Had a good day on the girl today! #45 - Melbourne, Aus

[rnixon]

This site is extremely addictive - almost needs a health warning:)
I have just ordered some laser cut parts - if anyone is interested they will cost $410 ex Melb, inc bending and skates for grinding the rails. Motor brackets for universal motors. Let me know if you are interested - about 10 days away.

[Gerald D]

Welcome Rick. Suddenly the Aussies are warming to the MechMate . . . . . :)

[domino11]

Welcome Rick,
The Aussies are really moving now! There soon will not be a country left that does not have a MM build! :)

[rnixon]

Just been sorting out some space to build the MM. Had to extend the mezzanine at my factory - it seems that you never have enough space.
Looking at 2450x1850 cutting area, mainly for nested based maching of cabinet parts. Also centreboards for a Cobra Catamaran (another area that I have an interest in).
Getting started is the hard part - when I read that you need to print 2 copies of the PDF's it all started to make sense.
The spec's I'm looking at are:
steel work - basically following dwgs
motors - OM PK296A2A-SG7.2
BOB - PMDX 122
Geckos G203V
Transformer - hard bit - still working on that:)
Picked up the laser cut parts yesterday - makes you appreciate Gerald's dwgs when things fit so well.
regards

[Jayson]

Looking forward to your build Rick.
Good to see another Australian join the group.

Jayson.

[MattyZee]

I must have missed your first post. Great to see more Australians starting to build! You got a super price for your laser cut parts.
If you need any help with the transformers, just yell out.

Make sure you post lots of pics too!

[stan stuart]

Hi Rick
I received my laser parts yesterday thank you. Haven't had a chance to look at them yet work is getting in the way. I also recieved my rails and wheels from YITONG yestarday as well. Took a quick look at them and they look great and they packed them in PVC pipe so they wouldn't get damaged in transit.

Stan

[chrisd7306]

Hello Rick,
Where are you getting your parts laser cut? I am in Melbourne and have got some quotes in Heidlberg for $1050 + GST which is considerably more than your $410. I have all the electronics/motors/controllers from local suppliers,wheels and adjusters from Superior Bearings in USA. I have just finished cutting the rails and starting to weld the table this weekend. Where are you based in Victoria?

Cheers
Chris

[AuS MaDDoG]

Hi,

I am up for a set of laser cut parts also, I have seen the quality of skippy's (Pauls) parts and they look great, so if anyone else is in, please let me know.

Cheers
Tony.

[rnixon]

Tony,
Just about to place an order for more laser parts.
Looking at a modified skate design - requested by Chris - so will let you know when I have details.
Cost still at $410 ex Melb
regards,
Rick

[AuS MaDDoG]

Thanks Rick,

Count me in for the complete Kit Rick.
I'm in Brisbane so would need to include freight also. Let me know whats what with regards to payment and when.
Much appreciated!!

Cheers
Tony.

[NixonJr]

Hey dad,
I have now made an account! I think we should put some photos of ours up soon!

Rob.

[MattyZee]

I agree with your son!

[jhiggins7]

Rob,

Welcome to the Forum!:)

Rick & Rob,

Sounds like a Father-Son build. Wonderful!:)

[Kobus_Joubert]

How far is Adelaide and Vic from each other....will it be 2 seperate builds ?

[Gerald D]

Hey dad,
I have now made an account!. . .

When a son tells his father that, it normally means "send some money"!

Welcome!

[Doug_Ford]

Rick,

If you get conned into bankrolling this operation, at least make Rob do the heavy lifting.:)

[Greolt]

How far is Adelaide and Vic from each other....

Melbourne and Adelaide, the two closest together capital cities...about 730km or 450 mile

Greg

[Appimate]

Hello Greg

Without being a pendant, what about Sydney to Canberra - about 288Km

Ed

[MattyZee]

you mean pedant? unless you are a hanging object?....

