It has made the first cuts - Caussens, France
 

hello every one. I was a french architect on the point to buy the new PRS Shopbot tool when Paco, a real nice french canadian shopbot user, has sent to me your link just before making a big loan at my bank !.I'm impressed to see it's possible to make my own CNC myself trought your greats plans !! . I was looking for other french people or french language user interested in starting the build process of the Mechmate tool.Bye.(Sorry for my english).

Bonjour Pierre!

L'étincelles à jaillit!? Si je peux t'aider à la traduction d'éléments spécifique, laisse-moi savoir.
J'ai moi-même un oeil sur le concept de Gerald ainsi que sur toute l'information partagé par les participants du forum.

----------translation----------
Hi Pierre!

Spark spouts out!? If I can help you with some translation of specific elements, let me know.
I am, myself, having an eye at Gerald's design and all the forum participants information sharing on the forum.

Merci encore une fois Paco !. Peu de francophones sur ces forums...c'est dommage !Concernant le projet de la mechmate j'ai quand même un doute sur ma capacité à réaliser la partie electronique. Penses tu que cela est accessible pour un débutant?. La partie mécanique est comprehensible.
Voici le site web d'un ingenieur français qui a concu sa propre CNC grands formats avec de bonnes idées (comparatif avec shopbot).Je vais me mettre en contact avec lui et lui présenter le projet Mechmate.
http://cncloisirs.com/Machines/Beno%eetDesbrus
Merci. A+.

Pierre, The website given in your earlier mail looks very interesting but unfortunatly it is only in French. Do you know where we could find a English translation.

Fabrica,

try Google translate; might not be 100% readable though but may help figure the basic content.

Paco,

Comprends tu l'astuce de Benoit Desbrus concernant la position de la glissiere par rapport au moteur sur la page web http://cncloisirs.com/Machines/Beno%eetDesbrus ?
Il trouve cette solution plus interessante que sur une Shopbot.J'aimerai en faire profiter Mechmate en Anglais si tu penses que cela est interressant.

Thanks Paco, I will try it.

Pierre,

je n'aime pas le principe d'exposer le crémaillère de cette façon. De plus, si j'entrainerais le X de cette façon, le placerais le moteur au centre pour distribuer la torsion de l'arbre... par contre ce dernier système est intéressant, mais je le préfère dessous plutôt que dessus. Je sais, ça complique les choses mais ça protège les crémaillères.

Je partage son point de vue sur la torsion du support de moteur lorsque poussé/tiré par un ressort. Par contre son système me semble ""trop"" complexe. Sur ma machine, j'ai ajusté le positionnement du moteur de façon à compenser ce problème.

Pierre,
tu peux considérer des solutions déjà prêtes; Ascesnsion 1000 et Mach3 enclosure, ShopBot aussi peut te vendre un kit moteurs, contrôle et logiciel seulement(en deux versions)... et il y en a d'autre; cherche avec le mot clé RETROFIT, CNC CONTROL ou encore # AXIS CONTROL...

Right at the top of this thread is a link to Google's english translation. Subsequent links out of that page are also translated.

I had a good laugh when the "Add Your Message Here" becomes "Add Your Message Young stag"

Hey! Google translate me pretty well!

http://www.mechmate.com/Forum/clipart/proud.gif

Paco,
thanks for your infos concerning electronics parts but i think i'm going to use this french CNC controller card provider. The web site is in french/English language for people interested. On other french CNC forum they say the quality and speed of cards are excellent : www.techlf.com
Bye

Bonjour Pierre tu est à la bonne place pour ton cnc. On dis un cnc ou une cnc? J'avais toujour pensé un Mechmate.Merci pour les lien , c'était la premiere fois que je voyais en francais Hey Paco queceque tu fais ici ? tu vas te faire barrer de l'autre site ;). Vas tu construire un ou une Mechmate? est tu content avec ton alpha?

bonjour Normand !!.(avec du retard).
Je viens juste de démarrer la réalisation de la mechmate : j'ai commandé le charriot (decoupage laser) chez Kim Mortensen, en Norvege trouvé sur le forum. J'ai pris contact avec mon ferronier local pour la réalisation de la table. Pour la partie electronique, je vais utiliser les composants de chez techlf.com.Plus de photos dès le demarrage.
Je vais essayer de trouver sur le forum l'adresse d'un revendeur pour commander l'ensemble des petits composants : cremaillere, porte cable....

