#91
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Happy Birthday, for man and machine!
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#92
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congrats for both the MAN and the MACHINE!
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#93
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Congratulations and happy birthday
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#94
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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 |
#95
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Wow, you got a MechMate for your birthday!
Well done John. |
#96
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Congratulations on your working machine!
Woot!! Glad to hear that you machine is now operational. Todd |
#97
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Congratulations John...on machine and birthday...
Hector |
#98
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Now your MM can grow old with you Happy birth day!
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#99
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Well done John.
It is a great feeling finishing the BEAST. Are you as young as your serial number.. |
#100
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Great job John Now that's a birthday gift I'm sure you will enjoy!
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#101
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Congratulations John!
Nice shop! |
#102
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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 |
#103
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Very nice work John.
Looking great. |
#104
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First Class . . .
That is one first class build . . . Hope I can come somewhere close . . .
Steve |
#105
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Nice going John. Now we are waiting to see more and more dust. And pictures
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#106
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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 |
#107
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John,
So you will now have to start another one for yourself. |
#108
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John,
How did your move and re-assembly go? Pictures? |
#109
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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. |
#110
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John,
Glad the move went well. Let us know how the business for your son comes along. |
#111
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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. |
#112
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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 |
#113
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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
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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
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john i remember now you used a auto type relay
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#116
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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. |
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