Messages

8611

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 16, 2009, 02:51:51 AM »

Hi Prof,

Looking at the circuit - the enable pins 4,7,14 I am not certain if these should be left high or if they should be taken to ground.
Also pins 18-25 of the LPT should be ground on your circuit.

Tweakie.

8612

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 15, 2009, 09:01:29 AM »

That's normal the steppers should lock when power is applied. Nothing wrong with your IC alternatives (I think). Go into Mach config / ports and pins / motor outputs and check that you have the step and direction pins configured correctly (also is the active high/low set correctly). In the Port Setup and Axis Selection try selecting Sherline 1/2 pulse mode.

You are certainly on your way. Hope this helps.

Tweakie.

8613

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 15, 2009, 08:02:31 AM »

Hi again,

I think that both of the boards you are thinking of building will be good. Personally I would prefer the Tom McGuire design as you could use a ready made Break out Board incorporating opto isolators etc for your LPT connection to the computer.

Providing you are only going to use the finished project for pcb drilling then any of the 0.6 to 0.8 Amp stepper motors you have would have enough torque for positioning the spindle as long as you keep the friction on your  X,Y,Z slides low and use a high speed spindle such as a Dremel for the drilling. For pcb routing however, you would probably need more torque and have to upgrade the steppers for 1.5 to 2 Amp models but the driver boards you are looking at will handle this upgrade.

If you go for the Tom McGuire it would be handy if you could find someone local to yourself with a working machine to route the pcb for you as the GCode for the board is available for download.

All the best,

Tweakie.

8614

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 15, 2009, 04:25:46 AM »

I fully understand wanting to make it yourself.

Another suggestion - have you looked at chips such as the Alegro A3977 ?. The advantage of an integrated solution is 'micro stepping' as this produces a much smoother movement of a bipolar stepper motor than say 'half step' will do.

All the best,

Tweakie.

8615

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: A Valentines day gift.

« on: February 14, 2009, 09:12:35 AM »

Yea Rich,

It just goes to show that your soda machine doesn't love you any more. 

Tweakie.

8616

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Taig CNC Lathe: First Run...

« on: February 14, 2009, 03:29:46 AM »

I love the Gecko Inside logo.

Again very professional looking standard of workmanship.

Tweakie.

8617

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: A Valentines day gift.

« on: February 14, 2009, 03:21:14 AM »

Dracula should have no problem with these.

Tweakie.

8618

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: 3 Axis Stepper and Spindle Control Circuit Diagrams

« on: February 13, 2009, 08:57:41 AM »

Hi,

There are many 3 axis stepper driver boards available from China (on ebay) at such low prices that it is hardly worth building your own. Some of these boards incorporate the charge pump safety circuit and spindle control relay as well as providing opto isolation of all inputs and outputs they also have provision for adding a forth axis at a later time.

Yes it is OK for limit switches to pull to ground but make sure it is the controller ground and that ground loops are not created in the process.

If you have the time to take a look at my website you can see the machine which I constructed and there are some details of the problems I encountered in the process.
http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net

I hope this helps. Good luck with your build - please post pictures of your progress.

Tweakie.

8619

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / A Valentines day gift.

« on: February 13, 2009, 05:30:02 AM »

Hi Guys,

A simple gift for your loved one.

Just in case any of you are as soppy as me I have posted my GCode but you had better get going as you only have until tomorrow.

Good luck.

Tweakie.

nb. The attached .nc file is compressed - change the file extension to .zip before you open it.

8620

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

« on: February 13, 2009, 05:23:41 AM »

Beautiful gears - my complements on your work.

Tweakie.