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Messages - Jennifer

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21
Hi,

I've spent the last couple of months learning CNC methodology with the help of a small (14"x14") router and an ok CAD/CAM package (V-Carve Pro). The application i am working towards is performing repeatable inlay on stringed musical instruments. I am at the point where i am about to purchase the CNC machine that i will actually use for production. The benchtop machine i am using is a good little router, it is perfect for carving,cuts really smoothly, but is a tad too "sloppy" for highly detailed inlay, I can only hold about .007" over a foot, my X and Y axis are belt driven off stepper motors and i suspect the belts may be the culprit.

An example of my art is creating "tree of life" type inlays on fretboards, personalized head plates as well as the standard embellishments found on stringed instruments.

My dilemma is this: i do not know which type of machine is best for my application, a better built CNC router with all three axis using "ball screws" or a full blown milling machine with a CNC conversion applied?

I like the bang for the buck one gets with a router with regard to addressable size, but also am impressed with the much higher degree of accuracy obtained with a milling machine equipped with a high-speed spindle.

Any opinions about this would be greatly appreciated. I've pasted a couple links below to the machines. I am also welcome for other suggestions, perhaps you have a good used machine or know of one? I am looking to purchase within about the next week.

I am considering the "Vortech" router, the "CNC masters" Jr. and the Microkenitics Mills
http://microkinetics.com/express/
http://www.vortechrouters.com/shortcut-203.html
http://www.cncmasters.com/index.php?page=cnc-jr-table-top-mill

Thanks in advance for taking the time to add you two cents,
Jen
 

22
Welcome Lulu,

It is nice to see another female interested in CNC stuff. I am an inlay artist who is experimenting with using a CNC mill as a mechanism to make my art repeatable. I began my career in the manufacturing arena and was often the only gal in the shop. Even worked as a machinist for a machine buiding shop many years ago.

Jen

23
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: December 01, 2010, 10:23:43 AM »
Arturo,
I thought I bought it from CNC4PC.com along with three of the little RJ45 boards, perhaps i am mistaken. It is so easy to order something on-line, a couple clicks and it shows up on your doorstep with no farther thought.
I love the way the RJ45 boards are even labeled with the correct descriptors for the controllers I use. I will get you the serial number when i get home from my day job, unless it was on a sticker, I have a habit of peeling off stickers from stuff i buy.
You would think that i would get enough self abuse being an applications developer let alone messing with a PC during my time off.
Jen
   

24
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: December 01, 2010, 07:05:31 AM »
thanks for all the help aruturo,
It was weird, i switched back to the old board last night just for fun, it did not work as i expected. Perhaps it has something to do with my parallel port. it only outputs 3.3v on the pins that provide the signals to it. I think that it may be there just was not enough current do drive it. I have two seperate power supplies to run the setup, one 24v for the controllers and a 5v one just to power the BoB. maybe the difference in voltages has an effect. i do not know how the logic detects a "high" status. if it compares the reference 5v to the ports 3.3v to determine if a pin is in a "High" state then it could be the culprit. Any way the problem is solved. I will keep the old board for spare parts, your prices are so reasonable it would cost us both more time and effort then it is worth to return it.
Jen


25
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: November 30, 2010, 03:24:30 PM »
It Worked!!!
it was the board after all. I plugged in the new Breakout Board and it worked perfectly

- THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP -

This has been a positive experience for me, i learned a lot more about the nitty gritty of electro mechanics than i ever wanted, had fun doing it and got to meet a nice supportive community of people. Who could ask for more out of a hobby. Now if i can figure out how to....... well that's another thread :)
thanks again,
Jen

26
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: November 29, 2010, 11:09:50 AM »
Thanks,

unfortunately i work a day job, so i probably will not get to it until after 6pm. if the new board does not work i will set up a time to trouble shoot it with you.

Jen

27
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: November 29, 2010, 08:51:33 AM »
Arturo,

if you mean the stepper motor controller when you say "driver" then the answer is definately no, nothing is comming out of the old BoB. i will know the answer tonight when i have some time to mess around with it. I am hoping the new board cures the problem. i have correct voltages and wave form comming out of the parallel port, when connected directly the controllers they work just fine. All necessary voltages and signals are going into the BoB, but nothing comes out of it. I am almost willing to bet a dinner on it. but it could still be something really silly that i have overlooked.

most of my low level electronice experience involves RF circut design and construction, from my ham radio interests. while this device is quite simple, i cannot say i am very experienced on these logic devices. It seems easy enough, basically a signal goes in and a matching, but isolated from the source signal should come out. i have validated that the correct signals are going in along with the proper support voltages to run the board. the little LED that says signals are comming out is lit, yet there is nothing reaching the controllers (drivers?). it pretty much must be either the board or the wiring. i have used those cute rj-45 boards that match the BoB, that is a nice touch and why i bought that particular board. I have replaced the rj45 jumpers twice, even crimped my own one time. i have "rung thru" every lead on the RJ-45 jumpers several times. It almost has be a board level issue.

again thanks for all your interest, this forum has a bunch of really nice people who are most helpful. It is nice to find people willing to take their time to help a stranger.

Jen

 

28
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: November 29, 2010, 07:09:04 AM »
Thanks Richard,

the new board finally arrived on Saturday, i will install it tonight and see what happens. stay tuned for the answer.

Jen

29
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: November 26, 2010, 12:01:41 PM »
One more thing:

I did use both a VOM and an O-Scope on the BoB, i get zero output from it. also teh "output" status led does change when i disconnect the BoB from the parallel port, so some of the logic circuts of the BoB are "alive".


30
General Mach Discussion / Re: HELP! - breakout board diagnosis help needed
« on: November 26, 2010, 11:57:28 AM »
Thanks Arturo,

Thanks for your advice, yes i have insured that all of the conditions you mention are correct. When i bought the BoB i also purchased the RJ-45 connector boards for the controllers. I have "rung thru" all the pins on the cables to ensure that i had good connections from the BoB and the controllers. it is very puzzling. the only thing left is the board itself. I have even gone as far as attaching an o-scope to the parallel port to ensure that the signals generated by the computer via Mach3 are of the correct wave shape, duration and voltage.That's why i ordered another board from you. when it gets here i suspect the problem will be cured. if not i will contact you. the price is so reasonable it is not worth returning it. It should finally be here today (Friday) or tomorrow at the latest.

The router works perfectly when i bypass the breakout board, so i can assume that the controllers are working as designed. They are very common controllers, these were purchased from Keling as model 4030's, but i have seen them for sale under a number of brand names. they are the black metal type that have ten dip switches to control the stepping and ate current to the motors. The BoB "output" light does work, and i have tried both ways with  the charge pump in use and not in use, on pin 17 i believe.

thanks for posting your reply,
Jen

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