It's worth noting that the RepRap people have long been directly interpreting a simplified GCode in their microcontrollers. Of course, they're using relatively large and powerful microcontrollers that are a bit more expensive.

http://reprap.org/wiki/Mendel_User_Manual:_RepRapGCodes

Once you abandon G2/G3 and all the canned cycles, it gets pretty easy. Also note that the RepRap toolchains (several options) generally operate by having the host do the heavy lifting to convert to simplified GCode, and then spoon feed it to the microcontroller.

The RepRap world is arguably ahead of the Mach3/EMC2 world in this area. Not robust yet, though.

Kobus I think I have a photo of your Bee. I will look for it. I made many 3D items.

Hi Marius, Nice to hear you are still alive. Bee is together thank you, but if you have CLEAN vectors of others they are always welcome.

I will put some together for you.

Please pardon my ignorant, is this the same protocol you are referring to? CANBUS Wiki

robotdigg,

if it's done like that, how do you then keep 3 motors perfectly in sync? With perfectly I mean if I need to make a 45 degree line, I need to pulse two stepper motors at exact the same time. With using USB->RS232 converters this is impossible, unless you can make some 'global' 'pulse now' code.

The only 'solution' I can image is make a parallel port->CAN converter and drive the CAN protocol through software, but honestly, that doesn't sound right, and I wonder what the maximum synchroniz(over our 3 motors) pulse frequency would be.

Ries

This information is not useful to a layman like me to understand.
Would you kindly elaborate on how the system is connected for MM use? such as
How many converters are required,
where should the converter be located, near the PC or on the stepper motor driver?
how we can connect the E-stop circuit?
how the limit switches are wired up?
What motion control software can or needed?
how to interface with our VFD?
Can we use EMC2 or Mech 3?

ken,

in short... I don't think that the CAN controller is any good for us.
You could connect this in EMC if you know your programming languages (I could...) but for sure not in Mach3.

Another busy Saturday for old Big Blue Brakpan.

First did some coasters from Oak.
Then had to cut some 75mm wheels for a friend. Check how smooth it cuts without gearbox reduction.

Then I wanted to make a 1200 mm diameter plate ...why... just because I can.
Did not have enough wood of the same thickness as my thicknesser is in Hospital.
Decided to make a 500mm diameter plate with a bread logo. Not cut out yet, but will finish it tomorrow after the 1000Bike Show that I plan to go to with my son and our OLD bikes. http://www.classicmotorcycleclub.co.za/1000bike.htm

Attachment 9934

Attachment 9935

Attachment 9936

Attachment 9937

The little meter was salvaged from the work scrap room. Calibrated with a digital meter. The 0 - 10 middle scale is what I am working on. Very nice to see the AMP's while you cut. With all 4 motors running it average about 5 Amp. When I was using the 12mm cutter the TOTAL amps went up to just above 6 Amp total.

Video at YouTube ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPbj0c_Ao1o

Bought the files. As with most DXF file, the vectors were not CLOSED. Also found them to have lots and lots of POINTS. But with the help of Vectric V-carve PRO quickly fixed these issues. Decides to shrink them for cutting on 6mm ply that I had available.
Not a bad buy I would say. Thanks Fabrice

Attachment 9967

Attachment 9968

LOOK MA, NO GLUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dis nou windgat hoor!!

Ek hou van dit en so ook my kinders:)

Wow! Jy is vinnige Fanie.

Kobus,
Waar het jy die DXF's gekoop?

Thanks Gerald. And what exactly does the retired bit behind the name mean. Creative chaps never retire do they?

Oupa en ouma sit op die stoep........:D

Kobus - ek lief te kyk wat jy op jou rekenaar maak. Dit is een groot skepping na die ander. EN ek het nou uitgepluis het wat die Afrikaanse taal is eintlik sê nie.

Regards
Ross

Hennie,
You are pushing the boundaries, I think.

Marius, see The www.mechmate.com baton has been passed on

I like the spirit Ross :D:D:D:D:D

I love my machine and just because I don't use it to generate an income now, I can PLAY with it, LEARN all the little secrets and one day when I RETIRE like some lucky ones here, I know what I can make to generate some income.....hope I live that long.:rolleyes:

Gerald,
Sorry man I wasn't paying attention during that period of time. We were going through a rough time liquidating our business. Glad to see that you still lurk.

