I'm working on a new MM quietly in the corner #5 - Orlando. FL

[Andy]

Greg

When we laser stencils on sheet we leave small tags or I think you may refer to them as 'bridges' to support the island part of the letter.
Take a look at a truck main chassis ( or a garbage truck and you will see
it quite often.The tags could be painted out by hand afterwards for the true perfectionist

[shaperx]

Sean, In your post #313 you set Map home to pin #15 are you putting Y++ ,Y-- ,x++, x--,z++ and z-- all to pin #15?

Have copied all posts relating limits/homes to the limit/home thread

[Greg J]

Originally Posted by Andy

Greg

When we laser stencils on sheet we leave small tags or I think you may refer to them as 'bridges' to support the island part of the letter.
Take a look at a truck main chassis ( or a garbage truck and you will see
it quite often.The tags could be painted out by hand afterwards for the true perfectionist

Thanks Andy (Don't mean to use your personal thread Sean)

The tags/bridges are common. But when you have a font like the MechMate logo, it's a challenge. Specially for someone like myself, who has never done this. Actually, the shopbot forum has allot of info relating to this subject. I'll get it. Thanks again, Andy. I'll let Sean have his thread back.

[Greg J]

Sean,

I think it was you who had a link for software that will convert AutoCad 2000 to newer versions. You posted the link, but I've looked everywhere and can't find it.

Does this ring a bell?

My AutoCad 2000 will not print anymore with the new Vista OS. It may also be I'm using a USB cable to the printer. Anyways, I was hoping that the conversion software had a print comand.

[Gerald D]

http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=736

[sailfl]

Greg,

I have AutoCad 2000 and I can print to my USB printer but it might be Vista. I am using XP Pro. Hope that helps.

[Greg J]

Thanks Nils,

[shaperx]

Sean, Do you know where I can get 1/8" or 2mm plywood good quality not cheep door skin.

[smreish]

Mark,
I can start you in the possible right direction.
My supplier here in florida services most of the USA.
- Quality Plywood Specialties, Clearwater, FL and Detroit, MI
(I get most of my 1/4" maple and birch plywood here)
- DIXIE plywood (nationwide)
...also contact your local boat marina that services big to old boats. The yard guys often know where to find good 1/4" fir or sandiply based plywoods.
- you can also call and ask to speak to the Technical Director on staff at the La Jolla Playhouse. 1/4" plywood is a Theatrical Staple for construction.

Good Luck.

[smreish]

I just wanted to post the 12000nd post.

[domino11]

Sean,
I remember a while back you said you were thinking about switching from the 20 tooth to 30 or 35 tooth pinions to get a little more speed. Did this help anything and did your cut quality suffer at all?

[smreish]

I haven't switched yet.
I bought the pinions. They sit quietly on the computer so I can look at them every day while Nils is working on his machine! That new big blue machine under construction has my attention diverted!
The only thing the larger pinions are going to gain me is better "fast moves" on the machine between cut areas. I don't foresee any difference in cut quality, but I will let you know if I do!

[Greg J]

Heath,

I'm using the 35 tooth pinion. Cut quality is excellent.

Here is a stock pattern in 3DCut that I made. I did use 220 grit sanding to remove machining marks. The machine marks were due to bit choice and not the MechMate. Again, excellent cut quality.

MM Leaf.jpg

[smreish]

ooohhhhh. pretty.

[isladelobos]

can be improved, how long is?

[J.R. Hatcher]

I don't know how you kept the stem from breaking off? If I had to guess the length, maybe 5 13/16". It looks good

[Greg J]

It can be any size you want. It was scaled in Cut3D to fit the piece of Oak (7.25" wide by 12" long). A tab was added at the end of the stem. Pretty simple.

[smreish]

...I like the new format.
Nice, Clean and neat.

[domino11]

Wow, that is a really neat sight. This machine really likes to work!

[Greg J]

WOW, a real work horse.

Sean,

My wife (and I) say you HAVE to get a dust control system !!!!!!!! We're hoping your at least using respirators.

[Doug_Ford]

Sean doesn't mess around.

[Gerald D]

That's a good picture! ......from a machine perspective, the health side makes me nervous.

Any comment on dirt buildup on rails, in rollers and in rack & pinions? Our experience with MDF is that the machine is "self-cleaning". . . . . what is that material in the pic?

[smreish]

Respirators in use, but it's PVC shavings, not EPS foam. Big difference, unless your using a hot wire - then we have vapor issues.
This was a few hours (okay 6hrs) after cutting out a lot of expanded pvc (sintra) sheet for water coolers.
What you don't see in the picture is just behind where the photographer is standing are 3 - 10' x 14' roll-up doors....well ventilated area.

...Nils, my personal photographer, must have been bored and not drilling holes like the homework I left him to post this photo

No issues on the rails...pretty self cleaning. I occasionally have to take the pitch and gum off the z-slide (1x a month) to make me feel better.
Rack / pinions look like the day they were installed - dust really doesn't build up on them all.

I can't wait to move the machine to it's new home. I have a huge Dust collection system in place and waiting for the MM... And room for machine #2 next to her.

Bit selection - for those interested.
Onsrud - spiral up plastic specific bit @ 220ipm

[sprayhead]

Hi Sean

I love that picture. Looks a bit like mount Fuji on your shop
I think it proves again that the blue beast is good friends with dust.

Sean, let me just ask, does this sintra (expanded pvc) you're cutting makes a lot of fine, light dust or the particles are more similar to little shavings? Do you see much of a cloud around the machine, during cutting?

I'm just trying to see if I can compare your expanded pvc dust with my PU dust, witch is very, very fine and gets absolutely anywhere where there is a little bit of airflow.

Thanks.

[DMS]

Sean,
Really a work horse. I am glad that I chose right one.

How long does that bit last?

[sailfl]

I can answer about the cloud of dust. No, cloud.

I will add photos to my thread soon, but Sean finished welding the Gantry and I was cleaning it up and painting the day I took this picture.

[smreish]

No really fine dust - mainly due to the type of cutting bit chosen.
As mentioned many times on the forum - make chips, not dust.
The spiral up plastic bit at the right feed rate makes a really nice shaving, thus heavy chip with little airborne dust.

Since Jan '08, the MM you see has logged just over 480 hours. I just changed the router last week to have the old Porter Cable rebuilt. The original I put on the machine came from my old Warthog router table and had about 400 hours on the router. SO, after 800 hours, the router was in need of brushes and bearings. Rebuild on the router was $125.00 dollars.

[sprayhead]

Originally Posted by sailfl

I can answer about the cloud of dust. No, cloud.

I will add photos to my thread soon, but Sean finished welding the Gantry and I was cleaning it up and painting the day I took this picture.

Hi Nils,

I tried to find your thread, where is it? I want to see these photos. Thanks.

[Greg J]

Originally Posted by smreish

No really fine dust - mainly due to the type of cutting bit chosen.
As mentioned many times on the forum - make chips, not dust.
The spiral up plastic bit at the right feed rate makes a really nice shaving, thus heavy chip with little airborne dust.

I'm starting to learn this lesson. Newbies (like myself ) tend to go slow when learning their machine and the materials. As I gain confidence and learn how different materials behave, my feed rates are increasing. Although, some are coming down (The MM does not like high pressure laminates at 200 ipm).

[smreish]

laminate -
compression bit
1/4 dia
140 ipm @ 13K rpm was ideal for me.
single pass if just laminate
If on core of MDF or ply...cut upside down with laminate on table.
Cut plywood first with 1 or 2 passes, then last pass cutting just laminate alone.