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Thanks EddyCurrent, ill have a good luck. The only reason for the drives is i know they are rated and they are available for a great price on ali express.
Yes Neale, it could well be if George had his way. He has built loads of steam trucks, trains and a steam boat. He is such a cleaver guy and does all his designs in solidworks these days.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...i_uk/CNC/e.png
Those parts are looking great. Well, yes, if the friend who's helping you has build those fancy steam engine things then I'm sure making the cnc machine parts are going to be like Gordon Ramsay whipping up a few snacks for a kids party :-)
Plus one. G.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neale
Thanks for the replies guys.
EddyCurrent, ive ordered the drives and the motors have arrived. Only thing is now i need to find the belts and pulleys. Ive read GT5 i the right type to get but all the belts ive seen only have fiberglass banding and not steal. Does anyone know where to get these from? Ive tried www.beltingonline.com and a few others.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...230_210618.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...230_210612.jpg
HTD 5 15mm width are the ones you want and the belts dont need to be steel banded they will be fine fibregalss. Just buy a decent quality branded belt like Dunlop or Gates etc.
Hi loving the build, quick question which software are you using to design the machine? thanks!
Hiya,
Im using solidworks, its the first time ive used it and is quite intuitive in most part.
Ive straightened the two ball screws on my X axis today and stripped and rebuilt the two ball nuts, since doing it they are so much smother now.
Trev
Hi guys, ive got a fair bit done and am currently looking at the electronics side now. I was looking at using linux cnc, but as i dont have any pc kit to hand that has a true parrallel port im thinking this is not ideal. So im looking at Mach3 or Mach4 and am thinking about using CSMIO/IP-M. Does this look the right way to go?
Trev
I think youi should forget Mach4 for now, Mach3 is the one you want.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gotty101
Hi guys sorry for the lack of updates. So we have done a fair bit now, lower frame is next. Ive started to build up the control box. Still thinking if CSMIO/IP-M is the way to go as it seem well thought through. I need to get a cabinet for the electrics, ive got the drives the transformer and safety relay so far.
Any here are some pics of what we have done.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...110_110208.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...110_133525.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...115_184857.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...115_185300.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...115_185315.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...115_194820.jpg
The Csmio-Ip-M isn't ideal for slaved motors as it will only home to one switch not two.
It's a great controller(I use one) and IMO the Cslabs stuff are best by some margin but the IP-M as only just had slaved motor capabilty added and last I looked they haven't yet made it home to independant switches on same axis.
Thanks Dean, im intending to drive both x axis screws by a belt so I should be able to save the 4th output for a 4th axis later on.
No brainer then get the IP-M.!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gotty101
Thats great, ill get it ordered. Thanks
Hi Gotty,
Fantastic work on the design or build. I had started designing my own before finding this thread and it looks quite similar to your design. Actually it looks as if I had almost copied yours. I swear I did not. There are two major differences; first I decided to order a Z axis from Parker (404XR) and I'd like to make the base out of extrusion profiles.
Are you going to share your plans for the gantry parts or are they closed? I would be interested in replicating most of your machine on this side of the Atlantic for my personal use would that be a possibility?
Also any progress since your last post?
Thanks,
Sébastien
Hello all,
Sorry for such a delay in my response, ive been quite busy with work, GF and other hobbies/projects. So i thought i would post a short update of where i currently am.
Ive got the machince properly mounted on the frame (epoxy leveled) and the steel is currently being painted Hammerite blue. Its not shown on the pics but its got all the brackets for the energy chain ect now, and ive turned some fittings that will take 4mm festo connectors for greasing the hiwin blocks and ball screws.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...322_154306.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...322_142152.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...322_142024.jpg
ive built my own psu, and integrated a pre made soft-start into it, it has relays that control the cap drain resistor (overkill i know) and the high voltage.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...714_203311.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...714_203306.jpg
So now im currently wiring up my cab, ive done the schematic and tonight did the wires to the drives (there is space for the 4th axis when i get round to that) Ill insulate the terminals on the caps before i finish the cab wiring.
Trev
Looking good Trev!!!
Thanks Neil, im really looking forward to getting it moving.
Trev
It's a good feeling getting it moving....ive just got to get mine so it stops if I cock up.....
Arent these drives too stuck together ? Give them 1-2 cm apart so they could breathe :thumsup:
They look close but there is about 1 to 2 cm between the heat sync and the next unit. There are two 80mm 24v fans at the top of the case and 3 60mm inlet holes at the bottom. If there is a problem ill mill and install a fan onto the drives heat sync.
Trev
Hi guys, ive still working on the build and doing all the wiring when i can, but i could do with some setup advice.
Im using AM882 drives and the following 4nm steppers (http://www.cnc4you.co.uk/Nema23-Step...m-60BYGH401-03)
I would like to know any general settings to make in the ProTuner software for the drives, as ill be configuring the alarm port setting so its always on and off in the event of a fault so i can daisy chain the alarms, and it will trigger a stop should a fuse go or a wire brake.
One question is i know its bad to unplug the motor from the drive while its running, but would it be bad to power the drive up with no stepper connected for setup purposes of the alarm circuit ect?
