Messages

4491

General Mach Discussion / Re: Engraving Spindle.

« on: June 14, 2014, 03:29:13 AM »

Hi Gary,

I think you would be able to do quite successful MILLING with a 5kW BLDC motor (although gear reduction may be necessary to reduce the speed). 

Quite obviously, a much smaller motor is required for engraving work (which is exactly what this thread relates to) although I quite like the idea of a 'combined engraving spindle and spot welder'. 

Tweakie.

4492

General Mach Discussion / Re: Engraving Spindle.

« on: June 13, 2014, 06:14:22 AM »

Hi Ozymax,

Thank you for your excellent suggestion - I will investigate the possibility of using a 'gov/esc' (I did not even know they existed for BLDC motors) but it sounds like a brilliant idea to me and would be a very easy solution to maintaining constant RPM.

Tweakie.

4493

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Marines Emblem 1st Carve

« on: June 13, 2014, 05:13:21 AM »

Nice work Artcarver - thanks for posting the GCode file for others to try.

Tweakie.

4494

General Mach Discussion / Engraving Spindle.

« on: June 13, 2014, 05:01:01 AM »

Just as a heads up…

Tests have shown that small brushless dc motors (BLDC), more usually used with RC models, (mainly because of their high power to weight / size ratio) can make ideal engraving spindles.
The construction of just one such spindle is detailed here; http://openbuilds.com/builds/890kv-ox-rc-spindle.411/
To facilitate BLDC motor speed control and operation from Mach3 I have now made a simple interface circuit which takes the Mach3 generated PWM signal and converts it to the necessary pulse stream for operation the motor’s ESC and this is detailed here; http://openbuilds.com/builds/software-speed-control-of-a-brushless-dc-bldc-motor-from-mach3.762/

Tweakie.

4495

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 08, 2014, 08:11:59 AM »

Hi Art,

That old plugin is going to take some bettering you know 

Incidentally, because the Digital Trigger only has a maximum duty cycle of 50% I am now experimenting with using an external processor to measure the PRF (dependant on Feed-Rate) and adjust the pulse width to increase the duty cycle to 95% (adjustable). This has enabled the plugin's use with diode lasers down to 150mW output power allbeit extremely slow feed-rate and my 40Watt tube to really attack Corian at 4500 mm/min. 

I look forward to following your progress in the new thread once you get everything up and running. 

Tweakie.

4496

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Mach4 Printer Port Discussions

« on: June 08, 2014, 01:02:24 AM »

Wow! - Thanks Art, now I know what I will be doing this afternoon 

Tweakie.

4497

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: DC-K40 Laser conversion issue

« on: June 06, 2014, 01:34:41 AM »

Hi Jeff,

If you want to use the Z axis then it's the Z Axis direction pin# (Config. / Ports & Pins / Motor Outputs). GND is connected to the breakout board GND.

(please be aware that all the axis direction pins retain state (hi / low) until that particular axis is moved in the opposite direction).

Tweakie.

4498

General Mach Discussion / Re: Z Axis problem

« on: June 04, 2014, 01:47:37 AM »

Hi Bob,

I am pleased to hear that you have resolved the problem 

Tweakie.

4499

General Mach Discussion / Re: Turning center/milling online

« on: June 02, 2014, 12:22:31 PM »

I am sure you could use Mach3 - Hood is the man who can explain just how much work would be involved.

Tweakie.

4500

General Mach Discussion / Re: Step jog wierdness.

« on: June 02, 2014, 12:04:25 PM »

Hi Dickeybird

Can't say that I have ever encountered the problem you are experiencing so can offer no advice.

If it's any help, I use v.056 with my Mill / CNC and this seems to perform the best for me.

Tweakie.