Making Progress Huge Control Panel! - New South Wales AUS

[southernduckie]

Hello,

Being a member since September 2009:eek: I have finally made a start on my mechmate:) its looking as it will be a 1850x 3450?x 350 table with 3:1 belt drive reduction with indexer (inspired by Jobus Koubert thank you)and a section at that end where i can over run the table to do end on work, finish date hopefully late 2012.
I digress some of my electronics arrived
Smooth stepper,
PMDX 126
2x PMDX 133
Geckos and motors next, pics to come when i get my file size down:o looking at the manuals shows just how little i really know, building it will be the easy part driving it however?

A bit of background about myself,
I'm 32 and a bit years dumb:p
I grew up in a rural area and can thank my father for my average welding skills.
I'm a licensed Electrician who hates work:D
I recently joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Avionics Tec (still training, explains the lack of funds at the moment)
And (if that's not enough)i have a wife who is 30 weeks pregnant and a 3 year old son who means the world to me:cool: wouldn't change a thing.

[KenC]

Welcome! Great to see another fellow lazy soul taking the dive :)
I would suggest you finish-off the steel fabrication before your 2nd child arrive. It can be taxing on physically & mentally taking care of the new born & the steel construction all at once.
The electronics & electrical works are never physical...

Also, the steel works is the cheapest part of the whole build. Without the rack, its only about 20% of the total cost...

[HomeMadeCnc]

Besides your kids, it the best project you'll ever build. Keep going. . . .

Tim

[domino11]

Welcome Duckie!

[MetalHead]

Welcome !!! Keep us posted on your progress !!!

[Jayson]

Welcome and good luck with the build, although if you read enough here luck will have little to do with a great machine once finished.

[Gerald D]

Jayson! What have you been doing for the last few months?

[revved_up]

I understand completely Duckie, Ive been a member since Jan 2008 and have all the electronics and the laser cut parts still havent started to build, however its looking to be soon.

[aussie_mick]

Welcome Duckie.

So you joined the RAN. Been There done that. 15 years as a Avioincs Tech. Got out 7 years ago. Are you still at Wagga or have you moved to Nowra.

I am in Nowra and have a small CNC machine as well as a laser engraver. Looking to build a MM this year. Also have a guy in Nowra who has built several CNC machines.

If you need any help drop us a line.

Cheers, Michael

[southernduckie]

Hello everyone,
Thank you everyone for your words of support, I'm sure I will ask many questions as this project moves along.....many on the use of mach3....:o

[southernduckie]

I haven't posted for a while so here we go,
Thankyou for the support and encouragement. I have been busy buying more electrical parts, forgot to mention before that i got
1 x PMDX 107 speed controller
1 x PMDX 108 Relay output board
pleased to say i've orderd 5 x motion king 34hs9801 stepper motors will arrive next week and power supply bits are starting to arrive to:D
Im having 2 weeks off soon for the birth of my next child due 4th June but i hope to post pictures of my parts then as they are mounted up on a tempoary board for testing and to get my head arround mach3, can't wait to buy the Gecko 203V's:o
Michael i sent you a PM, hope to catch up and hopefully get some pointers from yourself and your friend if he is willing (im down your way a fair bit for weekends, its only 5 hours from Wagga Wagga:rolleyes:the things i do) I'll move there for work in 12 months when i finish my training when the fun bit hopefully starts.

[Surfcnc]

Hi Duckie

You have made a good start on the electronics, so all the best with your adventure into CNC technology.
Many other Australians are currently building or have built machines, so don't be shy to ask for suppliers of any parts you might find difficult (or expensive!) to source.

Regards
Ross

[southernduckie]

excited:) this is the progress so far,
motors look really well made. the invoice they sent to customs was bogus at ($100 usd for elvaluation) i remember someone (might be Kobus Joubert) had problems with this, if you want some you might need to let the supplier know to include true costs if you order and wish to advoid problems:(.

Now to decide what drivers to use there are big savings to be had by not using Gecko drives?

[KenC]

Wow! your electronics looks so complex.:eek:

[Kobus_Joubert]

Yea, what are all those other little boards for ?

