Messages

301

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Doing some wood work for the Boss Lady

« on: October 04, 2010, 09:52:49 PM »

Definitely an improvement from the 'before'.  Thanks for sharing.

302

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Routing Wood

« on: October 04, 2010, 10:29:58 AM »

Looks great Tweakie, as usual.

303

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: October 01, 2010, 09:09:44 PM »

Good stuff, Joel. Thanks for sharing it with us!

304

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Dixie Duke - A machine in the making.

« on: September 29, 2010, 08:40:12 PM »

Thanks Dave.  

Finally got it home in the shop, and the basics wired up. Still gotta put the limit switches on, chip pans, make an enclosure, and put some panels around the cabinet. Still need to purchase a few items, like a coolant pump, hoses, lighting, switches, knobs, and the list goes on and on. At least I'm able to see it make some chips. I'm really impressed the most with the spindle. It runs really smooth and quiet (knock on wood) so far. Hopefully nothing drastic will go wrong. If it last for a few hundred hours, I'll be one very happy camper! For less than $100, and whatever time I spent making it, I certainly can't complain! There does not seem to be any noticeable end-play (yet). Maybe next up will be one with a quick release (drool). First I'm gonna see how long this one last, though. I made a few cuts .04" deep with a small fly cutter across a 2.5" piece of aluminum, and it would have taken more with a larger cutter, but I do hate those darn cutters. There brutal on bearings. I gotta get me a shell cutter (add that to the list). I snapped this pic of a .01" pass with a fly cutter. Looks to be a nice, even finish all the way across. Very pleased so far.

305

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Re: Area51 Screenset

« on: September 28, 2010, 03:36:36 PM »

That is a screen made by Zealous. http://www.alphagraphicdesigns.com/Packone.htm

306

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: PEN HOLDER FOR MILL DRAWING

« on: September 23, 2010, 04:28:20 PM »

Here is the pen I made.
Step 1. Order something from Winford
Step 2. Take the free complimentary pen, shown in fig 1 and dis-assemble it as shown in fig 2.
Step 3. Measure about half the distance of the spring, on the opposite end of ink tube.
Step 4. Crimp some little tabs into the ink tube for a spring stop.
Step 5. Assemble back into pen tube.

You should now still be able to click the pen, resulting in two spring tensions. Low tension, this particular pen travels 0.28in (7.1mm) High tension travels 0.15in (3.8mm)

Step 6. Insert pen into a tool holder.
Step 7. Plot!!!

You can trim the pen and ink tube down in size, to achieve whatever length of pen you want. I also had to remove the clip on the clicker end.

Video

307

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: PEN HOLDER FOR MILL DRAWING

« on: September 23, 2010, 03:43:08 AM »

Nice jig there, Rich. I had been meaning to make one for myself for a couple years now. We have one on our EDM machine at work for back plotting. They really do come in handy. I finally made one a couple weeks ago, and quiet by accident discovered a super duper ultra mega simple way of constructing one. I do like the heavy springs on those pilot pens, and they do have a shorter ink tube than the regular pens. I made mine from one of those cheap freebie pins you often find. Mine only has .125 travel, and has two settings for spring tension. I will get the pen at work tomorrow, take some pics, and post the method. 2 options are better than one, right? I like how yours has an adjustment knob. That's pretty slick.

308

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: September 22, 2010, 05:54:41 PM »

Looks great. (as usual)

309

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cheap and easy spindle index sensor for G540 and Mach 3

« on: September 19, 2010, 07:37:20 PM »

Thanks for sharing your methods. Don't forget about the sensor cable. If memory serves correct, I think there about as much as the sensor.

310

General Mach Discussion / Re: adding an optical switch to the spindle

« on: September 19, 2010, 12:35:58 AM »

This may be of help.
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=365-1264-ND