Messages

7431

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

« on: August 19, 2010, 07:16:30 AM »

This little fella has been laser etched into some 6mm acrylic using the Mach Impact/Laser Engraver plugin. Glass would also work just as well but getting the power level /feedrate just right has to be done by trial and error (get it wrong and the glass may crack).
As with all clear acrylic this type of etching displays best against a dark background but good results can also be achieved by edge lighting, perhaps with LED's ?.

Just thought you might like to see the picture. 

Tweakie.

7432

General Mach Discussion / Re: Power Supply for Motion Controlling

« on: August 19, 2010, 02:41:45 AM »

My apologies to p j for hijacking his thread.

Yes Ian - I hate it when someone steps on my nuts  

Yes Sam, I can reduce power / increase speed and cut in to any depth. Because the kerf is extremely narrow any engraving is better viewed at an angle. This keyring was the prototype for some made for my musical buddy Terry Batt. (thanks to your help I can now obtain better edge finish than this   )
The best effects with acrylic are by raster etching the surface - this does stand out quite well when side lit. When I get some spare time today I want to raster etch an owl picture using the Mach Impact/laser plugin and I will post some pics of the result.

Tweakie.

7433

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: X machine-Like

« on: August 19, 2010, 02:19:08 AM »

Amir,

There are quite a few ideas here  http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13486.0.html

Tweakie.

7434

FAQs / Re: newbei: what to buy for my 1st CNC ?

« on: August 19, 2010, 01:32:06 AM »

Red arrow indicates the junction board incorporating pull up resistors used for terminating my limit switch wiring.
1) Solid State Relay used initially for switching the spindle motor but can be used for anything.
2) Rear of 3 pin socket for connecting items that will be switched by the SSR.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

7435

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: X machine-Like

« on: August 18, 2010, 11:27:26 AM »

Excellent Amir.
Looks like a lot of work but it could be a very nice machine.

Tweakie.

7436

General Mach Discussion / Re: Power Supply for Motion Controlling

« on: August 18, 2010, 08:54:42 AM »

  Sorry Ian, couldn't resist - I think that laser cutting this acrylic is messing with my head. 

Tweakie.

7437

General Mach Discussion / Re: Power Supply for Motion Controlling

« on: August 18, 2010, 04:46:45 AM »

Quite right Ian - the voice of experience here. 

But is this really a wiring diagram or just a schematic I wonder ?

Tweakie.

7438

General Mach Discussion / Re: Buying a laptop for Mach 3

« on: August 18, 2010, 03:23:45 AM »

Just curious, but why can't you use a PC in your shop environment ?

As you are aware the problem with laptops is that some work and some don't and there is no sure fire way of telling which is which. Even the same type and model may have bios / firmware revisions which make one work and the other not.

Tweakie.

7439

General Mach Discussion / Re: Power Supply for Motion Controlling

« on: August 18, 2010, 03:13:05 AM »

Just a thought,

I use axis enable / disable quite a lot but I have never had the need to actually switch it during program execution.
I took my axis enable connections to three toggle switches (mounted on the side of my control box) for manual use only - and as Hood has said the common feed to the switches could run through your estop for added 'belt and braces'.
The advantage here is that it frees up 3 of the outputs from your parallel port to be used for other stuff. It's amazing how much stuff you can add in a couple of years of use.

Tweakie.

7440

FAQs / Re: newbei: what to buy for my 1st CNC ?

« on: August 17, 2010, 02:28:57 AM »

All the new driver boards these days incorporate 'Microstepping' http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/13.htm which allows a motor with say 200 steps per revolution to achieve say 200 x 8 steps per revolution. This is really a theoretical resolution increase because 'microsteps' are not that accurate but they do make for smoother motor running and probably better performance. I have not found any benefit to go above 1/8 step (which gives me a maximum theoretical resolution of 0.00625mm) but 1/10 or 1/16 may offer something. For a first build I think I would go for the cheapest option.

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.