[Gerald D]

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_capital_cities :

"While Canberra is the capital of Australia, it is not the capital of the ACT in any official sense;"

[Greolt]

Hello Greg

Without being a pendant, what about Sydney to Canberra - about 288Km

Ed

Yeah fair enough. Wasn't thinking about Canberra. Just the places where the real people live. :)

[Appimate]

Hello Gerald


Have a look here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Capital_Territory Canberra was given self government in 1978 ( I think ).

I guess I was to bright at being a pendant instead of pedant 8-)))

Ed

[Gerald D]

"For the Queen, the Law and the People" - Is that Priscilla? :D

[MattyZee]

I think the Melbourne-Adelaide thing is moot anyway, both Rob and Rick live in Victoria (assume Melbourne?) I'm the one in Adelaide.
Gerald, you may also want to move all this nonMechMate talk into the catchall so Rob & Rick can have their thread back from being hijacked......

[Gerald D]

Rob & Rick got us all gathered here when they gave us a scent that some pictures were coming. The crowd is getting restless and starting to chat . . . . :)

[NixonJr]

An update of our work! Have started the kitchen table project - still awaiting stepper motors. Most steel is cut for the table!

This is our control box -
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Work so far of the control box -
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- Capacitors 2x 10 000uF 100Volt.
- Transformer 300VA (25V+25V output) + Rectifier
- PDMX 122
- Geckos G203V
- Also on the Dim Rail is a 12VDC transformer (two outputs) and a contactor!
- Have included an RCD for safety. Dim rail is not mounted yet as still waiting on some switches to come to work out the layout :)

Rob.

[rnixon]

Update on the father and son build in Melb.
Started with some laser bits, electrical box, and a lot of bits.
Rob (NixonJr) came to the rescue and has built the control box - apparently easy for a 2nd year apprentice electrician:)5640
5641
5642
Have done some welding and cutting.5643
Also the motors have arrived.5645
Now just have to cleare a spot for the MM.
This is the future home.5644Just need Rob to sell his boat:)
regards,
Rick

[Jayson]

So far so good. It will be cutting in no time.

[NixonJr]

An update for you guys!
Photos were taken on my mobile sorry for the low quality!

Father has been busy cuting and welding:
5911

I have built a new computer for the mechmate, Almost finished the control box, and have gotten the motors turning!
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5913 5914
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[Gerald D]

Good to hear from you! Those turning motors sure are a happy moment . . :)

[jhiggins7]

Looking good. Love seeing those Logo's.:D You'll be cutting soon!:)

[Alan_c]

Well done, its great to get those motors turning for the first time!

[Besser]

I was down there yesterday and have to say a "MechMate has presence". I could see the passion in Rick's eyes to be cutting boards asap! Rob you did a top job on the wire up, a neat job is a sign of a professional.

Cant wait to see those dagger boards surface contoured! I think Gerald will badging a couple of OZI MM soon.

[domino11]

Rob,
Things are really looking good.

[conceptz]

Tony,
Just about to place an order for more laser parts.
Looking at a modified skate design - requested by Chris - so will let you know when I have details.
Cost still at $410 ex Melb
regards,
Rick Hi i am interested in getting my mechmate parts laser cut and would like to know if you can still get them done for this price if so i would like to organize to get some thank you ,, I am very impressed with your build it is coming together really nice ,,, bet you are getting exited about making chips soon :) cheers Troy

[NixonJr]

Some updates!
We have been very busy, and it was about time we started to assemble this thing!
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[Besser]

Aww that's cool!

20Qu's

Where is the boat?
How long did the rails take to cut down with the saw?
How did you clamp the rails to cut them?
That orange cable on the spindle, what brand is it?
Looks like Blue overspray on the floor but no grey, did you undercoat first? (am I going blind?)
Did you get the nesting program and whats it called?
Whats next?

