kobus,

Looking very good. I also like the blue top table....

Mooi man, baaie mooi...

I also bought my decals friday, and gave second coat to the gantry, Y-car and Control box this morning, no pics at this point but we seem to be level pegging, time for this Stormer to up his game, can't have a Shark/Lion taking the lead...:D

Interesting note on the cost of the vinyl cut letters, The first quote for 5 "MechMates" in three different sizes came in at R250.00 (I supplied complete artwork, all they had to do was cut!), An hour later the second quote came in at R150.00 (getting better) and just before closing the last one came in at R75.00, on confirmation, the job was ready 15 min later - and all these shops were within a 2Km radius of each other. I'd be interested to know what you paid for yours up there?

Hi Alan, this Shark is way behind you. The way I do this project....beg borrow and steal....I do the bits as I get them. I have the gantry and car, that is about it. I am waiting for my table beams...yes also from a friend of a friend of a friend at a good price. My kitchen project has not even started yet...but I will get there.

About the decals...well one good thing to owning your own vinyl cutter, I don't have to be screwed on that side. The amount of vinyl used on my machine was no more than R 6.00. Yes six South African Rand.

Alan what did it cost you to bring the wheels into South Africa. Did they just put them into the post ? I think I have to go that route because I got a quote from some engineering firm to make me 14 pieces, but for that price I can go to Adendorf ... www.tooltime.co.za and buy myself a lathe and do the job myself.

Hi Kobus

If I remember correctly, I paid about R1800 including postage for 14 rollers and 6 cams - about the same price I was quoted to just turn the tyres here in CT. I should have got 4 extra cams as I cant start assembling yet - 4 of my cams are still on the skate and I havent done the x-rails yet so I dont want to take it apart.

Superior bearings is a pleasure to deal with, and their stuff is good quality.

Hi KOBUS & Alan

Quite interesting what things cost I got a quote for cnc cutting in George and the price for cutting only was R 1816 and no bending and some parts were missing total cost at the end of the day was R 2 400,00.

I am also taking longer than expected as I am still trying to decide on what motors I will be using and also where the closest suppliers are for most of my electrical supplies. I would probably end up taking a long weekend to Cape Town and get it from there.

Most of my steel has been cut and are ready to be welded (will start posting pic`s soon).I am also trying to get most of the parts together first but the more i see your MM the sooner i would like to sart,also most of of my parts have been supplied by cnc direct.(bob,transformers,reduction gears and belts and pinion gears) prices are not that bad.

Your parts look beautiful too Kobus. Hang in there.

Nice work Kobus !!

Your logo's are looking good.

Hallo Hennie, are you using the steppers from CNC direct also?

Hi Kobus

Still Deciding On Size As Most Of My Parts Are From Them I Am Looking At Using The 34hsx308 Stepper.if I Use Them I Need To Use Two Integrated Power Supplies Also Trying To Find A Reason Why.

Will You Use The Bob From Them ?

Don't know yet still waiting for Jan to get back to me regarding the USA order.

Also Try RSSOUTHAFRICA.COM or visit them they are in KYALAMI MIDRAND they stock some interresting parts.

IS ANYONE OF OUR LOCAL BUILDERS USING THE BOB FROM CNC DIRECT ?

RS South Africa WILL induce cardiac arrest on sight of their prices!!!, sure they have almost everything in one place but a little shopping around or direct sourcing on the web will find the same or similar item for a lot less.

I have a CNC Direct BOB at home, have not tried it yet but their build quality is impressive, and its very compact.

Alan , you are not using it for your machine or is it for another build

I must say that I agree with you about the quality I got one also but most of the other builders are using other bobs .I still need to figure out how to wire it.It does look simple but still don`t have the courage and all the parts to do the kitchen table project.

I have a Bob Cambell board for this machine, the CNC direct board will go into the next one.

Take it slow and ask questions if you are not sure.

THANKS WILL DO

My problem is to get all the parts together as it is always nice to start and finish with one go, it doesn`t always happen like that but it is a nice idea.

Alan, Is there something you’re not pleased with the Cambell board ?
Why the CNC direct for the next one ?. I’d really appreciate more in depth I’m sure other too would like to know !
Robert

Nothing wrong with the Cambell board - I haven't run enough yet to test it out properly anyway, but the CNC Direct board is designed and built locally and I would want to test it to see how it compares, and with the current exchange rates it's better to keep the money in the country - we have a saying "Local is Lekker" meaning nice and the idea is to support local manufacturers where possible.

Thanks Alan for the clarification.
Also quite nice to know some others still support basic GOOD values ( a rare one in this day & age). Producing make me more prone to those!
Take care, Robert

Geckodrives
 

Hi Kobus,

Drop me a line and I can probably sort you out for some Geckodrives.

Regards,
Greg
;)

www.cncdirect.co.za

Wow what a surprise. I contacted Belli thinking he can give me a good price on some Geckos, but that was not it...he gave me 4 x G202 Gecko's for FREE...some old stock he said and as he only stock G203 these are lying around.
I then bought a transformer from him and the Mach3 BOB as well. I will buy some G203's at a later stage.

Now waiting for my wheels from Rick and the steppers from China to arrive.

I must have been a good boy's scout helping little old ladies across the street, because this is not where it ended. My brother in law's son is a draughtman and have contacts in the steel industry. On Wednesday he contacted me telling me to come and pick up my main beams and cross supports...also for FREE. So this weekend the table was assembled. Not completed yet, but standing.

On the picture my little pension eater...yea the little one born 11 years after my eldest son is getting a feel of the new table....incase the BIG Boss of the house tells us to get out and sleep with MECH MATE

Attachment 1485

Kobus,

Life is looking good! MechMate, 3 Dogs, pool and your yougest son. The table looks good also.