Ouch Marius,I know what it feels like when you have worked for something and have to give it up because some idiot didn`t pay you.I am probably getting an attachment order today to remove some of my work.

Hennie,
It is almost never worth the effort. I think one looses more than what you gain from these incidents. In our case it was more due to labour related issues.

nice table and chair:)
i'll have a look at the dxf conversion for closing all vectors

Marius

Here in the U.S., if we do some work for someone and they don't pay, we can put a labor lien against the property. They have to clear all the liens before they can sell the property. If you live long enough they will have to pay their debts to you. Simple enough to do here although you would still be out your materials.

Dave is right. I get a deposit up front that covers the material .... then all that's left is labor.

J.R. 95 % of our clients don`t have a issue, if they can`t pay they make arrangements but the odd one or two are always the ones that change from supplier to supplier untill it gets to a point where it snowballs and no one wants to supply them.If only we had a system like what you have in the states then I would have been on retirement.:)At the moment it is dangerous to work for a building contractor in our Country it does not matter how much work they have because back at the ranch it is not that well.

Thats a nice system to have Dave. I have decided that I will not make anything for anyone again. My next business will be buy and sell. If I make something they will pay upfront.

Hi Marius,

Sorry to hear, I'm sure your grumpy neighbor didn't help any with your factory building either! I think you had a great product, aren't you going to continue with that?

Groete,
Greg

Greg,
Nice to hear from you again. I still own the Intellectual Property (IP) of the products but unless I get a whole lot of investment I will not startup again. I have put the IP up for sale but no takers as yet. Having the best product on the market does not guarantee a successful business.

How very true. There are a lot more to it then a great product...

My motto is still if you have a product that is better then anybody else then create that market it might not happen soon but hey what the hell one tried.You won`t have a tree if you don`t plant a seed.Dam life was better when my mom still looked after me:)
Marius don`t give up fighting that bull by the horns.

Hennie,
I fully agree with your sentiment, it just takes a whole lot of money sometimes. And no matter one's good intentions, the maths just don't work. But having said that, I am already looking at my next venture. It just wont be making things for other people.

With the Soccer I was no allowed to take leave...had to turn the generators myself...:eek: So today I decided to take a break. Spend some time with my beloved...BBB...;)

Thanks Fabrice, with the modifications this table is now what I want. I did another small modification and put a bow into the front and back skirt.

Also made some kiddies chairs. My wife is getting stuff together for the Church Sale next weekend.

Attachment 9996

Attachment 9997

Is that how you treat & nick name your police in SA….kiddies ? :D:D
Nice work Kobus ! ;)

Kobus that looks nice,did you come right with your pricing?

Working on it Hennie.

This morning went to see my old friend in Walkerville that I am helping to finish his long overdue MM (18 months). He does not have internet access, so I feed him all the info and help where I can. We did a nice transaction....4 stepper drives plus a transformer for a DRUM SANDER...new condition. Short of cash and not using the sander as much, so we struck a deal..everybody happy.

Attachment 10008

Mine is on a table with and infeed and outfeed extentions.

To our Aussie friends Down Under.

Do you guys know if Triton still makes these drills ?

Attachment 10103

On the www.triton.com.au site it is not listed anymore. When I look for online spares, it also does not feature.

My machine has some play in the chuck bush/ bearing that I would like to fix.

I tried to take the chuck off, but that little Right hand screw inside the chuck did not even move when hitting it with an impact driver. Eventually broke the impact driver bit. :o

Info on a search suggest that screw is right-hand, and once loose the chuck is taken off Left-hand direction. ... is this correct ?

Anybody with info on how to strip the chuck. Once open I can see how it operates and make a plan to fix since I don't see any spares for these models advertised.

G'day
They are not available in Australia as you have found out but they can be bought in UK.

Here is a link for Triton UK, http://www.tritontools.co.uk/pda001-...nge-drill.html

According to their site they have spare parts for your cordless drill. Good luck!!

Cheers
Chris