Gerald I couldn't find the right thread. Please move if need be.
This is a follow up to the discussion started on Roberts thread..........

I took a look at my machine and realized the "motor mount/spring holder" will not work flat because it will foul the router, therefore I agree with Gerald and Leo, it is too complicated for the improvement it makes. However I have always thought the Z motor mount bracket on the spider is a pain in the butt to get aligned correctly when welding. Please take a look at the mod below and see if it's worth the effort??? Thanks J.R.

J.R., that is a tricky one because there is a bend through the slots and thus the width of the slots mating with the spigots of the plate (that could be 6mm or 1/4") is hard to control. However, I am comfortable with the second slot/spigot.

For the actual welding, we drop a piece of wood between the spider's feet and the motor lug to hold it parallel to the feet.

I was assuming (I need to be careful here ass.u.me thing) the 2 slots even though 1 is open ended, would react the same in the bend???

The effective width of the bent slot depends on who is doing the bending and the plate thickness/grade, so we have to specify a generously wide slot which is going to be fairly loose for some people.

Here are some nice pics of the job done by Claus in Romania.

To all that celebrate Christmas ....... MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas JR!

Good day Mark;



Been reading your post and I for one am interested in the belt drive you built. Very impressed, I have been looking for 3 of these, how much are you asking for them?

Toad

JR, I am starting down the road to building my MM. I am currently educating myself and trying to determine all parts needed to start with a simulator setup. I noticed you are in Wilmington, I have to go to the Brunswick plant on Monday and would love to take a look at you machine Monday afternoon if possible. I got your info from your cnc-nc website and will call tomorrow. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Robert

Have contacted Robert by phone and have setup a meeting for Monday.

Colin, I have never touched the belt drives since the day they were installed not even to adjust the belts. I am going to build another Mechmate soon and there isn't anyone that could talk me into gear drives, even at a giveaway price .... it will always be belt drives for me. I hope this says it all. J.R.

J R
Did you make your belt drive, or purchase them somewhere. If you made them, could you let me know where you purchased the parts.

Toad

Toad and anyone else that needs the 3:1 tranny parts.

Material List:

SDP/SI part numbers:
Drive Pulley: A 6A 3-15DF03716 4 $9.84/Each $39.36/Total
Driven Pulley: A 6A 3-45NF03716 4 $17.42/Each $69.68/Total
Belt: A 6R 3-054037 5 $4.73/Each $23.65/Total (1 extra belt)

The driven shafts were fabricated out of .5 in. x 3.5 in. cold rolled steel rod.

Bearings: 1.125 OD x .5 ID x .375 (Part # 1616ZZ) sealed ball bearings from VXB (KIT 958) Qty 10 $24.95

Aluminum Stock: .5" X 4" X 12" per tranny (bar stock).

JR,

Thanks for the info,
Do you have contact info for the supplier?
Toad

http://www.sdp-si.com/web/html/drivesystems.htm
http://www.vxb.com/ballbearings.html...FQNinAods36UIg

Thanks, I saw it right after I sent the post, couldn't see for looking.

Thanks

I just wanted to tell everyone why I like Gecko drives soooooo much. I have a homemade CNC wood lathe, it runs on Gecko 201 drives, that are over 5 years old. I had a power surge in my shop several weeks ago. I tried to use the lathe a week or so after that and it would not work. During trouble shooting I found 1 of the 201 drives was not working, so I replaced it with a spare 203 and everything worked fine. I sent the 201 to Gecko for repair. It was repaired and returned with this note.

"Out of warranty Step Motor Drive Return was inspected and tested. An unexpected failure of one of the components was found. The component was replaced and drive repaired. Inspection/testing/repair/return shipping free of charge as a customer courtesy."

This is why all of my future machines will run on Gecko Drives. Thanks Mariss for such a great drive and more than excellent customer service. J.R.

Ditto JR.
Customer service at GECKO is so far above par, I just don't go looking anywhere else.

Thanks for sharing.
Sean

JR did you ever share the pics of your CNC lathe???

JR, I am glad that it worked out for you. When I had my 202 failure I contacted them asking for some info, but up to now have not heard a word from them. For us on the other side of the world it is not that cheap to send it off in the post, but maybe I should try and see what happens.

On the other side I am very happy with the UIM units I am running now. I did had to buy a new transformer ( lower voltage ), but I find my steppers running cooler and I cannot see any difference in speed. Maybe in top speed jogging, but cutting speed is just as fast as what I feel the MechMate can handle without jumping the rails or skipping steps.

