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  #91  
Old Sun 05 April 2009, 23:27
Lex
Just call me: Johan #56
 
Empangeni KwaZuluNatal
South Africa
Happy Birthday, for man and machine!
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  #92  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 00:02
javeria
Just call me: Irfan #33
 
Bangalore
India
congrats for both the MAN and the MACHINE!
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  #93  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 04:18
Jayson
Just call me: Jayson #18
 
Horsham
Australia
Congratulations and happy birthday
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  #94  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 06:39
jhiggins7
Just call me: John #26
 
Hebron, Ohio
United States of America
Thanks everybody. Feels good!:

Gerald, a special thanks to you for the very special Forum and your tireless efforts to help us reach this goal.

Also, to all those others who have contributed to the Forum, we who follow you benefit greatly from your shared experience.

Here's the updated Builder's Log.

Regards,
John
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  #95  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 07:28
Rad Racer
Just call me: Wayne #25
 
Minnesota
United States of America
Wow, you got a MechMate for your birthday!

Well done John.
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  #96  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 07:47
Higginto
Just call me: Todd
 
College Station
United States of America
Congratulations on your working machine!



Woot!! Glad to hear that you machine is now operational.

Todd
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  #97  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 09:33
kanankeban
Just call me: Hector #89
 
Monterrey
Mexico
Congratulations John...on machine and birthday...
Hector
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  #98  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 12:17
hennie
Just call me: Hennie #23
 
Roodepoort JHB
South Africa
Now your MM can grow old with you Happy birth day!
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  #99  
Old Mon 06 April 2009, 12:22
Kobus_Joubert
Just call me: Kobus #6
 
Riversdale Western Cape
South Africa
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Well done John.

It is a great feeling finishing the BEAST. Are you as young as your serial number..
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  #100  
Old Fri 10 April 2009, 15:20
docarter
Just call me: Donna #87
 
Suwanee, Georgia
United States of America
Great job John Now that's a birthday gift I'm sure you will enjoy!
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  #101  
Old Sun 12 April 2009, 08:54
gmessler
Just call me: Greg #15
 
Chicago IL
United States of America
Congratulations John!

Nice shop!
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  #102  
Old Mon 13 April 2009, 19:14
jhiggins7
Just call me: John #26
 
Hebron, Ohio
United States of America
Thanks everybody, for the nice comments.

I proud to say that's my son, Todd, in Post #96. He's getting interested in the MM.

Greg, I built my shop just before I retired (the second time). It's 24' X 36', and like everyone that has built a shop, I wish it was bigger. However, I hadn't planned on a MechMate, and I'm able to fit it in without much compromise. Couldn't put it against a wall since all the walls have built-in cabinets. But, as you've seen, I floated the Control Box, so it fits okay.

I've completed the Computer-on-wheels cart. I modeled it after similar products used in the medical field.

PICT2769-RS.jpg


The top just clears the X-Rail, so the cart can be moved close to the working area.

PICT2770-RS.jpg

I used materials on hand, except for the casters ($2 ea at Harbor Freight). The top is made from an old desktop computer case. The base is made of 1"X 2" steel tube...left over from the MM. I used 2" casters. If I had it to do over, I'd use 5" casters...better to roll over any clutter on the floor.

PICT2772-RS.jpg

The computer is a used Small Form Factor Dell computer that I bought for the MechMate. ($80 plus shipping and taxes AND it includes a legit copy of XP Pro).

So, now I'm tuning up the MM and learning to use the software. This 10 inch circle was created using DoubleCAD (free), G-Simple CAM (free) and Mach3. I still have some slight adjustments to make.

PICT2779-RS.jpg
PICT2780-RS.jpg

Regards,
John
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  #103  
Old Tue 14 April 2009, 05:21
Jayson
Just call me: Jayson #18
 
Horsham
Australia
Very nice work John.

Looking great.
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  #104  
Old Sat 30 May 2009, 10:54
MechMateCajun
Just call me: Steve
 
Baton Rouge, LA
United States of America
Smile First Class . . .

That is one first class build . . . Hope I can come somewhere close . . .

Steve
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  #105  
Old Sat 30 May 2009, 23:59
Kobus_Joubert
Just call me: Kobus #6
 
Riversdale Western Cape
South Africa
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Nice going John. Now we are waiting to see more and more dust. And pictures
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  #106  
Old Sun 31 May 2009, 04:42
jhiggins7
Just call me: John #26
 
Hebron, Ohio
United States of America
Thanks, Jayson (belatedly), Steve and Kobus.

