Messages

8061

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: April 22, 2010, 08:40:42 AM »

Hi Timmy,

Welcome to the forum.

If you are unable to resolve your Z Axis problem then post as much detail as you can about it, in the general section and I am sure someone here will be able to help or at least suggest fault finding ideas which you have perhaps not thought of.

Tweakie.

8062

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

« on: April 21, 2010, 01:02:57 PM »

Fitted a 10 turn potentiometer with graduated locking dial for the current control. Also the safety lockout key switch.

   

Finished and fitted the cover for the Rats Nest.

   

This is the display panel. The DRO indicates laser current when the laser is triggered and the LED's indicate the various parameters.

   

This is the front of the machine with all the extra stuff fitted.

   

Finally this is another test run with aluminum faced engraving laminate. The laser cuts through the ally skin with surprising ease.


Tweakie.

8063

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

« on: April 21, 2010, 02:30:52 AM »

Thanks Guys, you are all too kind.

I really can't believe that it has been 7 Months since I started this project, still I have learned a lot in the process and goodness knows just how much extra weight has been added to my machine (I just keep bolting more stuff on) but it is very satisfying to know that I am well on the way to getting it all completed. I will post some more pics of the laser head as I get it all tided up.

                

Not everything went according to plan as I badly underestimated the size of the heatsink that was required for the 12 Volt regulator. The replacement here is a bit overkill but there was space on the machine to fit it !.

Tweakie.

8064

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

« on: April 20, 2010, 01:01:06 PM »

Well now the weather has warmed up enough I am back on the Laser Project, at last.
Connected up the final lot of wiring to the control panel, which looks a bit like a rat's nest but it will all be hidden from view by the cover, once I get it sprayed.

   

Checked all my work for silly mistakes and fired it up - Hey it works !!.

This is the first test piece, Wile.E.Coyote - thanks to Sam for the GCode.

   http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/laser1a.wmv

Tweakie.

8065

*****VIDEOS***** / Re: Some interesting video

« on: April 20, 2010, 12:47:15 PM »

Extremely nice work Andrea you make tangential cutting look so easy.

Thanks for posting the links to these videos - this is truly inspiration for all of us.

Tweakie.

8066

*****VIDEOS***** / Vector Laser Engraving.

« on: April 20, 2010, 12:42:21 PM »

Another very short video clip of Sam's Wile.E.Coyote.

This is engraved with my CO2 laser head (finished at last, well almost) onto a small piece of MDF.

                 http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/laser1a.wmv

Tweakie.

8067

FAQs / Re: E-STOP on Key Board, Setup

« on: April 18, 2010, 09:25:07 AM »

You could try:-

Config / Ports & Pins / Input Signals / Estop , check emulated, click on Hotkey then press your Emergency key and the value will be entered in the box, click apply.

Tweakie.

8068

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Help on a Major Conversion

« on: April 18, 2010, 09:03:43 AM »

Hi Bill,

Personally I would go for the fully buffered BOB but there are still many to choose from.

Just one tip - Do not electrically connect the metal part of the 25 way connector on the new BOB to the frame of your control box (like the existing 37 way connector is fitted), it will be connected to earth at your PC end and connecting it at the control box will create an earth loop which could lead to other problems.

Tweakie

8069

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Trident

« on: April 18, 2010, 02:29:14 AM »

Nice work Sam.

Hey Art made that nice plaque of Neptune, might be just what you are looking for.



Tweakie.

8070

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Help on a Major Conversion

« on: April 17, 2010, 09:15:02 AM »

Hi Bill,

The pinouts for the 25 way and 37 way connectors are more or less identified in the WinCNC manuals which you can download from here http://www.wincnc.net/webfiles/CNC%20Windows/Manuals/

Once you have identified the step and direction pins it should not be too difficult to connect a breakout board for the LPT parallel cable to the appropriate places to be able to use Mach with the existing controllers.

You could, of course strip out all the existing electronics and fit Gecko's etc but I don't think this would really be necessary, also sounds like a lot of extra work.

Tweakie.