Messages

8561

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BladeRunner

« on: June 27, 2009, 09:12:19 AM »

Excellent work. 

Tweakie.

8562

General Mach Discussion / Re: Serial connecting all 6 home and limit switches

« on: June 27, 2009, 04:37:15 AM »

Hi Adam,

There is no reason that this should not be OK but make sure you use screened cable to avoid picking up noise and getting false triggers with the long cable runs you will be making.
Funny thing about energy chains is that you can always squeeze in one more cable but never two. 

Tweakie.

8563

General Mach Discussion / Re: Intermittant pulse frequency. An old school gamer fix that worked for me.

« on: June 27, 2009, 04:29:11 AM »

Hi Eric,

Brilliant solution - thanks for the tip (and download link).

Tweakie.

8564

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: June 27, 2009, 04:23:41 AM »

Hi Chris,

You really need to get goggles that have an optical density rated for the wavelength of the laser you are using. Welding goggles may protect your eyes but they are too dark to be of any real practical use.

Tweakie.

8565

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: June 26, 2009, 08:53:11 AM »

Chris,

You need to be wearing protective goggles. Do not look at the reflected beam without them.
If you use a benchtop PSU then providing 2 to 3 volts to the laser control board the laser will emit a LED beam (without lasing) which is easy to focus. Then turn up the wick to 5 Volts. (a DC power source would be better).

Tweakie.

8566

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: My first attempts at laser engraving.

« on: June 26, 2009, 07:37:48 AM »

Just a word of consolation - my laser won't melt butter either.
However if somebody ever produced black butter the laser would surely cut it !.

Tweakie.

btw. These low power lasers have to be focussed to a dot the size of a pin point to have any affect on anything - do you have a good lens ?.

8567

Share Your GCode / Re: CNC "rackmount" pizza box server plans for MiniITX mobo, PSU and dual 3.5" H

« on: June 26, 2009, 07:22:31 AM »

Wow !

Tweakie.

8568

Tangent Corner / Re: trying to help my grandpa set up cnc machines

« on: June 26, 2009, 03:30:46 AM »

Just a regular parallel port is the minimum requirement for Mach operation. A breakout board is good to have and essential for some types of CNC driver boards although not required for Gecko and some other drives.

Your Grandpa will have endless hours of fun.

Tweakie.

8569

Tangent Corner / Re: Y Axis problems ?.

« on: June 26, 2009, 03:23:36 AM »

Of course, the flood defences - bit like the wall alongside your workshop. 

Tweakie.

8570

Share Your GCode / Re: CNC "rackmount" pizza box server plans for MiniITX mobo, PSU and dual 3.5" H

« on: June 26, 2009, 03:20:44 AM »

Well presented project - must have taken you a lot of time to compile.
Can't help thinking that you have some shares in an acrylic company though. 

Tweakie