Hello,

i have received my two orders last week :

- Order from Kim Mortensen for the laser cut parts.
- Order from Superior Bearing company.
The two buyers are greats !. No problems at all trought paypal.

I have bought all the parts concerning the table (dimensions : 2800mmx2070mm for french max wood boards)I will send to you some pictures next week.

I'm quite nervous when i see the detailed pictures of the electronic box !: i'am not an electronic professional guy !But i'am lucky to have close to my town this new internationnal company, provider of electronic cards and engines for CNC tools (website french and english) : www.techlf.com/

Thank you Gerald for all your work !.

I had now a translation in french (excel listing) of all the Gerald drawings from french mechanical engeneer and the listing of all the parts with dimensions.

Bye
Pierre GRAND, architect in France.

Frame photos
 

Hello Gerald and Paco,

I have finished the steel frame :D... a big step accomplished for my 2800mmx2070mm real cutting area mechmate (french mdf boards dimensions !). i'm working on the Z axis at the moment : i will finish it at the end of the week. I need to order the gazlift...i have read the Gerald precisions article to choose the right one...at www.airax.com/ in France.


What make me nervous at the moment :

1) The choice of a motor with or without a geared box (the price is really not the same !!)???Is there a big precision cut difference ???:confused:

Thanks. Pierre.

A very nice piece of work!

Not as big as the difference in price!!!

You can always start with non-geared motors and change later if necessary. That is what we did, but so far it has not been necessary (for us) to add gearboxes.

Look very good Pierre! Keep us post.

what is the pitch you use now? rack and pinon

Our effective pinion diameter is 24mm (metric M1 Z24). Directly driven, that is 2000 pulses per 24 X Pi mm = 26.5 pulses/mm [673 pulses/inch]

Mechanical Mechmate phasis complete...!
 

Hello everyone, Hello Gerald,

I 've just finished yesterday the mechmate frame details and finished the z axis.:) Everything is ok to go on the next step : electronic and wiring management (done by a company with Techlf components).
The way all z components work together along the vertical axis is very impressive !! (motor, rack and pinions, the gaslift and the string). Just one questions for Gerald :

- Is it possible to put industrial wheels (with stops) under mechmate feets to move it in a small area (my workshop 4mx12m)??? Maybe problems of stability during the cutting ???

Thank you. photos in few days maybe with paint...in dark grey(old steel paint i have in stock...sorry for the blue).

Bye,

Pierre.

The wheels will be okay - they will not affect cut quality.

Last photos
 

Hello everyone,

My Mechmate has been move in my future office/workshop (whithout walls for the moment !) so i had to paint it quickly. I will install the electronic in november .... i hope if my job let me the time ... The wheels have been welded on a steel plate and welded on the main frame... it is very practical.

More photos and comments in 2 weeks with my RDV at Techlf Company, near Toulouse with Laurent Fouga.

Bye,

Pierre.

Wheels references + electronic parts quotation from Techlf
 

I would like to add to my last message the wheels company i have used : Blicklé, german company at www.blickle.de.

and few words concerning the TECHLF quotation : See the web site to have parts details ...

- only 3 motors inside the quotation because i have ordered one before to check the mechanic.
- one Elte, professional spindle include ( the smallest of the company).
- the electronix box include .

