Re: Home page pic

Hi Alan, the tool changer is a work in progress right now. I don't
have any idea when that part will be done. I just got the spindle
and all it's related hardware and electronics working this past
weekend. Found a couple bugs that need fixing so I might take care
of that before moving onto the next item.

I will try to post some photos in this group as more develope. Dave
is also welcome to post other photos on the home page as well. I
believe i sent him a couple.



--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Alan Marconett" <KM6VV@...>
wrote:

>
> HI Chris,
>
> I'd be interested in seeing more photos. I'm particularly

interested in

> seeing the tool changer! Maybe something similar would work on my

current

> "Baby PCB Router" project.
>
> I have similar interests; I wrote my STEP4 controller program

after first

> just wanting to do some simple stepper motor moves. I've both

bought

> Gecko's and built drivers; and I've currently milled a PCB for USB-

CNC's CNC

> controller program and pulse generator board to go along with EAS

stepper

> driver boards.
>
> A good way to learn! Even though I'm running a CNC'd Sherline

mill and

> lathe, I'm finding it quite informative to design and build this

little

> router. And a good way to use up the surplus motion control stuff

I

> collected.
>
> I have two pix posted in the photos section of the SherlineCNC

list under

> "KM6VV Engines". Not finished. When I get it finished, I guess I

should

> give it its OWN folder!
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
>
> >
> > 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
> >
> >
>