Fast progress on Control Box and Base Table - Vic AU
 

Hi all.
Been lurking for a while , and started serious construction about 6 weeks or so ago.
So far :
Kitchen table project to get motors turning .... tick
Started transferring wiring to control box.....
Base table made and undercoated..... tick 2750 x 1220 cutting size
Gantry built ( laser cutting from rnixon )... tick
Y car built ........... tick
Started on rails today , cut down to height ready for next stage.

Using Antec power supply
Pmdx122
Gecko 203v
PK296A2A-SG7.2
Chinese spindle

Got the module 1 metric racks and 36 tooth pinions on the way.
Got most of my cable ( found a good supplier in melbourne who is happy to supply by the metre ).


The group collective might be able to help with the following -
Would there be any issue mounting the VFD inside the control box ?
I have plenty of room in my control box ( An Aussie spec household meter box).

I will post a few pictures in the next few days.
Thanks to everyone for setting up and contributing to this forum, it is a mine of info .Have enjoyed digging for numerous answers to many questions.

Andrew

Your VFD manual will give you the mounting specifications. Usually they say something like 100mm clearance on the sides and 250mm clearance top and bottom in free air (forgive my lousy metric estimating, I was raised imperial). Since you're going to enclose it, you'll need to provide the equivalent, probably by using fan(s). Don't forget to use a filter and positive pressure, since it will be a dusty environment.

As promised a few pictures

Base table
On castors at present ( adjustable feet removed ) .
Gantry sitting on top ( powdercoated black finish )
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3857.jpg

V rails ground to height
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3855.jpg

First of the V rails ground to V . Very happy ( was worried about doing these )
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3862.jpg
Car in black powdercoat
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3864.jpg
Miscellaneous parts
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3866.jpg
Control box underway
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3871.jpg

Look great !!

I wouldn't put that Chinese vfd in your control box, it will cause no end of problems, I have basically the same setup except for motors and had problems with the vfd from 10 ft. away.

Thanks ,

That answers a bit more directly the question I asked in my first post.
I will mount it elsewhere .


Andrew

You could always start with it out of your box, then migrate it into the box later as you get things up and running well. EMF from those VFD's can be a bit of a challenge to troubleshoot.

Great work on the table!!:) Looks just like the ones I built, and brings back so many memories when I was building ours.
Good progress keep posting.

Cheers
Tony.

Some more progess to report
 

Some more progress on the table.
It is now painted BLUE !.

Got the rails finished and shimmed and bolted up. Used the stretched wire technique to get them straight, and an aluminium extrusion for levelling.
Used some old shims of my panel saw scriber blade for any packing required.
Amazed at how easily and smoothly it all rolls.

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3882.jpg

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_3879.jpg

Next up , make and the stops , Find some time to start feeding wires.
I have finished grinding the Z slide , need to make the stiffener and mount the spindle.

Very distracting from doing real work ( but I am using the excuse to myself that it will helpe make money when finished ).

More soon

Good job and I can immediately see where you have drawn your inspiration.
One more vote for not having the VFD in the control box.

regards
Ross

It Moves / It Spins / It CUTS !!!!!!
 

Well after my issues with the first computer, I was quite enthused when the swap to another computer had the machine running as expected.
Today I went into work and got the cooling sorted for the spindle, and CUT something.
Still got some wiring for the VFD / spindle to do ( shield wire termination etc. ) so I am getting some interferance and an occasional e stop, but other than that I am almost ready to put this puppy to work.
Will get the baseboard on during the week. Need to organise some extraction as well .
A friend of mine may even donate a vacumm pump for hold down , but that will have to wait a while.

Video link below for proof of cutting, the clip ends with a bit of an anticlimax as an e-stop occurs . Oh well if it was too easy what would be the challenge !

http://s982.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=100_3896.mp4

Cut file was something a wacked together in VCarvePro.
Lots more to learn.

More updates soon
Andrew

Sweet - Paint and Dust - Let's see some logos !!! Great job.

Hey Rival,

Great work! looking neat and you're making dust! What's the plan for this baby?

Whats with the Zero table boards?

No Table boards yet.
Hoping I will get a delivery this week.

I have a number of intended uses.

My main income earner is custom made furniture , so that is going to be its main use, doing anything which is repeatable . Faster than by hand .

I am a one man shop most of the time so I see the mechmate as a second pair of hands that can be doing stuff while I am doing other stuff.

I have a few plastic cutting jobs lined up , as well as a piece of 3d artwork that a reasonably well known artist want to experiment with.

WATCH THIS SPACE !!

Thanks Andrew

Welcome！
Don't meant to burst your bubble, but leaving the machine to run on its own is really a bad idea. There are just way too many potential hazards waiting to happen ... Such as fire & runaway robot...
The machine is not an extra pair of hands, just an obedient & reliable pair of hands.

Ken.


Well I did not mean literally, My shop is not that big. Only seconds away from the machine.
No bubble burst , Any bit of machinery deserves respect in terms of its danger.
Being a one man shop , i have learned to be pretty cautious in terms of shop hazards.

Talking of runaway robots, did my first OOPs today started running code without turning the spindle on. 90 degree V bits engrave mdf at 6mm deep amazingly well without spinning !

Andrew

Andrew done that too as well as a host of other things far to embarrassing to detail, haha.

Assuming you are using the machine indoors, ensure you have a smoke detector in the path of typical airstream over your table.
Cheap insurance and a good idea for anyone who is using the machines in garages / workshops / sheds that are not typically fitted with smoke detectors (at least here in Australia they arn't).

Regards
Ross

PS I was a bit disappointed I did not get your call re the secret artwork, then I relalised you wanted a real artist not a BS artist :)