We moved MechMate #26 to my son's house. He is planning to build a small business around it.

Regards,
John
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  #107  
Old Sun 31 May 2009, 18:10
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
John,
So you will now have to start another one for yourself.
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  #108  
Old Mon 01 June 2009, 13:58
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
John,
How did your move and re-assembly go? Pictures?
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  #109  
Old Mon 01 June 2009, 21:37
jhiggins7
Just call me: John #26
 
Hebron, Ohio
United States of America
Heath,

Yes, I'll build another one depending on how my son's business plans go.

MechMate #26 is a "bolt together" style. Each Main Beam with legs and cross supports is a unit. A Main Beam unit probably weighs about 200 pounds. We removed the MDF, removed the Cross Bearers (bolted) and moved it using a hand-pulled cart from the back yard to the driveway. Of course we had removed the cables, router, Y-Car and Gantry.

Reassembly went well. Had some extra hands. Took just a few minutes...up to the point of re-installing the cables. I took the opportunity to install the Safety switches and wires and a plug for the the Zero Finder. The leg levelers came in handy. My son's garage floor is built with a slant to the entry.

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures. I'm not in the same city with the MechMate at the moment.
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  #110  
Old Tue 02 June 2009, 07:19
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
John,
Glad the move went well. Let us know how the business for your son comes along.
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  #111  
Old Tue 27 August 2013, 15:38
jhiggins7
Just call me: John #26
 
Hebron, Ohio
United States of America
Low Voltage E-Stop Circuit

User andrewuk sent me a PM requesting photos of my low voltage E-Stop design. I'm pleased to respond. Andrew, I hope you'll forgive me that I have placed your response in my Build Thread. I am doing this, so others that may be interested can see the design.

I feel that there is some unnecessary danger in having the MAINS power (120 volts or 240 volts) running around the table to provide the E-Stop circuit voltage. However, Andrew is the first to show interest.

Here are the requested photos and drawings. This is a photo of the low voltage power supply mounted in the control box. I built it on a perf board.
The attached PDF's are the circuit diagram of the low-voltage PS and the Circuit Diagram of the MechMate control box modified to incorporate the low voltage power supply in the E-Stop circuit.

Andrew, thank you for your interest. I hope this helps.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Low Voltage PS mounted in Control Box.jpg (88.1 KB, 337 views)
Attached Files
File Type: pdf 12 & 24 VDC Power Supply.pdf (8.1 KB, 49 views)
File Type: pdf Control Box Schematic.pdf (16.8 KB, 51 views)
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  #112  
Old Tue 27 August 2013, 19:50
racedirector
Just call me: Bruce #122
 
New South Wales
Australia
Thanks for posting this John, I am studying the electrics side and wasn't too fond of of 240V snaking its way around the table. Hadn't got around to reading your thread (have done so now!). Off to decipher your modified diagram and to grab a 9V toroid.

Cheers
Bruce
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  #113  
Old Thu 29 August 2013, 02:33
andrewuk
Just call me: Andrew
 
leeds
United Kingdom
Thanks for the reply john. i personally think low voltage is the way to go as most new machines use low voltage on the E-stops. are you using a standard contactor or a safety relay?
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  #114  
Old Thu 29 August 2013, 04:48
jhiggins7
Just call me: John #26
 
Hebron, Ohio
United States of America
I use a 24v relay indicated in the Schematic as the ES Relay. The Contactor is a standard 120V Contactor which is energized by the ES Relay.
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  #115  
Old Thu 29 August 2013, 14:03
andrewuk
Just call me: Andrew
 
leeds
United Kingdom
john i remember now you used a auto type relay
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  #116  
Old Fri 30 August 2013, 05:49
jhiggins7
Just call me: John #26
 
Hebron, Ohio
United States of America
Andrew,

The ES Relay is a "standard" 24 volt coil, 1 or 2 amp contact, PCB mount relay. I don't remember the exact product model and I'm not in the same city with my MechMate, so I can't be sure. I used 24 volts because, as was mentioned earlier, it's a common voltage used in machine control circuits. The ES Relay doesn't need to have contacts rated for high current, since it's only energizing a Contactor.

Here's a photo of the relay. It's mounted on a perf board.

I remember someone talking about using Automobile Relays when I was building, but it wasn't me. They are typically 12 volt coils, not 24. An auto relay would work if you choose to use 12 volts for the E-Stop circuit.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg ES Relay Photo.jpg (102.9 KB, 246 views)
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