Hi Kobus

Dit lyk of jy baie besig was laasweek? Dit wil gedoen word!
Goeie insperasie ,maak mens skoon jaloers.

The table went together quickly. On Saturday morning I was riding around trying to find 25 mm MDF or Plywood for the base. Eventually found a sheet of 29mm Ply at TIMBERCITY in Boksburg on the East Rand. Got home at about 14:00 and started assembly. By 17:00 it was bolted together. I had the cross members drilled up to 6.5mm, so it was a matter of making 12mm holes where it bolted to the main beam and 10mm holes for the ply base board.

The beast are getting together at a fast pace....for me :D
Yesterday my motors arrived from China via TNT-Express..no import duty/fee..delivered right to my home. :)Went to my postbox...little slip...wheels from Rick arrived. Went to the Post Office counter. Lady brings parcel, but I had to pay R 292.02 (VAT). Was so happy that everything arrived without incident that I paid her with a smile.
Got home, quickly opened parcels to check. Everything is correct as ordered. Thanks Rick and Media Lee at MotionKing for prompt service.
Went outside..painted the control box the final coat of Ford Tractor Blue....the ONLY blue in the world... and rushed inside to get a stepper to turn on the Kitchen project. Wired one stepper up, started Mach 3, did some mapping and :D:D:D I can control a STEPPER via my computer...What a feeling...WOW !!!!!!!

Veels geluk Kobus,

Now you are really off and running...

Bakgat man! I can see that everything is falling in place at a good rate for you. Have you got your control box done yet?

Painted the box , will start wiring it up soon. Will play with the kitchen project a little to TUNE Geckos etc before final installation.

One little problem. When I had my parts cut the motor mounts were for geared motors. Due to budget constraints I ended up buying motors without gearboxes. I can drill new holes on the X and Y bracket, but it seems that the Z- plate is too small. Any suggestions ?:confused:

Kobus,
The motor holes (bolt pattern) on the universal Z motor plate (M5 10 322) are the same than the geared one. Plate may seem smaller ( witch is) but the not affecting motor mounting. The issue that differs those plates is more about the “gear / shaft hole location. The center point on the geared version ( M5 10 324) is lowered and the hole for the motor shaft is smaller.
I would just enlarge this hole in an oblong shape in order to move the center point of the hole so your std motor w/out gear box can be attached to it.
A part or picture is worth a thousand words, right !!
So, I’ve redrawn you the Geared motor mount so you can see what I believe is your simple solution & should work.
Attachment 1500

Hope I’ve help. If you’d like a pdf or dxf and Gerald approves, I could post it or email it to you !??

Amicalement, Robert ! ;)

Can anybody help me with Uni/Bipolar connection on my MotionKing stepper (34HS9801). Like Gerald suggested only use half the motor. Will this mean I connect the stepper using Red/Yellow and White/Orange according to the diagram.

Attachment 1511

Red/Yellow and White/Orange will be a correct option for "half" motor connection.

Thanks Gerald, Is this now Bi-Polar ? What is the difference to the right hand picture which is also Bi-Polar.
The first picture say Uni/Bi-polar (8 leads) and the right one Bi-Polar (4 leads)
Is the way we now discussed it Bi-Polar HALF-Winding, and the right hand picture Bi-Polar FULL - Winding ?
This is still Greek to me:confused:

Kobus, have another look at the first posts in this thread:

http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256

Red/Yellow and White/Orange will be Unipolar

Ok gentlemen since this is my thread on my build I will give a short update.

This weekend i mounted the X-Rails on the table. When I started I thought I will NEVER get it right. The rails were as crooked as a railway line after a massive earth quake. I measured out the width of the gantry, then started with the first rail. I drilled hole for hole, making sure I get it even and straight on the main beam. I then put the gantry on and ran the gantry inch for inch and lined up the second rail drilling hole for hole. The end result is a gantry running as smooth as baby snot on the rails....I am very, very impressed.

Then I fixed the diagonal braces in place. Took everything apart and painted it with MS-Primer and on Sunday the Ford Tractor Blue went on. Still to do the Cross Members with a coat on the OTHER side.

Went into the house, and finished up on the wiring of the Control Box. This finished I fired up Mach3 again and got all 4 motors to turn....even the X-Axis motors in the right direction. All in all a very productive weekend.

Will post some pictures tonight.

Sounds like a good weekend all round! Obviously you didn't have to mow the lawn, clean the pool, wash the dogs . . . . :)

Suggest that you "move" one of the motors at a slow speed for about an hour and regularly check its temperature. (stick the cursor key down to the keyboard). Then you can put the temperature vs power supply voltage issue to bed.

Also tune your Gecko's for midband resonance at this point - easiest to do before they are installed.

Attachment 1534

Just after fitting the X-Rails. The first cross beam removed to be able to fit the diagonal support.

Attachment 1531

Big Blue Brakpan (BBB) is taking colour

The cross beams and bottom supports are painted

Attachment 1532

Control Box taking shape. Geckos mounted on ALU Heatsink. Will be attatched to box after TUNING.

Kobus,

You have a beautiful home and pool. If you have a spare bedroom, I'd be more than happy to come over and help you finish up. I figure we could get her working in...oh....three or four years.

You know Doug, you have given me a thought . . . . .

I have 4 machines to build, and I need more hands badly. Any volunteers to come out here for tax-deductable training perhaps? :)

Hi Doug, you are welcome, but just check on the weather. Cape Town has wet and cold winters right now. Up here in Johannesburg it's .....BLERRIE....cold, but at least when the sun comes out it's nice...The pool is a NO GO area at present

PS, the building behind the MM is my workshop.......former pigeon coop...not my home.....but you knew that...ha ha