between them will cause the tabs to be created. Different size spaces for different size tabs.

[Buzz9075]

I knew I would find a use for my Wireless Linksys Video Camera (other than for security purposes). Check this out, I have a very long program running (which I tested last night). From my machine upstairs I able to monitor and listen to the machine and control the computer which controlls the CNC router.

Left picture is a web page to the camera and the right pain is a VNC session to the computer that is running the machine.

I have the speed slowed significantly down so that I have a chance to respond while working on other stuff (in case something goes wrong )

Got lots more parts done but to busy to post right now will later tonight. Should be done all the 3/4 plastic parts for both machines today maybe tomorrow at the latest.

Edit... opps the picture did not upload the first time.

[Buzz9075]

Did some tests last night. Cutting the path did a great job at setting the cutter at .18 rather than .1875. Fixed all pockets that where not just a hole (like the .201 and .25 holes). I am happy with that I can redrill the holes. Pockets and paths are now all near perfect (or as perfect as I can expect from this machine). Most cuts are now withing .005. LESSON LEARNED... cut a path and measure the cut size.

[Buzz9075]

I have a small problem when I cut plastic. The plastic come of in strips and winds itself around the cutter. When there is a enough of it and the cutter goes in deep enought to cause all the plastic to bunch up it becomes knotted adn then melts as it rubs against the machining surface which then causes problems with the finish. For now I got a good idea when it is going to happen and I used compressed air to blow the plastic off.

Anyone got a better idea on how to keep the plastic of the cutter.

[Weldtutor]

Originally Posted by Buzz9075 Check this out, I have a very long program running. From my machine upstairs I able to monitor and listen to the machine and control the computer which controlls the CNC router.

Very clever Buzz!

Is the next logical step to start things up in the morning, go to work, & come home to assemble the new machine?

[Buzz9075]

I work from home so loading the machine is basically a break from sitting in front of my computer 7 * 24 . Don't think I would do this on untested tool paths... this time as I have to cut everything twice, I am doing the first run with me their then the rest virtually attending

Next logical step is to put a BRB in my office.

Actually working rather nicely, has not affected my day to day activities and the mic is picking up the noises perfect so I know when the machine is streesing on a cut (about 1 second after it happens). Not to bad.... so far I have been upstairs since 7am and the machine has been running. Only had one reload to put in place so far. Another one goes in this aft.

[joecnc2006]

Originally Posted by Buzz9075 I have a small problem when I cut plastic. The plastic come of in strips and winds itself around the cutter. When there is a enough of it and the cutter goes in deep enought to cause all the plastic to bunch up it becomes knotted adn then melts as it rubs against the machining surface which then causes problems with the finish. For now I got a good idea when it is going to happen and I used compressed air to blow the plastic off. Anyone got a better idea on how to keep the plastic of the cutter.

That happens to me if i do not use peck drilling, instead of drilling all the way through the HDPE, with peck drilling it exspells the chips instead of making long winding strands of HDPE which will bunch up and melt into the top of the stock material. I have not tried adding a air hose to the tool.

Joe

[joecnc2006]

Originally Posted by Buzz9075 I knew I would find a use for my Wireless Linksys Video Camera (other than for security purposes). Check this out, I have a very long program running (which I tested last night). From my machine upstairs I able to monitor and listen to the machine and control the computer which controlls the CNC router. Left picture is a web page to the camera and the right pain is a VNC session to the computer that is running the machine. I have the speed slowed significantly down so that I have a chance to respond while working on other stuff (in case something goes wrong ) Got lots more parts done but to busy to post right now will later tonight. Should be done all the 3/4 plastic parts for both machines today maybe tomorrow at the latest. Edit... opps the picture did not upload the first time.

I use remote desktop also to keep an eye on the machine.

[Buzz9075]

Thanks Joe, I will keep it in mind for drilling cycles. Where I find the problem is when I do pocketing then do drilling. The pocketing stuff leaves all the crap on the cutter. What I have been doing is blowing it off just before I start the drilling cycle (which really is milling small pockets).

Maybe what I need to do is lift the cutter between cutting depths of the holes as I machining then using a 3/16 cutter.

[Buzz9075]

Things are going along well. Parts are coming of the machine faster than I can clean them up.

Question: Any one know how to tie the Xylotex controller to Mach3 such that mach3 will not try and move the machine without the Xylotex controller turned on. I have tried a few times to move the machine with Mach3 and the xylotex controller turned off.... pain to reset the machine (especially if I moved the Z axis). I do have the CandCNC breakout board with the relay break out board as well.

Thanks

[joecnc2006]

I have not used the Xylotex board.

do we get to watch also? just make sure you have shorts on and no undies showing... lol..