G30ff0
Fri 02 April 2010, 19:04
Hello All,
Just introducing myself here, sorry if it is a bit long :)
Jumped on the forum last Thursday (1st mar) & I am very enthused.:D
I currently own/run a sign company in Sydney, Australia, & have been researching the forums over the week end.
The MeckMate I have in mind would have a working/cut area of 3700 x axis & 2100 y axis & 250 Z axis, I was also looking at multiple head/routers. I would also convert to vacuum clamping for the table at some stage but that is not critical.
The majority (65%) of my routing work would be in aluminium composite panel (special order sheet size of 3500x1000) which would require v cutting to a set depth for bending & profile cutting. Secondary machining considerations (of about equal significance) would be for aluminium, acrylic, Polly carbonate, mdf. Lastly the 3rd consideration would be for vinyl cutting which is a cinch.
I have never built a CNC before & I am a total newbie when it comes to electronics’, metal fabrication I am quite well versed in having built pylon signs & frames for years.
Through out my career before starting my own shop I had the privilege/pain to operate 3 multicams & 1 mat cam? Routers with cutting bed sizes 8x4 to 8x6. All were single head machines & the last time I played was 4 or so years ago.
I have a couple of questions at this stage which I will put below here & would appreciate it if anyone could help/give me the link to the appropriate section of the forum for answers
• My thoughts on the y axis of 2100 is to run 1 program on 1 side of the table while I unload/load the other side, this is not critical & if recommended I can reduce it to 1900 or smaller. Is It worth while beefing up the main gantry beams? (Floor space I have available for the Mech Mate is 4500x8500, this area to is to stand, operate & load/unload etc)
• With the multiple heads I was going to have them on the same Gantry, as I don’t need them to operate simultaneously could I have them on the same y car? (I want two spindles as opposed to an auto cutter changing set up which I think is more reliable & cheaper from experience, only one spindle will operate at 1 time)
• Having 2 spindles does that then mean I need a 4th axis (z1 & z2) or is each head assigned to plunge in a set sequence during programming?
With respect to the kitchen table project for which I am ordering parts for, this week.
• I will need 1 extra stepping motor for additional x axis, & a 2nd additional stepping motor for second y car (if I cant run 2 spindles off the same car) I was sticking with recommendations of PK296A2A-SG7.2, would these be up to the job of moving the larger gantry?
• With the power source I am a little confused, I think I will need to vary it to accommodate additional stepper motors, how/where is the posts to help me work this out?
• I know I need 2 BOB’s, PMDX-122, for additional outputs. I am unsure if I need an additional driver (gecko G203v is what I had in mind) Any thing I have missed?
• Previously when I operated routers I used the supplied software, from what I can gather I need an operations program such as mach 3, a path setting program such as enroute, or are these programs a cross over/do the same thing. I assume that just mach 3 or similar is required to get the drivers etc functioning on the kitchen bench top program?
Lastly the link to Rick in Australia who has previously supplied laser cut kits was broken, any one be able to put me in touch/supply the link?
Thanks in advance guys
Just introducing myself here, sorry if it is a bit long :)
Jumped on the forum last Thursday (1st mar) & I am very enthused.:D
I currently own/run a sign company in Sydney, Australia, & have been researching the forums over the week end.
The MeckMate I have in mind would have a working/cut area of 3700 x axis & 2100 y axis & 250 Z axis, I was also looking at multiple head/routers. I would also convert to vacuum clamping for the table at some stage but that is not critical.
The majority (65%) of my routing work would be in aluminium composite panel (special order sheet size of 3500x1000) which would require v cutting to a set depth for bending & profile cutting. Secondary machining considerations (of about equal significance) would be for aluminium, acrylic, Polly carbonate, mdf. Lastly the 3rd consideration would be for vinyl cutting which is a cinch.
I have never built a CNC before & I am a total newbie when it comes to electronics’, metal fabrication I am quite well versed in having built pylon signs & frames for years.
Through out my career before starting my own shop I had the privilege/pain to operate 3 multicams & 1 mat cam? Routers with cutting bed sizes 8x4 to 8x6. All were single head machines & the last time I played was 4 or so years ago.
I have a couple of questions at this stage which I will put below here & would appreciate it if anyone could help/give me the link to the appropriate section of the forum for answers
• My thoughts on the y axis of 2100 is to run 1 program on 1 side of the table while I unload/load the other side, this is not critical & if recommended I can reduce it to 1900 or smaller. Is It worth while beefing up the main gantry beams? (Floor space I have available for the Mech Mate is 4500x8500, this area to is to stand, operate & load/unload etc)
• With the multiple heads I was going to have them on the same Gantry, as I don’t need them to operate simultaneously could I have them on the same y car? (I want two spindles as opposed to an auto cutter changing set up which I think is more reliable & cheaper from experience, only one spindle will operate at 1 time)
• Having 2 spindles does that then mean I need a 4th axis (z1 & z2) or is each head assigned to plunge in a set sequence during programming?
With respect to the kitchen table project for which I am ordering parts for, this week.
• I will need 1 extra stepping motor for additional x axis, & a 2nd additional stepping motor for second y car (if I cant run 2 spindles off the same car) I was sticking with recommendations of PK296A2A-SG7.2, would these be up to the job of moving the larger gantry?
• With the power source I am a little confused, I think I will need to vary it to accommodate additional stepper motors, how/where is the posts to help me work this out?
• I know I need 2 BOB’s, PMDX-122, for additional outputs. I am unsure if I need an additional driver (gecko G203v is what I had in mind) Any thing I have missed?
• Previously when I operated routers I used the supplied software, from what I can gather I need an operations program such as mach 3, a path setting program such as enroute, or are these programs a cross over/do the same thing. I assume that just mach 3 or similar is required to get the drivers etc functioning on the kitchen bench top program?
Lastly the link to Rick in Australia who has previously supplied laser cut kits was broken, any one be able to put me in touch/supply the link?
Thanks in advance guys