[NixonJr]

The boat has been moved to home, we sold one of the boats so we now only have 3!
The orange cable came with the spindle, it goes from the box on the wall to the spindle.
we undercoated with a brush first then sprayed blue :)
yes there is a bit of overspray!

dad can answer the rest, I have no idea how he did the rails. :)

[rnixon]

It is a problem when work gets in the way:)
Since our last update, Rob & I have sailed in National Titles in Victor Harbor, South Australia - after Christmas - but that's another storey.
Since then we have been hard at it - and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Some pics of our progress.
8199

8200
It feels like it comes alive when you give it a brand:D

8201
Just need to complete the wiring, and sort out the spindle.

[AuS MaDDoG]

One Word!! Awesome!!

Cheers
Tony.

[Claudiu]

must be making dust soon...go for it. :)

[rnixon]

We have been working a few hours at night this week - finally have "movement at the station".
After a false start - gantry jumped off the rails - another story:eek:
Sorted that out - mechanical - and connected the spindle, we have dust.
Only gently - but it is cutting - at last:)
Still a couple of things to finish - spoilboard etc, but well on the way.
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8249

8250
I feel that the real learning will now begin. The "Mechmate process" is a great system of extending oneself - learning to read plans, weld, spray paint, weld again, re-do bits that you didn't read the plans correctly, ............
Thanks again Gerald for freely giving of you're intellect and time.
For the record - I have a beard :)

[MattyZee]

Congrats Rick! Have fun playing! :)

[Gerald D]

Well done Rick!

[KenC]

Great job! I bet the saw dust never smell better.

[Robert M]

Another happy dust maker….Congrad Ken…
Enjoy ;)

[Kobus_Joubert]

Well done and many happy miles riding that spindle up and down the road.

[aniljangra]

Great Job Rick, Not been on forum recently, Nice to see another member to the completed family :)

This weekend I am also giving final touches to mine :)

[myozman]

Welcome to the Club...Great Job.

Mike

[domino11]

Looking Good Rick! Congrats. :)

[Claudiu]

Great looking machine. Well done!:)

[Castone]

Great job , Nice build

[sailfl]

Rick,

Congratulations on #45.

[AuS MaDDoG]

Congrats!! good to see it all finished and cutting!!
Well Done!!

Cheers
Tony.

[Rad Racer]

That's a good looking machine Rick, Nicely done!

[jhiggins7]

Rick & Rob,

Congratulations to both of you on a great looking machine and Serial #45!:)
The Updated Builder's Log is here (http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AttqjIPMBEXKcExveGc4d3U0V25zQmMyX1U1eUVhU Xc&hl=en).

Please review your entry and let me know any changes you would like.

[NixonJr]

ALRIGHT GUYS!
its time to get this bad girl working 100%

We have been having some problems with holding the board down while cutting,
So were going to make a vac hold down system as well as some other cool mods :)

Our List To Do,
- Finish Pause / Resume buttons.
- Wire a Z-Height Setter.
- Vac Hold down.

This is the Z-Height Setter (http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,17766.0.html) we have ordered.

[gmcclure]

Rob,

Its a nice probe, well made. Purchased two of them

Graeme

[NixonJr]

Hey Graeme,
How did you wire them?
I'm not sure if i should try it with a 12V power supply that i already have to add another transformer and use 5V instead.

[gmcclure]

Rob,

off the supply rail for the proximity switches 24v.

Graeme

[gmcclure]

via a circuit board designed to interface pmdx contacts and also allows for touch plates

[NixonJr]

Alright Guys,
had a good day on the girl today!
Have been thinking about her alot and we are going to add some more mods onto her.

Graeme,
I went and put a 5V transformer in, This way i can also wire a laser pointer in as well :)


11784
Started off with a work bench!

11783
Wired in another transformer - 5V,
This will power the probe and a laser pointer! :D
Also wired the push buttons (pause and resume into BOB)

11782
And we have started the vacuum table!

[HomeMadeCnc]

Nice Job! I'll be working on a vacuum table soon as well.