Reply with QuoteYour controller looks very neat, nice job on that. I'm not convinced that using the rack and pinion z drive is going to work though. There will be an awful lot of backlash.
Chuck’s X2 conversion – I Hope –
I have been working on this project for about 1 week and 2 days now.
Do you think it will work?
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Your controller looks very neat, nice job on that. I'm not convinced that using the rack and pinion z drive is going to work though. There will be an awful lot of backlash.
Some nice work Chuck, I like the Z axis setup, but like Rat, I think you'll have some problems unless you've done something to get rid of the backlash.
Thanks guys
I think I will have more y-axis problems then the z-axis with the counter balance detached there is no backlash in the z-axes as long as I don’t do any fast hard plungers into the material. – I hope any way -
p.s. this is the first time I ever touched a mill so I have a lot to learn.
Interesting point Chuck, as the biggest problem I have with the Z is it getting pulled into the work as the bit bites, with all the weight on the rack it might not do that, hmmm.
let us know how well it works
do u have a cooling fan or vents in that electronics enclosure? might get a bit toasty in there. very clean though
Yes I have 2 fans in there the stock fan that was in the box I replaced and the other is at the bottom right in the picture.Originally Posted by skmetal7
She’s all done – I hope
Works very well
Now all I have to do is figure out how to get my project drawings in there.
Looks really good Chuck, could you take a couple more picture of your new Y setup?
Have you cut any metal yet? Does the Z axis work as you'd hoped?
what size stepper (oz wise) are you using on the Z since you don't have any counter balance?
a very clean design
chuck,
where did you get your box for the electronics? The wiring job looks absolutely awsome. Very clean. Can you give as much detail on what you used for wiring in terms of kind of wire, where to get it, what are you using for hold downs for the wire, etc...
Once again great job on the wiring.
I cut some metal with the jog only in mach3 and everything works better then I thought it would.
I used this kit with the 4 axis and 425 oz motors http://www.kelinginc.net/ThreeXCNCPackage.html
A friend of mine had the box lying around and gave to me, it is 12” x 12” x 4”
I used 4-16ga wire for the motors and 4-22ga wire for the home and limit switches the wire ties are held down with those tape blocks and I got all at the local electronics store.
Cool, thanks for the info and pictures Chuck.
Keep us up dated as you start running it harder
Chuck whats the part number on the large timing pulley you used on your Z-axis?
I'm assuming the other pulleys are the ones used by Blade in his build?
Same belt on Z and X ?
Sorry for all the questions, but it looks like I'll be able to start my conversion sooner than I thought.
I plan on basing it around what you and Blades have done.
Thanks,
-Doug
https://sdp-si.com/eStore/Default.asp
Here is the z part #
A 6R 3-067037
A 6A 3-22DF03708
A 6A 3-45NF03710
Here is the y part #
A 6R 3-079037
A 6A 3-22H3708
A 6A 3-22DF03708
I used a longer belt for the y-axis then Blades used so I could move the motor out and down so it would not hit the x-axis motor.
cool thanks Chuck
Though the y looked like it was angled down a bit
Hey Chuck, looks really good, man!! Looks like that Z axis idea worked out pretty well.
I haven't been on here much in awhile, as work has been keeping me really burried for awhile now, plus it's been too cold in the garage to hang out there much.
I have been designing a custom extrusion for the Y axis that mounts the same as my original prototype, but it incorporates a belt guard. Only issue with this design (as you pointed out) is that with the motor straight out from the Y axis, the X axis motor will hit it. I only lost a small amount of Y axis travel with my setup, but a larger motor would not work, unless the bracket was flipped over to place the motor on the other side. Anyway, a company in India can produce this custom aluminum extrusion, fully machined and anodized for around $50. Problem is, I'd have to buy 10 of them.. I found another source for the pulleys, where I could get them for around $1.50 each, with the 20mm hole bored. Problem there is, they also wanted nearly $200 for shipping 40 pulleys.
I'm not so sure there would be enough demand for this 2 axis kit to make it worth my while.
Other than that, I'm playing around with another controller board I got from the same place I got the original one. This one has more features, is 3 axis, and has limit switch inputs and relays on-board. This setup will run around $150, and come with slightly more powerful motors than I got with my kit.
Here's a pic of the extrusion design:
Hi Chuckie,
Nice work on the X2. Looking really good.
Blades. I'd love to get the details on the extruder in Indian and the pulleys aswell?
Might be worth looking into.
Rod
Hey Chuck,
You been able to cut some parts and run your setup hard yet?
was wondering how the Z-axis setup/accuracy was doing?
Yes I have been making aluminum and steel parts with no issues with the z-axis and the whole thing works great for me.
I do not know what you mean when you say running it hard because this is the first time I ever laid my hands on a mill of any type.
I will make a video soon and let you decide.
Sounds like you've been working it, looking forward to the video
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