I'm quite astonished: Rick (superior bearings) received our payment on the 26th, and our parts are ready for collection at the post office today (the 27th)....

:D

26 of which month ??:confused:

26 of this month, as in next day delivery... from the US, via the SA post office. :eek:

I'll ask when he actually sent it, maybe he sent it before he received our payment? I think that's unlikely though...

It wouldn't surprise me that Rick sent things early. He likes the MM builders and we usually can be trusted to pay our bills!

Hi Corne

Any new pictures on your build

OK, it's been a while...:o
Day job permitting, we're slowly getting back into the build. Some images to catch up:

http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...00524-1357.jpg http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...00526-1316.jpg
Moving the B.A.T out to be sandblasted.

http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...00525-0752.jpg
On the chassis bending machine to straighten her out.

Finally moved her to our shop...

http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...7012011519.jpg http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...02/BATFeet.jpg

The twins:
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...2/TheTwins.jpg http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...2/Steppers.jpg
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...tHatedTool.jpg http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...2/SomeToys.jpg
Love / hate relationships..... and some goodies!

An example of the type of thing I hope to do on the machine: We built recessed frame cupboards, and needed an authentic English edge beading on it. Those familiar with the style will know it's a tall order. Pictured below is one of the joints, how it came out, and how it was done...

http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...202/JOINT1.jpg

http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...202/JOINT2.jpg

http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...02/Kitchen.jpg http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...0112010478.jpg

Bliksem! Daai ding is groot!

Ek stem saam.....Is that why you have a 4.5 kW spindle ?
Well done, glad it is coming together.

Wow! Looking Really Good. The size is impressive! Kepp the pictures coming.

Jy wil `n klomp kaste bou?Lyk goed.

Thanks for the comments guys.

Kobus: did you get my message on the spindles?

Hennie: I'm not really rigged to do cupboards anymore, but I used to be in the bussiness. I built that kitchen for the guy who let me use his facilities and steel to build the machine frame. Manually cutting joints was a pain. Having a CNC machine would've saved me a LOT of time...

i WOULD LOVE TO GET OUT OF THIS GAME ,AT THE MOMENT THE MM GENERATES MORE THAN THE KITCHEN IND. HAD TWO BUILDERS END OF LAST YEAR THAT WENT BUST ON ME STILL RECOVERING FROM THAT.

Thank's Corne, I suppose you refer to the message a while ago....because you were very quit for a long time.;)

Hennie: I'm sure it'll pick up again. We also do granite; directly after the world cup, everything just came to a dead halt and it's only starting to pick up again now - hopefully your neck of the woods will follow soon.

Kobus: ja ja ja.... :o

Oh, just in case anyone was wondering: shimming 150 holes sucks.

Jy gaan daai monster gebruik om graniet te sny?.Hy tel so bietjie op maar klomp horse trading wat aangaan.

Sjoe, nee. Klip soek 'n heelwat frisser masjien!

the old school stone Massons didn`t chissel all at once bit by bit.:)

New arrivals:
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...NC%202/aaa.jpg

For South African MM builders; I can recommend Greg (cncdirect) to anyone, very helpful guy!

We know...he sorts out Mach3 problems over the phone tjop tjop :p

Levelling the rails:

I am sure most guys don't find this part to be too difficult; but given the length of our rails, there are a couple of hidden issues. There probably are easier ways, but this is how we did it:

As suggested somewhere on the forums, we built a “trolley” with a laser mounted on top, pointing at a white surface 10 meters away from the machine. The trolley's wheel centres are identical to the bolt spacing on the rails. We then record the position of the laser on the white surface for every space between the bolts.

Knowing the position of the first bolt, and the dot on the white surface, we can draw a corresponding line in CAD. The combination of these lines, gives us an accurate map of the rails' shape. It turns out that, despite my best efforts, the rails had a maximum deviation of 4.68mm - well within shimming distance though.

A nice way of mapping the laser's position, was setting up a camera in front of it on a tripod, and taking pictures of each position. I then superimposed the images over each other, and measured the distances from there - very accurate. From the CAD drawing, shimming sizes were simply measured and transferred to the machine.


It seems to have worked well, and this is the current state of affairs.

Next a strip of granite and an accurate level (used for wheel alignment) will be placed between the rails to level the second rail at the two ends, giving us a new datum to work from on that rail. Wash, rinse, repeat...

The first rail's horizontal straightness is set up conventionally with line and a magnifying glass, the second with a spacer, and finally the gantry's wheels and the magnifying glass.
In theory, the rails should be good by then...

Comments suggestions, and critique more than welcome.

Oh, and there's some progress on the control box. I'm sure there might be some concerns for EMI, but let's see. :)

Corne wat gaan jy met daai monster sny?

EMI problems usually reside in the power supply pc

A quality power supply helps. You may be installed inside the power supply, a EMI filter.

In some cases, is best one 12v PC and the power is from one external PS.

Hennie: Mainly moulds for truck parts, and whatever else I can find for it.

Nice job on your machine. Thats one beefy table big enough to run 2 gantries!

Tim