Wiring!
 

Hey moco,

I was just curious about the layout of your enclosure. I was wondering why you are using so many small sections of din rail? Also it looks to me like the control boards you are using are mounted over the power supply transformer? I can tell you from personal experience that you will want to mount it as far away from that as possible.

While i haven't built a mechmate, yet, i have done many electrical wiring projects for some very large installations, and have had BIG problems with things like this. Even with very small control transformers, generate a tremendous amount of noise, which we all know is really bad for electronics.

I think you all need to re-think your control box layout, and distance the PCB's from the high voltage, especially the transformer!

The z-axes are 2 spiders, back-to-back.

engineer, funny you mention that because we actually are a bit worried about it. We did a lot of talking about the layout of the box and finally settled on raising the BOB up over the transformer and shielding it with a steel plate would be okay for a first try. If we get a lot of interference we will move it though.

as for the small sections of din rail: we happened to have small sections so we figured we might as well use it to our advantage and spread things out into places where they fit easily instead of trying to squeeze everything in to one large section. It also helped us a little bit with the "flow" of the box and moving power around it in a way that made more sense.

we'll definitely heed your advice and see what comes once we get power to everything.

shielding
 

A "second try" might involve buying a new bob. Your steel plate under everything will not do much, unless it makes a seamless box around the whole thing and ground it. This will shield the boards from EMI.
In the specific instance that i had a problem with a PCB next to a transformer, much like yours, upon power up the EMI from the transformer actually caused an arc across an opto-isolated part of the board, and fried it and everything connected to it.

Not saying that it will happen to you, but just a word of caution.

Thanks for the pics Ben. I see it better from those pics. But more detail may be of interest to us all... :)

Teacher-of-the-day here.
The Transformer location has been a great topic of conversation in our MOCO (Motion Control) class. Since were in a learning environment, the choice to go ahead with space allotted placement is being taken. The enclosure was a found and repurposed item, so our original requirements were compromised.

The class has located a small NEMA 4/12 Box as a back up solution to "remote" the transformer outside of this enclosure and piggybag on the the bigger box. Thus, rendering the EMF in a box and grounded separately.

Sometimes it's hard to explain EMF and inductance interference until you experience it first hand; Thus, learning :)

Thanks for the comments MM forum - keep them coming!

Regards,
Sean

motors bench tested
 

after being pulled away for some productions, a conference, and a couple other projects the team has been able to get back together and do some nice work on our cnc project.

the motors have all been spinning hooked up on the bench.

the table is in very good shape, awaiting a couple prox target holes and a nice coat of paint.

very pleased with the progress of the team, nice work guys!

In the first picture. you have one radio broadcast?

don't know what you mean by radio broadcast.

The racks (19in?) in the background in the upper left appear to house the type of equipment used for broadcasting radio ... a few years back.

ah
 

ah that would be this. we are in the process of setting this up as a test station for some of our equipment. i am not sure its original purpose, we likely picked it up surplus and are converting to our needs. we do a fair amount of that in our business

...and the best part - all this gear is in perfect working order. Even the tube based freq counting unit on the upper right. Ahhh - surplus. :)
The silver 2U unit that is set vertical in the center of the Rack is a Goddard Controls AWU (automated WINCH unit) Very sophisticated analog limit and position controller. The "essential" basis of theatrical automation and control used on broadway for years. Of course, it's all PLC now, but a great system that is still used today.

Drool ...

getting closer
 

hey all

we have got the frame painted, reasembled and are in progress wiring it all up. we need to ring out all the wiring before we power up. we also need to complete the cutting surface. Images show the overall machine, a close up of the two z slides back to back and a shot inside the tube showing the bolts for x rails.

Great progress class. Can't wait for commissioning day next week!
Cody, I see you got the back-to-back clearance for the proximity sensors worked out.

Note: Since the class decided to make this a 2 z machine, they painted the plasma slide (RED) for FIRE! and the utility z axis black for visual clarity when operating the machine.

Nice work.

Sean

...and the MechTorch machine is cutting. A few bugs, but working pretty well!
Good job class - A+

Congrats to the Class and to Sean! The first MM Plasma. MechTorch! :)
Hey Sean, where are the pictures and logos? :rolleyes:

we are holding off on the logos until sean joins us next week. working right now at ironing out the bugs.i will get more pictures next time i am over in the shop.

getting closer and closer
 

machine keeps getting closer and closer. these are very excting times around here. these are also very busy times around here. we are trying to wrap up this project and a few other ones we have going on to finish up our school year.

I am impressed !!! Congrats ..... Metal Smoke is dust ehhh ? I want to see a video... Sent you a PM as well.

Yes metal smoke is most certainly dust!

getting closer and closer... dialing in torch height controller... getting it working

Really close
 

Getting so close

We spent some time dialing in preset volts on the torch height controller and then some more with travel speed

We ran a bunch of circles and squares in 1/4" plate and 16 gauge

Then we were feeling adventurous and decided to cut out the school logo.

We are planning on putting mechmate logos when our teacher returns next week.

Nicely done guys!

can You post wiring, mach3 configuration?
and any other device used, diferent to Normal Mechmate?

YouTube video
 

Just a quick and dirty video of some of the first couple of cuts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cMzAEfQX0s

Yes, all those oil spill are dirty :( .... but no sign of your video.

Video link did not work... :rolleyes:

What is the Plasma cutter & THC you are using.

Hey cool video -

MAKE SURE YOUR NOT BREATHING THAT DUST !!!!

That is not smoke you see floating around the room. It is vaprized metal. Nasty stuff on lungs and electronics (Thinking of all that nice old AV equipment posted earlier).

If you don't have an exhaust system , at least skirt the table with sheet metal and use a shop fan to catch smoke.

See this thread on the zone. (My Plasma Torch Setup)

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...275#post338275

Start there, but a good read if you read the whole thread.

all the nice electronics are closed up. we are only testing in this space. we are moving it to our metal shop for use. which is much better equipped for ventilatiion. still i am considering a dedicated catch and exhaust system.

thc is an mp3000 and dthc from CandCNC and arc good current transformer. gekko drives and oriental motors steppers

torch is a thernal dynamics pak 75

nice video cody

the plasma lead is a 20' shielded machine torch lead

i am working on getting the drawing package put together

Hi Cody,

I'm Jealous. You really have a nice machine. Congratulations!!

Logos, Dust, and Blue!!!
 

Sean arrived today, and has deemed it a success, so we logo'ed it today!

And the obligatory photos. First is logos and evidence of cutting, second is a plaque that we cut for our donor, who graciously funded our project.

And we would sincerely appreciate a serial number!

Edit: Our cutting area is 52"x52" (nominal 48x48), with dual z slides, 1 plasma, 1 router.

Excellent Job! Is the second Z working yet? Would be interesting as this would be the first working dual Z setup to date I think!

Looks Awesome (took out great becuase of the cheesy rhyme)!!!! You get #58

Fantastic!

New Video!
 

Just wanted to share another, more refined video that we made, showing the entire process, as well as most of the team.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSvdGoM5hTs