When you received the ready made box, install the motors on the mechmate and turn on the power button ! . That's all i was ready to do concerning electronic. After spending a lot of time and (quite money) making the frame, i wanted to be sure the electronic parts works correctly and wanted to have quickly someone to call if not. The price is very correct to my point of view... compare to other all in one package...


Bye,
Pierre.

AWEsome and well done !

I am impressed and excited by your accomplishment.


Dave

Looks good Pierre!

Keep us posted on your progress.

Are you building this for the military? :)

Bonsoir Pierre et tous les autres,

Si vous avez des questions sur CNC et MACH, vous pouvez les adresser à CNCDirect, nous vous répondrons en français. Egalement nous serons ravis d'aider les francophones du Forum pour toutes questions.

Greg

Aide en Français
 

"painted kaki green",? ....the color is an industrial grey...and my thought are very far from French army...:p

Merci CNCdirect pour l'adresse de votre boutique et votre aide en français !!
Je ne manquerai pas de la communiquer à d'autres français ....
Placer vous sur la market place sur le site Mechmate ave un mot en français!.

Bye,

Pierre.

The trees in the top photo must be reflecting off the fresh paint :)
Sorry about the army - I had to serve in the navy and there we knew what grey paint really looked like.

Control box at home.
 

hello guys, hello Gerald,

This is my control box from Techlf + Elte 1,1kw spindle(TMPE2 9/2 TWIN SHAFT Series) :). : http://www.eltesrl.com/
I have met Laurent last friday at his workshop close to Carcassone who gave me a quick explanation concerning his own software, isa4D. A future version of isa4d in few month could be use on touchscreens computers ... with only big colored buttons for beginners as me.(no menus).

I see the motors turning !. It works.

First problem coming back at home making a test of the spindle on the z-axis plate :confused:: :The four axis holes of the Elte spindle body make a rectangle of 22mmx110mm to hold it. Have you got any ideas to hold it on the gauge plate ?? New holes ? Do i need a mounting bracket ??
Thank you.Pierre.

the spindle...
 

The photo...

How much did the elte spindle cost you.???

Congratulations on getting the motors turning! :)

Drill holes right through the gauge plate and the 50x25 tube and put long screws from the back . . . . through the tube and through the gauge plate. Screws about 40mm long.

Check very carefully when putting the screws into the spindle - if they are too long they can make serious damage to the spindle.

Spindle cost
 

The Elte Spindle + VFD : 980 Euros without taxes trought Techlf Company.
You have a complete PDF board of my order concerning electronic parts few lines below.


Thanks Gerald for your answer.

Bye,

Pierre.

The holes that I show on the drawing, 30mm from side-to-side, are correct for Fimec & HSD spindles. I did not think that other Italian companies use a different spacing.

How does the air flow through your control box? I do not see a filter on the fan?

Spindle holes problem ....
 

In fact Gerald, i confirm the 22mm x 110mm axis dimensions holes ... It is because my spindle is the "low power" of the Eltec range. Others have 30mm between holes...said Laurent Fouga.Damned !!

Bye.

The screw holes at 22mm is no problem, just a little more work.

Did you see my question about the fan/filter?

fresh air in control box.
 

Gerald,

In his standard control box Laurent has just putting in place one fan to pull out hot air.
Do you think isn't enought ? I need a filter ?
It's true there is no fresh air entry !.

Bye,

Pierre.

I am sorry to tell you this Pierre, but that is a very bad design. If you have hot air in a bottle, can you put your mouth over the one opening hole and suck out the hot air? Of course not. You need 2 holes if you want the air to move. While you suck out air, other air must enter to replace it.

Laurent might just add a second hole. . . . . . but then all the dust from the room comes in as well. (If you don't add the second hole, the dust comes in arround the switches/connectors/joints because you have a vacuum in the box.) A filter on the second hole still leaves a vacuum in the box when the filter gets dirty.

The fan must be turned over so that it blows into the box and creates a positive pressure. There must be a filter over the fan (on the outside). And there must be an exhaust hole.