Messages

7591

General Mach Discussion / Re: glass cutting or etching

« on: July 02, 2010, 01:41:52 PM »

Made my own cutting knife then any vector toolpath can be used for cutting the vinyl. It's perhaps not as quick as the purpose built machine but it makes just as good a job and it can still be used for routing wood.  

btw. The ready made vinyl drag knives are not that expensive to buy now-days (made in China of course).

There are more details here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/11.htm

And video here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/anelpako.wmv

Tweakie.

7592

General Mach Discussion / Re: glass cutting or etching

« on: July 02, 2010, 12:27:14 PM »

I suppose it depends on how much cash you want to spend on your kicks 

I would think the easiest way would be to cut a stencil with your machine stick it to the glass and then lightly sand blast the for the etch (not on or anywhere near the machine    This is vinyl but there is a special stuff made for sandblasting however for light blasting the vinyl works well.

   

Or you could perhaps add a laser to etch the glass directly.

 

This is just two options but I am sure there are plenty more. Hope this gives you inspiration.

Tweakie.

7593

General Mach Discussion / Re: Is anyone else using E1P1 / E1P0 to switch output #1 ?

« on: July 02, 2010, 11:09:57 AM »

Thanks Ian for taking the time to look at this, your findings are much appreciated.

Tweakie.

7594

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

« on: July 02, 2010, 08:44:34 AM »

Than you Dave.

I was impressed with this mainly because it was made using the Mach plug-in which others before me had criticized. OK the plug-in doesn't work 'straight out of the box', so to speak, it has to be optimized and fiddled with a bit but it does work, at least for me. 

The image is approx 120mm x 120mm and it took about 40 minutes or so (the Mach elapsed time doesn't work when using this plug-in).  If my machine had less mass to the X axis it could have been a whole lot quicker. (when using a laser the slowest thing is the axis movement unless I make a galvo scanning laser  - Amir was thinking about it for printing Denim so it could be a maybe).

Tweakie.

7595

General Mach Discussion / Re: Initial Test Run for CNC Router

« on: July 02, 2010, 08:28:24 AM »

Hi Kevin,

There are a few GCode examples posted in this thread http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12539.20.html

Happy chip making 

Tweakie.

7596

General Mach Discussion / Re: G54 problem....

« on: July 02, 2010, 08:17:50 AM »

Hi Lemo,

Don't know if this helps but I had a similar problem so I unchecked everything in the Axis DRO Properties box on the General Config page - haven't had the problem since. 

Tweakie.

7597

General Mach Discussion / Re: Where do you live ?

« on: July 02, 2010, 07:47:37 AM »

Down a bit from Hood, well down a lot really - South East UK.

Tweakie.

7598

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

« on: July 02, 2010, 07:28:53 AM »

As we all like pictures........
This bitmap image has been raster engraved, just lightly, into the surface of a piece of obechi using the Mach Impact/Laser Engraving plug-in.

Tweakie.

7599

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

« on: July 01, 2010, 08:51:34 AM »

Hi Russ,

Just curious Tweakie, could the attachment be made with a torch and a dab of silver solder ?

No reason why not, as long as the two wires are welded together first and the join is not contaminated with other metals, I think that would have been a better (if not easier) way to do it - why didn't I think of that. 

Tweakie.

(I was just about to throw my mistake in the bin and I thought you guys would like a laugh as well).

7600

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

« on: July 01, 2010, 04:18:31 AM »

I don't normally post pictures of my mistakes but this made me smile because it was just such a daft thing to do.

The spot welder applies a lot of pressure to the weld and the tube needs internal support to prevent distortion, the nearest thing to hand that fitted the tube nicely was this stainless bolt. After making the first weld it became obvious and yes you have guessed it, I have welded the bolt into the tube. 

I turned a piece of brass to fit the tube for the next one, that didn't weld in.

Tweakie.