Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] 3D Printing

On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 4:08 AM, Tony Smith <ajsmith1968@...> wrote:

> I think the 3D printer guys all suffer from NIH (not invented here)
> syndrome.
>
> One 'problem' they have is Mach3 et al can't control the head temperature
> (LinuxCNC apparently can), to which the obvious answer is 'why bother'?
> Get
> a $15 PID off eBay or DX and be done with it. They'll send out an alarm
> for
> under/over temp, use that to pause Mach3. Feedhold is fine.
>
> The rest (XYZ) is standard CNC stuff, the extruder can be the A Axis, it
> only runs one direction at a set speed so that's not rocket science.
>
> Anyway, they all seem happy with their Arduinos and weird & wonderful
> software.
>

I think it was more about what the makers could afford, not about trying to
blaze a trail that was already paved... arduinos are cheap, but CNC
controllers are *now* only becoming cheaper... And if you want to make your
own, you need some specialized skills... I can certainly agree that some of
the maker community suffers from NIH, but most of us want to piggyback on
existing technology as much as we can to meet our needs. Less time making
and more time playing!

The 3D printing controller that I use is called RAMPs, and it works as a
shield on an Arduino Mega. This controller cost me $60 + $50 for the
Arduino Mega (which can be used for some other project, while I am not
using the printer) + ~$12 each for the Pololu drivers. And that controller
does everything I need from heating/sensing the hot end, to heating the
bed, to controlling up to 5 stepper motors (XYZ + dual extruders). If I
wanted to have a separate CNC mill and a 3D printer and I didn't expect to
use it at the same time, then I would only have to invest in 4 Polulus and
could swap them from my RAMPs board to my GRBL board... I fail to see a
negative on this...

Drew


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