[jasoncarter]

Now to decide what drivers to use there are big savings to be had by not using Gecko drives?

If you were considering non-gecko drives why did you buy 2 of the gecko specific interface boards (pmdx-133)? If you are going to use those boards you will need G201X or G203V drives.

[southernduckie]

Hello,

When i first started this project i read lots on this forum or so i thought :rolleyes: after a sugestion by another member on this forum i have been looking into other drives and the price difference is huge :eek: so the PMDX 133 boards were bought before i got quoted some other drivers and i may end up selling or storing for future use depending on drive choice.

The electronics is not that huge the bob is the big flat board on the bottom, there is a little board stacked on top this is the smooth stepper, there is a vertical board neer the smoothstepper this is the pmdx 107(spindle control) and last is the vertical board on its own is the pmdx108 relay output this control cabnet is being set up for upto 6 axis so all outputs on the bob are assigned to steppers:rolleyes:

I think i am the first to use the PMDX 126? any other uses out there?

[southernduckie]

I've been busy in the last few days and here is the result a new baby in the house:cool: but it means the mm is on hold for a few weeks:( but on a good note after tax time (June-July) my funds are getting a serious boost of money:) so progress will continue.

[smreish]

Congratulations! MM#5 was put on hold for arrival of our #2 baby too! It's good times.

[MetalHead]

Congrats on your new addition !!!

[bolingerbe]

Congratuations..

[zumergido]

another child will have nice toys and stuff tnks to MM...well done..

[Kobus_Joubert]

I've been busy in the last few days .................:rolleyes: he said...
Maybe the last few months...:D
Congrats

Where are you in NSW. My brother-in-law is moving to Leeton from Sydney

[beckj]

Congratulations to you and your wife!!

My last son (No.#4 of 4) just left the nest. The funny part was he got a job running a CNC abrasive water jet at a manufacturing company.

[Gerald D]

Nice family, well done all of you!

[southernduckie]

I've been busy in the last few days .................:rolleyes: he said...
Maybe the last few months...:D
Congrats

Where are you in NSW. My brother-in-law is moving to Leeton from Sydney

Hi Kobus,

leeton is about 1.5 hours west of wagga. Wagga would be the largest town from leeton (probably comes to do the big shopping once a month). Sydney ,I'ive lived there done that:mad:, moved out and happy now:).

[AuS MaDDoG]

Congratulations !!!

Tony.

[aussie_mick]

Duckie

Congrats on the new addition to the household. Let me know next time your down in Nowra so we can meet.

mick

[delco]

Congrats mate , having just ourselves 4 months ago I know how happy you must be feeling at the moment.
I still have a smile from ear to ear 4 months later.

[southernduckie]

Thanks everyone for your kind words,

Mick I will let u know soon.
This baby is my second child i have a son Alex who is 3 at the moment, I must have a bad memory as i thought it was easer than this the first time?

[Red_boards]

Congrats, mate.
My son is 6 months old and a pleasue to be with, hence the delay in commissioning my MM.
In my experience, those first few months when the baby is sleeping a lot is a good time to get on with the MM, because things will really slow down once the baby starts spending time up and about (well they did for me).

[domino11]

Congrats! :) Nothing like the feeling of being a new Dad!

[southernduckie]

hello everyone,
sorry i have disapeared for so long.
The build has taken a serious side step i found out i have a crushed verterbrae T6 i think, 2 bulging disks in my neck (causing pins and needles in my arms) and advanced spinal deteriation(artheritus, bone is beeing rubbed off my vertebrae) anyway it seemes to be under control now a long and painfull time.
I have been ordering more parts , antek power supply and 2 enclosures 600x600x200 for the control cabnet one is going to house the computer.
i am hoping to have the cabnets finished arround April when i have to move again.
Mick I am still hoping to visit soon.

[MetalHead]

Hope your feeling better and glad to have you back with us !!!

[southernduckie]

yea all starting to come good plenty of physiotherapy thankfully no surgery as yet. not looking forward to the table build though lots of lifting might have to invest in a hoist I think I've seen some good solutions around just got to look.

