Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: High Speed Spindle for SIEG X2 - Finally .... ... just a nagging doubt ?

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the details. I had it that you were isolation milling the
traces as well. But I know that with fine traces, etching might be needed.

Your stepper bracket with bearings sounds interesting. Where is there
room for the flange of the bearing if the stepper is mounted flush on
the bracket? Must not be what I've envisioned. I'd like to hear/see
more.

I have my leadscrews mounted between bearings, a little bit of loading
should reduce the end play. that's the way the original parts were used
(surplus). But now I've got some odd-sized bearings with flanges.

I like to use as many "digital" tricks as I can to design PCBs. By this
I mean Eagle, and strictly vector drawing files (Gerber and Gcode).
this is opposed to bit-map "art" approaches. Amazing how things can now
be done in so many different ways!

Alan KM6VV

Chris Horne wrote:

> Alan
>
> I design my pcbs using Corel, it may be a bit old fashioned, but I
> like the control of doing it all manually. I am producing hundreds of
> each design so the time it takes to get it the way I want it is not as
> important as it might be.
> I then create a bitmap and manually edit it until it is just right.
> I then use the bitmap to laser print onto press-n-peel which is ironed
> on and etched.
> As far as the drilling files go, I have used the PlatinCNC demo.
> It scans the bitmap and recognises where the holes are.
> It outputs an nc file which I manually edit where required.
> I have to scale the bitmap to compensate for shrinkage of the
> press-n-peel process (about 102%)
>
> Currently I run the nc file in a demo version of Mach3 Mill but once I
> have some pennies I will buy a registered version (although I can
> manage fine with the demo, the author deserves it)
>
> The file for the profiling of the board (my boards are funny shapes,
> round with cut-outs in the edges) is created manually with the help of
> mach3
>
> With the two files spliced, I can drill the board and cut it out
> without manual intervention.
>
> As far as a top support for the Proxxon is concerned, I have only just
> got this second spindle up and running, so far it doesn't look like it
> needs any extra support. The bracket is 1/2 inch steel and clamps
> firmly onto the proxxon... I may be lucky that the tail end of the
> proxxon just touches the plate for the main spindle motor. and of
> course I only use it fro drilling so there is no lateral force.
>
> A couple of comments about the rest of the machine..
>
> My stepper motor mounts were fabricated from 1/2 inch aluminium bar
> stock.. they have two ABEC 9 skateboard bearings in each and have a
> little pre-load to eliminate end-float. The ends of the standard
> leadscrews were extended to take the steel timing gears you see in the
> pic.. The hardest part was reaming the bar to fit the bearings. but
> using a sandwich of plates it was fairly easy to align everything..
> once I had machined them it only took a few minutes to mount and set
> them up..
>
> The counterweight on the x axis is vital.. it is made from lead cast
> into dried milk tins. as I only have a tiny stepper for the axis I
> have to balance the head fairly accurately. It runs over a couple of
> pullies made from aluminium stock via a 3mm steel cable. I had to add
> some weight to counter the weight of the proxxon. I haven't yet got
> round to mounting bearings for the x axis leadscrew so I have it
> biased to make downward movement easier.. it removes the backlash
> from the z axis..
> I don't think a pneumatic spring thingy would be as reliable as the
> counterweight.
>
> Next on the list is to make some Delrin leadscrew nuts.. I haven't yet
> decided whther to injection mold them or make a tap from a bit of
> leadscrew.. probably the latter as it is easier (but not so much fun)
>
> Eventually I will make a much faster custom machine for pcbs, but for
> the time being the X1 does what I need.. and it does a whole lot of
> other jobs besides.
>
>