In reading up, I've decided on a small change in motors I pick. I'm going to go with the PK296B2A-SG7.2 instead. That'll leave my options open in the future should I want to convert to a closed-loop system. ATM, I'm definitely going open-loop because I already purchased the PMDX-122. I like the idea of being able to go either way should in the future closed-loop setups become the "in thing" for MechMate. No need for me to look into encoder options or closed-loop breakout boards atm though. I figure I'll do well to limit my costs, but leave options open to add stuff as needed at a later date.

It's official - We're all nuts...Macadamia nuts...LOL
 

Something came in the mail today. Gecko G203V's and some macadamia nuts...hehe. I was unaware theat vampire geckos liked to eat macadamia nuts. :D

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3...pen1hh0.th.jpg

Arrived Parts List: (12/13/2007)
PMDX-122 Breakout Board (www.pmdx.com): $88
4 Geckodrive G203V (www.geckodrive.com): $492 (on sale)

Parts I had sitting around:
Hubbard CNC Printer Port Protector (www.ebay.com): $29
Hubbard CNC Plasma/Router Relay Control (www.ebay.com): $40
ASUS M2NBP-VM CSM nVidia Quadro NVS 210S M-ATX AM2 Mobo: $44
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz AMD Dual-Core Processor: $52
2 256MB DDR2 Ram (www.ebay.com): $10 (from a random auction)
570W PSU (CompUSA): $old (no idea)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3083/driversan8.th.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6...uterrn1.th.jpg

Small update, after shelving this project because of work and school for a year. I'm back at it again. No change in plans as far as size of table. I'm still shooting for a 5'x5'. I hope to have more info to post soon. My goal is to push forward with building the table in December.

Reading through the thread it looks like I never posted that I got 2 of the 4 PK296B2A-SG7.2 so far. The other 2 are my next big purchase I guess. That way I can table test everything and work out the electronics side before diving into working on the table hardware.

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7211/002jc1.th.jpghttp://img513.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif

Quick question on the PK296 gearheads. The spec sheets call the gearheads the SH series, but I can't find any SH series gearheads on the orientalmotors catalog site. Do they go by a different gearhead name when seperate from the stepper? Will a Vexta GFB gearhead work ok as a substitute?

Welcome back Brad!

The SH gearheads are not available as loose gearheads (without a motor). The reason is that they rely on the motor shaft having its gear teeth cut directly into it. See: What does a stepper motor look like inside? (geared Oriental Motor) Those motor/gearbox combinations are specially mated together.

Ah ok, I knew there had to be some reason. I got curious and looked at one of the PK296B2A-SG7.2 I have. I only noticed the teeth on the shaft then. Good stuff to know because I was assuming the PK29601AB had the same shaft as the PK296B2A-SG7.2. I see some PK296 on eBay is why I was pondering down that route. :)

Looking at the math of the materials, about how much would I save by doing a 5x5 table instead of a 5x10? Is the materials cost that much different? I'm pondering the merit of going 5x10. Space is a minor issue, but not a real problem. Initially I wanted to do 5x5 and put it in my basement for year around work. Currently the unfinished basement is just used for storage, but it has plenty of room to be used as a shop. 5x10 would make it harder for me to move if I changed houses, but I saw that a few people are making bolt together MechMate tables. That might be my answer to the 5x10 in basement.

Reading my post it seems like pretty dumb questions, but imho I need to ask these questions so I don't make a mistake down the road on the build. :)

A little back of the envelope sketching suggests to me that you'll save about 30% on the steel, and a few bucks on the racks and wires. For me, that would have amounted to $300-$400. I went full size after much deliberation.

What finally shifted my decision as a hobbyist with a semi-pro double garage woodshop was my realization that I could toss plywood across the MM rails when it wasn't in use, and recover the space as assembly and clamping tables. I also ended up using the steel scraps to fabricate an overhead rack over part of the MM, and thus I had a slight net gain in workable shop space when all was said and done. Note that I had extra steel scraps due to some early errors.

