Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ellison Chan on June 11, 2012 at 3:36pm

Sounds great, Kevin.  Even at single quantities, we seem close to the $60 per board that Monroe, was hoping for.

I've also added this new spreadsheet to the top of the discussion, so we can get too it easier.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bouchard on June 11, 2012 at 9:45pm

The problems so far with 3D printing on a CNC are related to speed vs strength. Most CNC can't move fast enough.

Reading more about the RepRap electronics, they can't drive servos nor use anything else than USB (so no LinuxCNC). Better find something else.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bouchard on June 11, 2012 at 10:00pm

Ok then, I'll bite ;)

What we'd need is a bowden extruder. Simple enough at the nozzle, it would allow us to keep most of the setup out of the way (maybe on the outer side of the gantry wall). It could be switched from another tool faster this way. Auto tool-changer compatible even?

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on June 12, 2012 at 4:46am

You could use a regular electric frying pan and just mill the sides down with the machine and take the legs off :) ??? lol

And suddenly all the thrift stores wonder why the electric skillets are disappearing off their shelves...

;)

Permalink Reply by Dustin on June 24, 2012 at 8:15am

There was a reference earlier to "parallel ports are not common".  I would like to add that serial ports aren't so common anymore either.  Fortunately, the CNC machines at our office each have an old serial port and I've been adapting each one to use the network for programming and even wifi.  It's made the machines so much easier to use.  Our 3D printer is also networked.

An embedded webpage for settings, etc... would be a nice plus. 

Also, not that mobile access is needed for a CNC machine, but a networked / wifi CNC machine also opens up the possibility of some nice apps replacing the joystick and other type of controls. 

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Ruwan on June 24, 2012 at 8:44am

Doesn't this work http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-GUC1284B-USB-Parallel-Adapter/dp/B0001...

I've used similar cable, when I wanted to connect a computer w/o parallel port to an old printer.

Permalink Reply by Dustin on June 24, 2012 at 12:16pm

I, personally, am not against a printer port, but they are getting more and more difficult to find on computers.  If we go with a printer port, I think we should do a network port as well (they are not expensive).  I believe we would regret it later if we didn't.  I have 5 PCs in our house --- not a single one of them has a printer port.  Granted, one of the mother boards is printer port capable, but it didn't even come with a connector for it.  At work people like the networked machines because they can program them from any machine.  The software can be tricked into working over a network (if it doesn't have the built in capability to do so).  In fact, our 3D printer can be started from home.  You certainly wouldn't want to do that with a CNC mill, but who knows how the machine could be modified in the future.  So many things are networked these days --- it would be painful to come up with a design based solely on a printer port.

 

Permalink Reply by Dustin on June 24, 2012 at 12:19pm

Often these work.  I've not found them be as reliable.  In hooking them (and some USB/serial) adapters up to oscilloscopes they seem to have a lot of jittery signals.  I've found the Lantronix and IOAcces ones work well for serial.

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on July 23, 2012 at 4:31pm

Bump... I've been working on an Eagle 6.x version of the UHU schematic. Not that we are totally committed to the UHU servo drive system but with an up-to-date version, we hope to have bids from board houses on fabricating them... IF the UHU is what we center on.

For those of you proficient in Eagle, you know the most difficult tasks often involve finding the correct part in the *vast* libraries available. If the part does not exist in a library, you have to make it yourself. This is not at the same pain level as dental surgery but it does take some time to learn to do it well.

So FWIW, this project is moving at least on two fronts: Machine mechanical drawing development (in another thread), and a UHU update development (centered on this thread) for fabrication bidding purposes.

With a frame/gantry/table a builder could choose the drive system from one of dozens already out there. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel but just get the wheel as cheap as possible within the budget goals of the group.

What I have personally done? Put some minor skin in the game by purchasing 3 each of the EAS board version of the UHU. That is what the Excel spreadsheet at the top of this thread is based on. My personal parts stash is big enough I might get them running except for the UHU controller chip that must be obtained from the original designer.

 

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bouchard on July 26, 2012 at 6:38pm

Excellent, R. D.! Keep us posted if you get the boards working!

Glad we have someone with electronics knowledge on board. I could chip in for the controllers, PM me if interested.

Permalink Reply by R. D. Starwalt on July 28, 2012 at 7:21am

Friend req sent Kevin. Need it for PM communications.

Permalink Reply by Ellison Chan on July 28, 2012 at 7:31am

Hey folks, lost my internet for a few days, while I was switching ISPs. (DSL to Cable)

Great to see everyone gearing up on this!  Please be sure to keep us informed in this forum.

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