Topics

1

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / My CNC Build by Dave N Mark :)

« on: January 25, 2016, 10:49:23 PM »

This topic will be now used to keep you informed of how the build of our CNC from the book "Build Your Own CNC" is progressing.  we would like to thank everyone who gave us suggestions etc about software and programming and Mark, my son is evaluation all the avenues, which will give us the best solution for what we want to do. He has plans to cut out control panels for Sega Arcade Console, which if bought or have made commercially can be very expensive. These consoles are very big and have a 24" VGA CRT screen, the one Mark picked up also has a touch screen overlay.

My projects as mentioned elsewhere, are cutting parts for scratch building scale model ships.  Most of my ship models are over 1.5m in length and fully radio controlled and built to exacting specifications. Previously they have all been labouriously cut out using  electric and hand fret saws and sanding machines to finalise the shapes, especially the hull lines.

Stage One:  Yesterday we obtained a sheet of 8'X4'X3/4" MDF, a clean undamaged sheet with the supplier accurately cutting it into four 4'x2' as the original sheets were 8X4 fine. we did lose 3mm cutting waste.  This is of no consequence, but will be configured into amended measurements when building the gantry.

Watch this space for updates and appropriate photos.

Cheers Dave & Mark.

2

General Mach Discussion / Working with MDF Safety

« on: January 22, 2016, 04:41:47 PM »

Along with myself, there are quite a few members joining who are new to CNC Milling and Turning and because of its overall strength and cheapness, MDF (Medium Density Fibre) Is a popular choice of material for building low end CNC Machines.   Myself I have used it exclusively for making hull formers for the scale model ships I build and one of the reasons I am building a CNC is tocut out these formers more accurately and easier with CNC mill.

Unfortunately you will never find warnings in timber stores about the hazards of MDF, contained in the toxic material used to bond the fibres into those innocent looking sheets.

Cutting and Sanding MDF in and by any form is extremely hazardous whether by hand or machine and at all times a quality facial mask with a replaceable filter should always be used.  In fact when ever cutting or machining any kind of material that raises fine dust should also be treated with precaution.

Similarly, you should always wear full wrap around glasses, do not rely on your prescription glasses, often today's fashions do not offer 100% protection.

I have deliberately avoided going into the chemical analysis of the compounds used as they vary from country to country - check on-line!

Have a great and safe day.
Cheers Dave.

3

General Mach Discussion / Creating G-Code

« on: January 12, 2016, 04:53:14 AM »

ATM we are at ground Zero as we start building our machine.  In the meantime we want to get the basics of writing up G-Code.  We have a "cheat sheet" of the basic commands and understand the elements of how the code works.   We have looked at a couple of compilers, but they do not seem to work in W10 64Bit.   ReplicatorG and that apparently requires Python Interpreter.  downloaded it and installed, but all we are getting are error messages and RG keeps asking for Python Interpreter and cannot find it, It also changed the shortcut to Python to ReplicatorG shortcut (2)

No doubt a lot of finger trouble here and getting onto the first rung is a bit trying.  Whether this is because these programs at 32bit and Win10 gets its sox into a twist with anything that is  older than 6 months ago....

Anyone point us to some programs that do work in W10.   Otherwise we may dump using W10 and go for a linux OS or go back and instal a 32bit Win7 on out Dell 780 FFS
The example  files we have appear to run smoothly in Mach3   But before we buy an adapter to eliminate the parallel port issues in W8/10 I feel we need to resolve the software issues first before we invest in $200 adapter.

Cheers Dave & Mark

4

General Mach Discussion / Running Mach3 in Windows 10 (Registered)

« on: January 10, 2016, 12:03:22 AM »

I understand that the parallel stepper motor controller I have will not work in Windows 10 and I need to use a Remote Motion Controller,  according to a moderator, the parallel port cannot be used in 64bit W8/10
I have a full kit of hardware and electronics as per the Book "Build your own CNC Machine" (Hood/Kelly) . My son and I are soon commencing the construction of the device.
Can someone point us in the right direction regarding these Remote Motion Controllers?  I have found some on EBay starting at around $100, Can someone point us in the right direction so we get the right unit.  

We are using a Dell Optiplex 780 SFF desktop with 4G of RAM running W10 64bit.  As raw newbies at CNC any help would be appreciated.  My son is a whizz at computers and should have no problems with the software & G-Code management.  I have over 60 years electronics experience so the hardware assemble will be no problems.  Just a case of obtaining the correct boards.  Our parts include the stepper motors and tool motor with speed controller, as specified in the book. Together with bearings and other hardware.

Thanks Dave & Mark