I'm extremely happy with my bolt together design; I can disassemble into 2 sides, 2 ends (with the 2 end-most table support channels as part of them), 2 beams with rails and racks, the table surface (with or without the other six table support channels), and the gantry assembly. Each piece comes in under 150 lbs and can be comfortably moved by two people, and cleverly moved by one. Also, the component pieces will maneuver comfortably through standard doors and stairwells, as long as you have swing space for the 10'.

Note that I fabricated by bolt together by bolting all the bolt together points, and then welding the welded parts to them. There was some welding distortion that created tension and alignment issues after disassembly. If I were doing it again, I'd drill the bolt holes after the welding, which will have it's own set of different issues.

Good luck with your build, and enjoy every minute!

Hrrrm, twice the functional cutting area for only $300-400 more. That makes it an easy decision imho. $400 isn't much considering the overall cost of the project.

For entertainment value, here's a pic of my other project. I'd like to be able to eventually cut sheetmetal on my MechMate to help restore this for display: :)

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7...90smallxd8.jpg

Earlier today I put in an order for Joe's laser cut and bend parts. Reading the thread about them sold me on getting the parts there. I look forward to receiving them in the next few weeks. :)

Hi Brad,
Which aircraft is that? I do not regonise it straight of. I used to work on military aircraft in the 70's. They say when aircraft and ships gets into your blood it never goes away!:cool:

That looks like it could be a Voodoo??, early sixties maybe (Its true what you say Johan - ex SAAF myself)

I did my apprenticeship with Atlas (now Denel) as a instrument mechanic 1973-1975, and now I am battling to wire a control panel!:o
I worked on Impala, Mirage 3, Aloette, Super Frelon and Puma, aircraft and choppers.

Just ordered the last 2 PK296B2A-SG7.2 I needed for the build. I need to dig around the thread to find a good shopping list to complete my box for the table top test.

So far I have my PMDX-122, 4 G203V and 4 PK296B2A-SG7.2. They will be used on a 5x10ft table design. I'm switching over from 5x5 because it just makes more sense. I would like to be able to plug this system into regular US 110V home power. With that in mind, what Antek power supply should I order?

Brad,
Why not order a toroidal transformer, bridge and capacitor from somewhere like www.partsexpress.com and build it yourself?


Transformers.
http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=605

Bridge Rectifier
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=050-060

Capacitors

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/636/720.pdf

http://www.newark.com/95F4457/passiv...6da153f050al2a

http://www.tedss.com/item.asp?id=2020002403

http://www.tedss.com/item.asp?id=2020002774

Brad, in case you havn't seen it yet, your post spawned a thread last night:
Which Antek power supply for 4x PK296B2A-SG7.2, 4x G203V, PMDX-122 and 110VAC at home

Ah thanks. :)

I went "window shopping" today at The Yard Store. They're a surplus metals yard. I think I'll be able to get most of what I need from there for the table. They have bearings, springs and all the other stuff I need pretty cheap. It's also a benifit that it's local for me.

Random photos I shot today with my iphone. No real meaning to what is in the photos other than to show they have a lot of stuff...lol.
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/562/001zz9.th.jpghttp://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2382/002bn7.th.jpghttp://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2718/005hf6.th.jpg
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6389/006cg8.th.jpghttp://img389.imageshack.us/img389/1257/007sz0.th.jpghttp://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4718/008jl5.th.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9827/009es2.th.jpghttp://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8136/010xy6.th.jpg

I just got notification that my laser cut and bend parts have shipped.:D

Just checked the mail. Got my final 2 motors in the mail today. Now I have all four. Another step closer to doing the table top testing. Gotta work out the power supply issue next and get everything mounted in a box.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7506/003bi4.jpg

The laser and bend parts kit arrived today. Looks good. :D

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9784/002jm4.jpg

Thought it might also be useful to show the tracking info. Not seen this posted in any of the other laser cut and bend posts:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1825/trackingit5.jpg

63.90 lbs took 3 days durring winter shopping season to ground ship. Not bad at all. :)