Looking through new windows #114 - Isarn, Thailand

[Regnar]

Al I have never had a failure of a hard drive but I have found it convenient to store all my drawings and NC files into Dropbox. I also have a 32gb thumb-drive that they get backed up to as well and is all automatic as soon as I hit save in Vcarve. Love it because its user friendly and maintenance free after setup.

For the machine have a look at SSD hard-drives. They have been coming down in price the last year or so. Just installed one on my new computer and have one in the machine's PC and well let just say I will not go back. Super fast boots and programs open almost instantly.

[lonestaral]

For all you 'Gear Fans' out there.
I saw this and thought of you.
DXF files and assembly procedure.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Plan...tand/?ALLSTEPS

Also I have turned on my machine control computer every night.
All ok so far.
Some teaching work has come my way so I can only play at the weekends.

[darren salyer]

I saw that. Pretty cool.
If you go to their Kickstarter page, check out the 'Barobot" a cocktail mixing device that looks to use a lot of technology we as MechMaters are familiar with.

Work always seems to come before play here as well.

[racedirector]

Oh I gotta have one of those Barobots! They look cool and full of headaches.... in the morning

[KenC]

Bruce, now you have excuse for some gears

[lonestaral]

Been a bit busy with other things for a while.
An odd shaped piece of Padauk came my way.
Tapered in all planes.
Hard work but I think it will look OK when finished.

[darren salyer]

Looks cool to me.
Great job!!

[lonestaral]

It has been a bit quiet here lately.
Here is a picture of my cockerel.
Modeled on the Courage cockerel.
Just cut it today, not finished yet.

[lonestaral]

Just remembered, the Elephant scene with a finish applied.

[racedirector]

Very impressive Al, well done!

[technogod]

looks really nice. good job.
whats is the actual net cutting size of your machine mate?i am looking to build a machine like yours. because of the limited space i have in the garage.
how you like the machine so far?does the short size axes effect the movements and quality of the machine?

[lonestaral]

Thanks gents.

Technogod, The axis range from 1200mm X, 696mm Y and 187mm Z.

The outer dimensions are 1300 x 1800.
I could not be happier with the machine.
On several occasions there has been power spikes which have turned off the computer.
A restart was necessary. there is no visible line on the workpiece where the cutter has started to cut again.

I rough out at 2200 mm/min, finish at 3200 mm/min.
The only motor that gets hot is the Z. I mounted a 24V computer fan above the motor so now it gets warm.
Bear in mind the ambient air temperature is 30c + most days.

I started the build this time last year.
Glad I built it.
It has paid for itself and given me much pleasure watching it work.

A kind of magic takes place.
To transform a rough sawn piece or timber into something that people want to hang on their wall is magic indeed.

[lonestaral]

It is a long weekend here.
Attached is a drawing for you.

[technogod]

Here in Bakersfield-California temp ranges 37-43 c in summer mostly
in the garage mostly like 50 when there is no fan afternoon like 3 pm
really sucks.
anyway,thank you for the info.i do really like your machine and admire your work out there.keep it up and stay cool my friend.

[KenC]

Nice work!
About the Z-axis heat. Ever tried 1/2 current when the motor stop moving? All my motors are set 1/2 current, the logic is motors generate most heat when not moving.

[lonestaral]

Please explain further Ken.
My knowledge of electronics/ electrics is basic to say the least.

[KenC]

I am too lazy to look up what driver you use

Most motor drivers has a selection switch for holding current. its either full current or half current.
when the motor is in hold position, it heats up more then when it is moving. hence setting the holding current to 1/2 does reduce the heating.

[lonestaral]

Is that the same as 'Dip switch settings' for micro stepping ?

Mine is set for 1/8 step which the paperwork says is 50% current / Decay mode 50%.

[KenC]

Should be that one. have a go, cost nothing to try.

If you already has that set, then you just have to keep the fan blowing... BTW, my z-motor is about 70C, still alive without additional cooling fan.

[lonestaral]

Thank you Ken.
Good to know that I am not a total ignoramus.
I think my Z motor would reach 70c without the fan.

'The answer my friend is (to keep) blowing in the wind'

Keep the fan on. It has performed well.
Hard to believe that a year ago on Saturday just gone, the steel arrived.
Tempus fugit indeed, thank you Virgil.

[lonestaral]

I have been out of the game for the last 10 -12 weeks due to the death of my father.

I powered up my machine today.
No problems, worked perfectly. (Did I expect otherwise)

I got some 1/4 Plywood delivered. Turned out to be 4.5mm.
Poor quality as well. Wont go to that shop again.

Photos of todays output.
Not sure about Santa Ted, he looks stressed.
Also one of a previous carving taken at sunrise this week.

[Gerald D]

Condolences on the passing of your father.

Should be easy to edit Teddy's file to give this effect: https://www.google.com/search?q=smil...w=1355&bih=835

[Alan_c]

Condolences on your Dad's passing.

I like the Elephant carving, what wood is that?

[pblackburn]

A death is never easy at any time, we offer our condolences to you and yours.

[lonestaral]

Thank you all.
The wood is Padauk.
The Mechmate will be in operation again today.

[lonestaral]

After a year of use my 'Cable management system' on the X axis is showing signs of wear.
It has done well.

Time for a replacement.

Spent the day cutting the links, sanding, painting and put it together.
I used that 'Grade A 1/4" Plywood.
Some electrical conduit and some M6 Bolts, nuts and washers.
Reinvented the caterpillar.

Just got to figure out an anchor for both ends.
Hope to install tomorrow and see if it works.

[darren salyer]

It has already been a year???
WOW time flies.
Sounds like you are making your own cable chain?

[lonestaral]

Yes, time flies.
I got #114 in October last year.

Installed the chain today.
There were problems with the chain sagging near the extremes of axis travel.
Had to make an upper support with a radiused front( plastic water pipe).
So a 3 hour job turned into a 7 hour day.
Some small mods and improvements to do.
Just have to see if it works during use.

Also some items that eventually got finished.
All in all a very busy weekend.

[Fox]

I respect the work ethic, and this is not meant to put you down. But I still don't get why people make their own chains which 'kinda work', when you can buy them cheap and get better instant and reliable results. It's not like it's the most expensive part on an mm.
The only reason I can come up with is because you can, which has of course no counter argument.

[Gerald D]

Fox, he is in Thailand, and we have the same problem here in S.Africa; pay 3 times the price of stuff in Europe or America. Okay, you say e-bay? No, e-bay sellers inflate prices for us out in the "wilds". We just have completely different value systems to the "west".