Topics

371

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / An unusual application for Mach ?.

« on: December 12, 2009, 08:17:07 AM »

Do you remember these (legacy) magnetic access cards ?.

Well I needed to program one – they have a composite core of  flexible magnetic material (very similar to a fridge adornment) and are programmed with a number of magnetic domains, some north up and some north down. Knowing the positions and polarities of the required domains do I make a ‘programmer’ or use Mach ?.  You guessed it Mach wins.

I used a 110Volt coil, half wave rectified, together with a couple of bits of iron and with the spindle relay (and the use of M3 / M4 commands) was able the change the magnetic polarity of the coil to program the domains.

It worked perfectly and serves to indicate the versatility of Mach for what is perhaps an unusual application.

Tweakie.

372

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / A Short Video.

« on: December 05, 2009, 11:59:32 AM »

Just a bit of fun really, but I decided to make a couple of short videos to put on my website. The hardest part was adjusting the feedrate so that the job took the same length of time as the musical score.
This one is a bit better than my first video but I think that more practice is needed.

                   http://www.tweakie.byethost.com/engrave1.wmv

Tweakie.

373

Tangent Corner / Your Christmas Wish List.

« on: December 02, 2009, 04:14:57 AM »

Hey Guys & Galls,

Christmas is almost here and Santa will be browsing this forum looking for stuff to get for you.

To avoid disappointment or risk getting stuff you don't need please post your Christmas Wish List here.

Hurry, because Santa is very busy this time of year and you don't want to miss out now do you.

For my part, I wish a Very Merry Christmas, Peace and Good Fortune to you all.

Tweakie.

ps. A 1.5mm carbide tipped ball nose would be nice.

374

Tangent Corner / Walking the Dog.

« on: November 13, 2009, 08:23:48 AM »

Last week my neighbor was taken ill and she asked me if I would walk her dog.
She said "Don't let anybody poke fun at you because you are walking a small dog".
Nobody did !. 

Tweakie.

375

General Mach Discussion / Reset Button problem.

« on: October 26, 2009, 09:24:07 AM »

Up to now, I have always been able to operate the screen Reset Button from my keyboard using the @' key but recently this has stopped happening. I have obviously altered a setting somewhere but cannot find the cure.
Has anyone else had this problem and found the answer ?.

Tweakie.

376

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Vinyl Cutting.

« on: October 21, 2009, 10:11:57 AM »

I made a self steering vinyl cutter (drag knife) some time ago and for anybody that is interested the details can be found here:-   http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/11.htm

Thought I would adorn my machine with yet another sticker. 

Once the design has been converted to vector it is cut into the vinyl - then comes the fiddly weeding bit to remove the unwanted vinyl - then application tape is applied over the top and the design peeled from it's backing and applied to the machine - then the application tape is carefully removed - simplicity itself.

Tweakie.

377

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Converting a Chineese Laser to Vector / Mach operation.

« on: October 13, 2009, 05:21:23 AM »

These pictures were sent to me by Mike in Western Australia who has spent many hours converting his Chinese laser from raster to vector operation so it can be used with Mach.
This information will be of help to others who are contemplating the same task and I am sure Mike will be pleased to answer any questions raised.

Tweakie.

378

Tangent Corner / Mystery object ?.

« on: October 11, 2009, 10:16:40 AM »

One of my friends is playing a practical joke on me as these things keep turning up in my workshop, I have quite a few now.
Does anyone know what they are or what they are used for ?.
They are made from high tensile steel but that is all I can tell about them. Help urgently needed on this one please.

Tweakie.

379

Tangent Corner / The Dickies are done.

« on: October 08, 2009, 03:16:45 AM »

She finally got around to washing my 'Dickies', said she would wash the trousers next week.

Tweakie.

380

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

« on: August 26, 2009, 02:48:48 AM »

Now the shadows are starting to lengthen I am preparing for my next winter project - To add a CO2 laser head to my existing router. The output power of CO2 tubes is related to overall length and the size of my machine dictates that a 600mm length tube (which is rated at 30 Watts) is the largest that I can easily accommodate.
These tubes can be something of a ‘white elephant’ insofar as that I suspect more people buy them than ever get around to completing the project. When you start to investigate the additional parts that are necessary and the cost of those parts, I am not surprised.
However I have started so I will continue.
Initially I have had to add a mounting space to the machine and some more box section with a bit of welding has produced two brackets which have been bolted to the rear of the machine frame giving a position to fit the laser stage. I have also milled a pair of tube mountings and made bungee straps to secure the tube in place.

More to follow…….

I would appreciate your comments and advice on this project as the more info I can get the better.

Tweakie.