Maybe I should post those 202's to you and you send it on for repairs for me ;)

Kobus, maybe we should start a collection of dud gecko's out here and send them off as one combined shipment?

That's a good Idea. I have 2 units to go. Let me know.

Irfan I never posted any pics of the lathe. I'll post some within the next week.

Hi JR. Thanks for the information. I think I should got my plywoods that way neither. :D

J.R.
I read most of your build diary and you are an inspiration! It is sort of funny that lumberjack Jeff is on one coast with the most frugal system, and you on the other coast with the most detailed system, and you are both building boats!. I don't mean to insult either of you. Both builds are impressive. I have a couple of questions that you can feel free to answer or not.
1. Are you making a living with the MM?
2. Did you integrate it into an existing buisness?
3. Did it fill an already identified need?

And last but not least. If I get more serious, can I come see you and your MM at work?
Thanks,
Roger, (near Charlotte)

Roger I hope my answers are not tooooooo long. J.R.

1. Are you making a living with the MM? ...... no
2. Did you integrate it into an existing business? ....... yes
3. Did it fill an already identified need? ....... yes

4. And last but not least. If I get more serious, can I come see you and your MM at work? ......... yes
Thanks,
Roger, (near Charlotte)

JR, Let's see some pics of your lathe if your willing to show and tell! Sounds interesting....

Here are a few pictures of my homemade CNC wood lathe.

Now Mr J.R. Please explain how it all works. Is that big golden wheel the chisel ? Does that move towards and away from the workpiece. Then I see another stepper to move it left to right.

do you then just spin the workpiece at normal lathe speeds ?

COOL!
BUT... Where are all the wood dust???

Interesting concept - what sort of items do you produce with it?

Hi JR thanks for the pics

a similar one on youtube

Assuming you being ready for questions - here are some :)

1. How is the finish of the cut
2. Do the customers like it
3. whats the time saved b/w manual and now cnc
4. what RPM are you spinning the cutting wheel at
5. what program do you use to generate the g code
6. What diameter of wood (minimum and max) can you turn on this??


RGDS
Irfan

Hi JR,

Nice build, What did you use for the movement, Ball screw or Acme, How is the accuracy.I assume the motor to be a 2 Hp 2880 RPM one. Whats the finsh you are getting, do you sand then after turning? Love to see a video of your machine turning wood.

Regards

Vishnu

I want to be JR when I grow up. :)

West Satsop Boatworks is just getting started, but we've delivered two 19' boats to our main client.

Like JR, our niche will be making kits.

1) not yet, although we do now have positive cashflow (yay!)
2) no
3) the business was started up around the MechMate, and the relationship my business partner has with Samual Devlin.

As of delivery of the second Pelicano, the MechMate has paid for itself. I can't thank Gerald enough.

This was my first attempt at CNC ....... 2005?. It was built on a shoestring budget. The rods that the carriage travels on are "1 inch black water pipe" just like it came off the shelf. The steppers directly drive regular all thread rod (I will be changing the Y axis to rack & pinion (problem with the rod whipping during jogging)). The motor driving the 8" chain saw cutter is .25 hp 1725 rpm w/ a 1:1 belt drive. The material turns very slow .... around 180 rpms. I can turn almost anything with this that I can turn by hand, however some pieces (depends on design) require some hand work to complete. It's accuracy is much better than almost all wood turnings done by hand. The software is "Mach3" and it is used as if it were a mill with no z axis (X is dia. and Y is length). The cam software is "Sheetcam" and does need to be fooled a little to make it work.

Kenc the wood chips are contained by the shower curtail:)

Irfan
1. How is the finish of the cut? Very easy to sand
2. Do the customers like it? What customer wouldn't like CNC
3. whats the time saved b/w manual and now cnc? It does 90% of the work while I'm doing something else:D
4. what RPM are you spinning the cutting wheel at? 1725 RPMs
5. what program do you use to generate the g code? Sheetcam
6. What diameter of wood (minimum and max) can you turn on this?? .5" up to 12" The lathe is an old Delta (pre Rockwell) 6" X 36" with this thing bolted to the back of it, this way I can still turn by hand:p

Thanks everyone

Roger and Jeff .......... I want to be like anyone making money with his CNC:eek:

If I missed anyone's question please point it out.

Thanks JR, if you get time put up some theory on how you fooled sheetcam :D

Your lathe is completely brilliant. Do you have any photos of workpieces you've made with it?

Hi JR,
What type of cutting wheel do you use on the lathe? Can you provide a link?

JR, I like that lathe! :)