[southernduckie]

After what seems to be an eternity I have made big moves on the MM, heaps of new parts have arrived,
Omron 7.5kW VFD,
Bent steel parts (thanks R Nixon),
V Bearings (thanks Rick@superior bearings)
Electrical enclosure,
5 Gecko's,
Cable and Steel pricing is in progress.
It feel like I'm getting back on track to finishing:D just need to get a move on to get a serial number.

[southernduckie]

Hi everyone reading through my post it looks though i have disappeared but i haven't:o I've been too embarrassed to post pics of my progress so far. I feel as though there is enough now so here goes for an update,
steel is here and cut up,

rails ground (2 dead grinders) I have NO mechanical sympathy for crap then i bought a 1400W 125mm monster can not kill it just goes to show buy right the first time. I can not believe the difference this made to the experience almost gave up on the rails:(

and table is looking good (still got heaps to do, spoil board supports ect.)

have had the steel kit for a while as well as the rest of the electronics
still need to get a spindle and wiring cable chain and racks.

hopefully my next post is sooner rather than later:D

[KenC]

Looks like you are almost over with heavy lifting...:D:D
Almost there... :cool:

[alan254]

whole shop is MM blue*************

Al

[southernduckie]

Hi Alan

The whole shop (my fathers shed) was recently destroyed because someone decided it needed a rear exit for a car, the large tree behind the shed stopped it:D. So all that blue you see is actually new workbenches and rear wall.
The mechmate 9m long main beam went through the front window of the car and out the rear (it was resting on 44 gallon drums) luckily no one was hurt :) looking at the photos it was a close call though the culprit driver was a close family friend car was a complete loss and started a small fire.
At the time my Audi engine was in the garage undergoing a performance engine rebuild parts for it were worth more than the repair bill for the tools and structural repairs:eek:
I am now sure that the MM is Jinxed (probably hates me because im taking too long):o

[southernduckie]

Finished the Gantry today and welded some more bracing into the table base need about 3 feet more steel:o to finish.

some of the photos are pre renovation of the workshop see if you can spot the changes. There is also a photo of myself and my father getting the supplies for the next project:) I like being in the bush it's quiet when the saw is out of fuel:D

[KenC]

That control panel is huge!!! ...drolling...

[southernduckie]

Hi Ken
You like my BIG box I'm hoping to be the biggest around:D Ha Ha. Hope all the stuff fits in there might still have to mount the VFD outside the main box yet. I just cannot get the manufactures recommended clearance around it for cooling.

[KenC]

You can stow your logs in your panel!!! LOL!!!
LOVE IT!!!

The other big box machine (a double panel configuration actually,:cool:) by liaoh75.
http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16071&postcount=45

[southernduckie]

Ken Thanks for the link I have seen that machine before but was unable to find it lately. I love the display/control cabinet Im thinking of doing something similar but a spring balanced adjustable arm (like the old CRT computer monitor arms) coming off a table leg so it can fold away when its not in use.
I think we should start a competition for the largest / best control cabinet (could be a novelty prize say a funny title or something stupid) a few already come to mind that really stand out could be a guide to best practice for the ones just starting out. (pics of mine will be up in a few weeks hopefully, so you can all laugh at me:D)
The size of mine to give you an idea is two cabinets 600x600x250mm to give a total volume of 180 Litres (that sounds small now, might need to add another two cabinets Ha Ha Ha...Not)

[southernduckie]

I went to see the specialist on Friday and Im booked in for surgery on the 23rd January 2013 looking forward to less pain in my future, so i suppose the goal now is to finish the MM before i am layed up unable to use my shoulder for an unknown amount of time.
Plan for my Christmas holidays, install cable chain, finish the Z axis (getting machined at the moment),install the racking, wire everything, paint it and hopefully make it move.

Oh yea forgot to say that cable arrived, cable chain ordered and waiting delivery and rack getting quoted hopefully for a quick delivery. Still have a thousand little things to get done....

[southernduckie]

I think I've got just about everything now the racks and pinions arrived the cable chain is fitted up (sort of) the only things needed are buttons and button boxes, spindle(waiting until machine moves) and paint. oh and lots and lots of bolts, makes me think just how many little jobs there are still to do:(