Re: Home page pic

You got it, it's that simple. 1" square 8020 aluminum extrusions
with UHMW bearing pads. Very slippery, very smooth, easily adjust
tightness and very dust and dirt tolerant. Accuracy is good too.
Even though these 6 pieces were cut-offs lying around the shop for
the last year or so, they all measured straight within .001".



--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Dennis Schmitz"
<denschmitz@...> wrote:

>
> Hi, I'm interested how you built the table slides. It looks like
> you're straddling some dimensional aluminum extrusions with nylon
> blocks acting as a bearing surface, but it's hard to see for sure.
>
> On 8/6/06, lcdpublishing <lcdpublishing@...> wrote:
> > Hi Dave,
> >
> > Thanks for posting the photo of the little machine. I think it

does

> > require a bit of explanation as to it's function and purposes so

if

> > you don't mind I will clarify all that here...
> >
> > This machine started out with a simply purpose, to be used as a
> > plotter for some motion control software I am

writing/converting. I

> > wrote some CNC simulation software that is a commercial product -
> > (that is no longer for sale).
> >
> > Anyway, seeing as I had the interpreters written for lathe and

mills

> > and the graphics plotting etc., I figured it wouldn't be too much
> > more work to take it to the next level of motion control as well.
> >
> > I am also learning about electronics and micro controllers etc.

So

> > I decided to combine all of this into a single project - the
> > minimill you see in that photo. Just to clarify, the motion

control

> > software, related circuits and the machine are NOT COMMERCIAL
> > products, it is stricly something for me to further explore CNC

at a

> > deeper level.
> >
> > As this isn't for profit, I am doing my darndest to make if fun.
> > Somewhere along the way, I got to thinking that this little

machine

> > could be more than just a plotter. So, I provided the mounting

for

> > a pnuematic spindle in case I wanted to do more with it and now

that

> > has changed as well...
> >
> > With the motion control hardware/software nearly completed (only

the

> > hard parts left to do ;-)), I got a crazy idea that it would be

fun

> > to add an electric spindle to the headstock, then this led to the
> > idea of a tool changer, which led to the need for a tool

magazine.

> >
> > I just finished designing and building a new headstock for it

that

> > provides all the functions to have an automatic tool changers.

The

> > driver circuits and controller circuits and micro-software are

being

> > tested this weekend. Integration into the CNC simulation

software

> > will also be done today if life cooperates.
> >
> > While the main goal of gaining a deeper understanding of motion
> > control is still primary, this project has really been a great
> > learning experience for electronics and micro controllers. It has
> > also been a ton of fun as I dream up new stuff to add to it all

the

> > time which provides for many more learning experiences with
> > electronics and micros. It appears as though when I am done with
> > this machine (if I am ever done with it), it should be a really

good

> > PCB manufacturing machine tool. It will have a 38 tool magazine
> > that can hold all the tools for PCB millling/drilling and the
> > ability to automatically change tools, measure their lengths and
> > diameters etc.
> >
> > The CNC simulation software that is being converted for this use

is

> > also moving along very well. As with any project of this size

and

> > scale, to keep it all fun, I just work on what seems interesting

for

> > the day when I roll out of bed.
> >
> > If Dave (and the group) would like, I can provide many more

photos

> > during the comming months.
> >
> > So, that's it in a nutshell.
> >
> > Chris
>