I put that thing together, man is it cheap, nothing like the Penn State dust collector I purchased 15 years ago for the shop. The PS outweighed it by at least 100 lbs. Now that's an idea. Room is limited (actually have too much junk generally speaking) and I may have it blow into a barrel outside and not worry about it. The noise is an issue to me as well. I purchased a 5-12 volt/30 amp relay that I can use to switch it on when the spindle runs so it'll probably be switched on all the time anyway. I've taken a few pics of the table while upside down to weld but have to do the Flickr thing again.

Table pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomas_...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomas_...n/photostream/

Please critique if you feel inclined. All right someone tell me again how to post actual pics through flickr and have them show up without having to click on link. Please, please, please.

Pics make it real
 

Well are you going to finish before the end of the year. The icy trees are pretty but it was 87 here today. I schivering ZZZ just looking at that.

Absolutely before Thanksgiving. Those pics were from several winters back, 67 here today, very comfortable, almost too warm for my liking.

Tom

Seeing the pictures of the snow and ice reminds me why I live in FL and how it is so much nicer to visit the cold!

I actually like winters...in Florida that is. Its really not that cold here overall, not like North Dakota or anything.

Well back out in the shop to get some welding done.

It may be a good idea to switch the DC separately from the spindle. . Sometimes I will run my table surfacing file, with just the DC turned on to vacuum the table off.

Yes, I have my vacuum on a remote switch so I can turn it on/off when I want it. I some times don't run it when I am cutting.

Well that's too simple, where's the complexity in that?

Mach 3
 

The nice thing about Mach3 is that you can create an icon to turn on/off things like vacuums, water pumps for spindle. The Shopbot I went to see was set up this way.

I have the my dust collector set up with a run off a timer. It fires up automatically when the spindle & k1 energizes for the first time however it has a 15 minute on time. Basically the spindle is off for 15 minutes. This helps collect stray suspended dust particles. The start/stop station on the dust collector allows me to turn it off manually if I don't need it on.

Pete that's a good idea but I'm not sure if I'd want more than a 5 minute timer. I'd be more inclined to set up a on/off button with some kind of optional trigger when the spindle starts up in mach3.

Don't tie the set up to rigid, there will be time you wish the DC is never on, & there will be time you find the dust food is in your way.

Tom, we are all trying to give you examples. The choice is ultimately yours.

Sorry Guys I'm not ignoring anyone intentionally, just had this overall picture in my mind's eye of how I wanted it. I do agree with everyone though, flexibility is key.

You are going to be busy for the Turkey day deadline. Good luck, I am sure you can do it.

I can do it! I can do it!

Visual Basic as Timer
 

The one thing that I see Mach3 can do is interface with Visual Basic. Once you start the spindle it sets timer one to run the vacuum. and when the spindle stops it resets the timer to run 5 minutes more. Visual Basic is fairly easy. I learned to use it at work to exact data from files and send it to the mainframe. Oh and the basic package is free.

Sounds like something to check out, can't beat free if you have time to learn it.

If I don't give myself a deadline it may be next thanksgiving.:eek:

Welding of the base is done for now, next is turn it over and re-tune it. This will be interesting. I'll have my brother-in-law lift it with the tractor, hopefully everything will be alright. I'll have someone shoot a video or take pics of the progress so all can see.

Should be fine. As long as you weld in a way not to draw it you should be fine.

Well if you need us to hold you to it, okay, I look to see it completed in two weeks.

Is it in 2 weeks?:eek: I do have the majority completed though there are a few things in the electronics area that I'll need checked and verified, software configs, that kind of thing. But I feel confident that even if it is not completed by the deadline it'll be darn close.

you can be the first to use the MM to slice a turkey. Hmmm g-code for that let see da vinci surgical system. Your kids can get involved what was the field they were going into nuero biological. Oh no you could be the one that creates the Borg.:D

Ha Ha:D yes I might. My son is going into genetic engineering maybe chemical.

Well the table is on its feet now! Holy Crap it's big, 14' long. I really have to get rid of a lot of stuff I've not been using, stuff like that Bowflex I use to hang my welding jacket on, or the extra 350 Chevy block I rest spray cans on, or the collection of ball and claw leg blanks that I never finish carving, or the......

14':eek:
The mind boggles.
Remember, it is only junk until you throw it out.
Put it on E Bay for the price of a small beer.
That way you can drink and be merry and drowned melancholy:).

I've always heard, bigger is better.:rolleyes: I'm not a pack-rat, I've just collected stuff for very expensive projects never started (or finished). Maybe its time to give up some of those projects for a little space.:( OR I can build another building, Yeah!:D

Space, the final frontier. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds as if you might complete your latest expensive project

This wannabe pack rat wants a bigger one and the building to go with it.
Happy with what I have for now.
It ran all afternoon with no problems. :D