Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Tooth belts & gear suppliers

I am a big fan of using Belts and toothed pulleys and I will tell you why (not
that anyone really cares....)

Thru the last few years, I have retrofitted a few different PC based controls on
a handful of different machines. I think it is 9 now. Sometimes the drives and
motors are a mishmash of components. On the machines where there is a motor tied
directly to the lead screws or rack and pinion drive techniques, your just
"outa' luck pal" when it comes to dialing things in to run the way you'd like.

Direct drive is wonderful for the fellows or manufacturers that have spent a
year or two, finding just the right components to make their machine robust, Or
the type who can disregard cost and just get the best. For those, I am real
happy for you.

But there are those, myself included, that have kids to feed, you get the idea,
SO the first thing we do is look at the various mathmatical equations found in
the vendors books.......

Example:

If : X =R then .3251+5>4 + x2 = C
Then: E=MC2+658>3<3>3<3 = R
So: R is L but really isn't... so use W in place of Z
Then: R+T+R and R = G

WHAT is That ??

You see, home hobbyist types generally are not Rocket Scientists. Subsequently,
because they are not on the pay level of Rocket Scientists, they simply can't
buy the components from the manufacturer that has all of those fancy
mathematical expressions anyhow. So, what's left ? Well, we've all heard
it....

"see, I got these belts from an old copy machine.... And look at these 3 motors
my buddy gave me. Sure, they don't match, but I bet they run !!!" One might be a
Servo... So I'll build a Hybrid !

"Got's these THK's from a guy on E-Bay, well one anyhow, and the other rails I
found are round."

"I'ma gonna use a lead screw for the Z axis, a belt for the Y axis and some Rack
I got real cheap from Mcmaster for the X."

Now friends, there is nothing wrong with the above technique(s). Some times it
is the most fun when I can visit someone who built "something out of nothing"
that actually works. I know there are those types of machines out there.

But, what this all means is, You better have some way of "tuning" this baby when
you get her hooked up !! I am here to tell you, One thing I learned, is that
there is an >incredible difference< between components. I can literally put my
hands on 4 different machines using the exact same control software, but on
different drives and motors. All of them run Very differently.

I'd be the first to recommend, that one if at all possible, buy your entire
control and drive components from one vendor. They have spent the time necessary
to make sure it delivers. That's not always the option.

When we are forced to mix and match, and sometimes we are,...we need all the
options we can get.

Belts and Pulleys seem to be a pretty good option to me. And you know, Sometimes
that silly motor "stickin' way out there" looks a little stupid too.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it !!

Chris Luebke

"S.L.Ramsay" wrote:

> Mike,
>
> I'm as baffled as you are as to why belts and pulleys are a mistake. I've
> been fortunate enough to visit both Camtronics, Inc and C&G Research and
> witnessed first hand the benefits and wisdom of using belts and pulleys. I
> have also yet to receive any detailed explanation from JanRwl @ AOL.com as
> to the reasons behind their comment that belts and pulleys are a "mistake".
> Seeing how highly regarded Dan at Camtronics and Chuck at C&G Research are
> spoken of here, I'm very curious as to what motivates the comments of JanRw.
>
> Scott
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Phillips" <mikep_95133@...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 05, 2001 7:27 AM
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Tooth belts & gear suppliers
>
> > Belts and pulleys are a mistake?
> >
> > Why?
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., JanRwl@A... wrote:
> > > In a message dated 03-Nov-01 15:51:14 Central Standard Time,
> > > slramsay@n... writes:
> > >
> > >
> > > > I do not want to use a direct drive setup. Instead, I'd like to
> > power the
> > > > ball screws using "tooth belts" and matching gears using an offset
> > axis
> > > > system.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Mistake, IMHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
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