Many Thanks
Trev
I've powered the drives up with no steppers and it's not affected them...whether it's a right thing to do is another question :)
No won't hurt it them at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gotty101
Also Suggest you wire the alarms in parallel so if any one trips it turns on a relay. Put the E-stop thru a NC contact of that relay.
This means the relay will reset when power drops and the drives will reset them selfs. Also you'll avoid any issues with voltage drop wiring in series can give and it's less stress on the drive transistors.
Thats great, thanks for the help guys.
Trev
Small update and rubbish pics. I've started running the cable into the cnc. Also due to my small cab and to make wiring easier for me I've made a pcb to handle the control of the master relay (that's not on this board). It's very basic in design but reduces space and handles drive fault signals and isolates to the limits due to their current drive limitations (bit otters but just incase) (am882s can only handle 100mah each and let's you setup in series or parallel depending on the am882same config), limits (the prox sensors can handle 300mah each) , estops, buzzers and over ride as well so a few other bits.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...13-WA0000.jpeg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...018_190117.jpg
Looking good Trev.
Like the PCB as well. You might find a few takers on here for that.
Thank you everyone especially to JazzCNC for all your help. Today i finally got my cnc to move by mach and the motion controller for the first time. Im very pleased. Ive got some jobs to do yet like finish the control panel on the cnc itself, and sort the mist system.
I have one drive disconnected at the mo and have bypassed the alarm (will do a much better job of that), as that is for the eventual 4th axis, but i will learn the 3 first.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...220_183229.jpg
Thanks again guys
Trev
Well done Trev, looking good. It's a good feeling when it moves for the first time isn't it! Finish off what needs doing first before starting to use it....otherwise it'll still need doing in 6 months time, ask me how I know!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gotty101
Need to post a video of it cutting next...
Great another CNc Virgin's cherry is popped well done that man keep up the good work and listen to Neil . . . .Thou he should known better.!!!! :beer:
Argh but you have no excuse Mr hussey because you were pre-warned. .:watermelon:Quote:
Originally Posted by njhussey
I know, I know....I've no excuse....[emoji17]Quote:
Originally Posted by JAZZCNC
Nice control box certainly a credit to you, brill:excitement:
Yes I agree with Clive and forgot to comment, well done mate. I did see one thing thou Trev to be careful with.? Tie rapping those signal cables together isn't a good idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clive S
I'm not saying undo them now but if you have any strange happenings when working, like twitchy motors etc then go straight there and remove them.
Thank you for the kind messages.
Ive just got some minor thing and the main build is over, then i would like to work on sheilds for the rails and screws, although im currently moving my stuff about as im moving out of my house on the 10th of jan and in to my new one some time in early march.
I had a few problems setting up the z axis last night where it would trip the stall alarm if it was moved quick. In the end i manually tuned the z axis pid current settings and it works a treat now, and tonight ive setup the soft limits and played about a bit. One thing is can you make soft limits default on at all?
Thanks for the heads up JAZZCNC, ive ran all the internal signal cables in belden shielded cable (all the gray wires), and all the signals out of the box are also shielded.
I have installed an EMI filter on the VFD power feed and a EMI filter on the Stepper supply feed. I know its OTT but i wanted to be sure and thought i may as well while i was working on it.
One thing ive been looking at is the vistacnc p4-se mpg which looks quite good, does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks again for all your help and support, it could not have been done with out your help and support.
Trev
Hi guys,
Just an update to say im still alive and have not given up, ive finally moved into my house fully a few days ago, and managed to do some work on the cnc. One of the home sensors was faulty so i swapped that out and its running a basic g code file (although not cutting anything yet) fine. In the file i have though it starts with a tool change request, but the spindle carry on running. Is this because i need to code the macro for the M command?
It homes and has softlimits so it does not hit the stop no matter what prox switches, the estop circuit works as planned.
Ive got to plumb up the pump for the spindle coolent, the touch probe, front estop button and the mist coolant and we should be done.... Although ive started drawing up my 4th axis that will use a harmonic drive.
Other than the list above, i guess i need to learn to use it now, but on question is how do i know if ive got the motor tuning right is there any guide or advice?
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...11_200429b.jpg
Kind Regards
Trev
Nice to see you back on again Trev.
Not sure what you are saying here but the spindle should start using a M3 and then to stop it use a M5.Quote:
In the file i have though it starts with a tool change request, but the spindle carry on running. Is this because i need to code the macro for the M command
If you post the gcode file up then it could be checked.
Beautiful machine by the way I think you should put it in the hall of fame http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/10066...inished+builds
so that others can see it and get inspiration .
Hi Clive,
Thanks for the reply and the kind words. Yes the spindle starts and stops using the M commands. It may be the test gcode file i found on the net, ill upload it when i get home. I had read that the tool change macro is empty so you implement it yourself, which may be the issue and just a matter of telling the spindle to stop and start again when you say you have changed the tool.
I will post it into the gallery once ive finished tidying it up and fitted the last bits. I cant wait to have a play with it :D
Trev
Are you using Mach3? I seem to remember a configuration setting somewhere that specifies action on tool change, and one possibility was, in effect, "do nothing".
There is a check box as I had the same problem, Jazz told me about it and voilà the M6 codes worked....not near the router now so can't remember exactly where the option was....
That would be in General Config. See picQuote:
Originally Posted by njhussey
Attachment 19011