Topics

151

General Mach Discussion / Wiring Limit & Home Switch

« on: January 18, 2011, 10:43:27 AM »

I started wiring my limit switches. The Y axis is driven by two motors and I will have 2 limit switches which will be used to home this axis. On the X axis I will also have 2 limit switches and on the Z axis the same.

I plan to use one cable with two wires (black and red) per axis and wire the 2 limit switches of each axis to the BOB in series. I have attached a picture of the BOB for reference

Is this a good wiring method?

152

General Mach Discussion / Power Supply Unit

« on: January 08, 2011, 04:34:51 PM »

Power Supply Unit

Not very good with the electrical staff so I hope someone can help.

I have 4 Keling motors (the spec sheet is attached for more info) which I will connect as Unipolar and as per spec sheet that gives me 3.0A per motor or 12.0A total.

Besides the motors I will have 4 drivers and one BOB from Probotix. Each driver is 3A, 42V output rating whatever this means and they also say that the voltage should be limited to about 42V DC. So I guess I figured that I need another 12.0A for the drivers.

The BOB is listed as 12 to 40V capables of at least 100mA, so I figured 1.0A here. I will also have 8 LED lights and a small fan so lets say another 2.0A

Total Amps I need = 27A. So I bought a power supply 12V DC / 29A / 350 Watts.

Do you see any problem with the power unit I purchased? Any suggestions?

153

General Mach Discussion / DB-200S Spindle USA

« on: January 02, 2011, 08:01:48 PM »

Happy New Year to all........

For my new CNC router machine I was planning to get the Bosch Colt router but searching on eBay I fount this DB-200S high speed precision spindle, 110V, 1/8” tri-split collet, max. T.I.R 0.0004”, end play <0.0003”, 2 SS sealed and greased bearings, SS housing, max speed 24000 RPM, Spindle length 5” x 0.750” body diameter. Price is $120, made in USA.

I plan to engrave aluminum, wood and plastic and since I know nothing about spindles I’m asking your opinion. The price of this spindle is less than the Bosch Colt but that is not important. Also I was told that I can use an external variable speed switch I have to control the speed of this spindle

154

General Mach Discussion / 2D files

« on: December 04, 2010, 02:05:42 PM »

I would like to run a simple 2D program on my router CNC. There are some simple 2D files I can get for about $10.00 and would like to experiment and see the results.

My question is do I need any special bid or any engraving bid will do?

Does Mach3 can handle 2D .dxf files?

155

General Mach Discussion / Slave Axis

« on: November 29, 2010, 11:53:57 PM »

I plan to use two motors to drive the Y axis.

My current Y axis uses pins 4 and 5 for the Step and Dir in Mach3.

Since the second drive will be a slave drive I will assume it will be the A axis.

Do I use the same 4 and 5 pins for the A axis or I have to use different pins?

156

General Mach Discussion / Minimum Z Axis Length?

« on: November 18, 2010, 06:15:49 PM »

For my new CNC router machine I plan to purchase a Nook 6 feet long Acme 1/2"-10 5 start rod and then I will cut it to make my 3 axes.

Since I would like to maximize the length of the X and Y axes, is there a minimum or recommended length for the Z axis according to your experience?

157

General Mach Discussion / Different ACME

« on: November 06, 2010, 02:23:17 PM »

I’m making plans for a new CNC router and I wonder if I can have different size ACME screws for the axes like use 5/8”-10 for the Y axis and 1/2"-10 for the X & Z.

I think by going with 5/8”-10 on the Y axis it will decrease the whiplash on this long (about 36”) axis.

158

General Mach Discussion / Driver Triggered?

« on: October 27, 2010, 05:43:17 PM »

I have been away from my home build CNCrouter for more than a year but now I’m back. Unfortunately the HD on my laptop which runs the CNC crashed and had to re install XP but I lost my config file for the CNC and now I have to re configure the machine.

I run Mach3 and all seem to be ok but I get the message “Driver Watchdog Triggered” and I don’t know what means.
Any ideas?

In addition the Y & Z axis run ok but the X axis runs in the opposite way than it should. Cant find out why. Any help here?

Thanks

159

General Mach Discussion / Adjusting Limit Switch

« on: December 14, 2009, 12:42:41 PM »

I installed a limit switch on my Z axis to prevent uncontrolled plunges but have problem adjusting the trigger lever.

When I go to test the adjustment of the trigger lever, mack3 says “Limit Switch Triggered” and before I press the Reset button I have to release the limit switch lever but I can’t do that because the CNC axis is locked by mack3.

Is there some kind of “by-pass” to this problem?

Nicolas

160

General Mach Discussion / Strange Results

« on: October 07, 2009, 05:47:30 PM »

After about 6 weeks that I did not work on my CNC I started again today but the results were very disappointing.

I tried to engrave the same piece like I had done before but for some reason the depth of cut was uneven and at one point it went thru the 1/2” stock.

I set the depth of cut in LC to 1/8” and all the other settings like I had done before but afterwards I noticed on the gcode the Z was 0.125 instead of -0.125

Anyone can tell me what I did wrong?
Nicolas