I'm working on a new MM quietly in the corner #5 - Orlando. FL

[Gerald D]

I meant the nice geometric aspect of the tartan.

Right, tea-break is over.....get back to work!

[sailfl]

Gerald,

Which tartan is Ford Blue?

[Gerald D]

The icy cold one

[revved_up]

Hmmm maybe we need a MechMate coat of arms also

[smreish]

lol, I knew I would start something

[revved_up]

Sean, the contactor that you are using for your dust collection and router is that a 25amp feeding both? I was thinking of doing something similar with the contactor feeding an electrical outlet mounted to the outside of the case and have the router and dust collector plugged in to it as the dust collector will not be dedicated to the MM and will used elsewhere when the MM is not in use. I was looking at the contactor cn-25r-f6 at factorymation.

[smreish]

Craig
I am feeding my box 25a/220, thus I have easily 20amp/120v "available" for each switched circuit. The dust collector and router both have secondary breakers post contactor to limit consumption beyond rating in case of failure or surge/short. I am using a cn25 contactor. Thus,i am switching 2 hots and 1 nuetral. Did that help?
If for some reason I need to just use a "dry contact", I have made allowances to easily change the contactor from "feeding" to truly just switching.

[revved_up]

yes I see the mains feeding to both sides through the disconnect then one side going to each contactor, but is the contactor to the left that you are using for the router/d.c. wired into the E-stop on the schematic it looks like only the one on the right is wired to the E-stop loop.

[smreish]

the contactor on the left is fed from the relay on the pmdx. Thus the estop condition on it is controlled by the pmdx but run thru the main estop contactor. This way, electrically either system will cause an estop for any reason the bob logic fails during a estop(my hand is in themachine) type of condition. I added this little extra routing. I added an extra set of contacts to the main estop contactor after photos were posted. It really is just a series connection thru a NO contact. Does this answer or explain what you are looking for?

[revved_up]

I think so, I just ordered a bunch of stuff from McMaster,Factorymation,automationdirect so in about a week I will probably have a bunch more questions Thanks.

[smreish]

News Flash.
New product I have NEVER cut on the table before just arrived. I ordered 20 sheets...we will see how it does.
I even ordered fancy schmancy bits to cut all of it.
The product.
3/4" cabinet grade birch
laminated 1 or 2 sides with various types of High pressure plastic laminate. This way, my cabinets are prefinished on all of the interior surfaces. Tonight should be fun

[Gerald D]

"Compression" schmancy bits?

[smreish]

You betcha! Compression spiral 1/4" 7/8 CL, 2.25 OAL
I also order solid carbide, straight cut, 2 flute *onsrud* plastic cutting bits as well. Just in case.
It's all about the testing

[smreish]

Gerald.
Those fancy schmancy compression bits and 20 sheets of laminated core plywood are NO match for the MechMate. I flew through 20 sheets in 4 hours this morning.
Stats:
1/4" compression spiral and 1/4" carbide, 2 flute straight cut bits.
- both performed equally well.
- better cut edge with 2 flute
- better chips with compression.
- avg speed 180ipm with 2 passes .30 inch/pass

I will be cutting 3/8" polycarbonate, 1/4" acrylic tomorrow ( well, in about 5 hours

[Gerald D]

Surely the compression cutter only works for one full depth pass? From what I read of the regular compression cutter users, they rarely cut material thicknesses more than 2X cutter diameters thick. ie. a 3/8" cutter for 3/4" material.

[Marc Shlaes]

Sean,

Can you give me the trade name for that laminate covered birch core ply? I would like to see if I can get that locally here in Cleveland.

Thx!

[smreish]

I buy from Quality Plywood Specialties. It doesn't have a trade name.

Essentially, this is an in-house product that they do for customers.
All they are doing is "laying up" cabinet liner (VT grade plastic laminate) on a sandiply core. 1 side or 2 side. In a very large press and roller machine for a very uniform glue up. Something I don't have inhouse.

They just are set up for it and reduce my labor on each piece by about 2 hours per sheet. Thus a HUGE savings.
Call your local ply supplier and see if they have this service.

If not, you can buy versions of the material "preglued" from TCH hardware in Buffalo.
Sean

[smreish]

Okay,
The forum's been a little stale with pictures the past couple of weeks. So, I thought I would cheer up Gerald with some "dusty" photos!
working hard for the money2.jpg

working hard for the money.jpg

[Gerald D]

Beeeyooootiiiiifuuuullll
:

[smreish]

Hey....2 brownie points for anyone that can name the 10 parts being cut on the left side of the bottom photo.

[Leko]

OOOh OOh OOh I Know! I Know!

[J.R. Hatcher]

push sticks?

[smreish]

Leko and JR win the prize. Push sticks for the boys in the shop!
For your reward, please go to the head of the class and please hand sand all the edges of the parts coming off the table.

[Hugo Carradini]

You sure are a proud owner of a MECHMATE beast. Nice post .

[cncb]

See sean, now all you need is a vacuum table, line bore head and you will be set.

[smreish]

Vacuum table parts all sitting in the corner with the dust collection. I just have to have a slow week so I can get it all moved to the other building.
Line bore head....most likely I will add a pneumatic drill motor for pointing.

Thanks for reminding me about all the things I have to finish!

[funkalicious]

Sean, looks great what is your main business?

[smreish]

Andy of the the Green Mountains.
Theater, Museums and Themed stuff...and a little General Contracting thrown in for good measure. The GC part lets me follow the rules and get permitting with ease.
Burlington...I love that MicroBrew place in town across from campus where you can buy 80 beers and take a trip "around the world in 80 brews".....New Albans was a normal stop for me years ago.

[funkalicious]

Sean,
If you meanthe vermont brew pup across from the old Ben and Jerrys original garage which is now a parkinglot. Yeah the beer is good . My brother built the bar and his buddy welded up the old milk tanks that are now the brewery.
The new Albans of which you speak must be St Albans ? Life is good up here except winter feels like it won't end.

Will you be lasering any parts in the near future?

[smreish]

Yes, Lasering parts in the VERY near future. Hopefully next week.
But I will say, the Alabama connection is a great price! I can't beat it. I am closer to 400 (estimated) for all done here in orlando plus shipping. My laser/fabricator has had some challenges getting the new Mitsubishi laser to work consistently lately. Thus, I have been in a delay until they felt comfortable to run parts as an outsource and not for internal use only.