Hello all -

Firstly, Gerald, this is an amazing creation and a huge body of knowledge that people have shared. Congrats and look forward to adding myself to this tribe!

Irfan, Vishnu - I am based in Bangalore and toying with idea of a set up myself. Can i connect with you guys to increase my rather superficial knowledge of how to go about it. Please let me know how I can link up.

Many thanks and congrats on the progress!

Prakash

oye Vish- 10.55pm and still no pics ?

Update
 

Hi Guys,

Here is my latest update. I am currently working with the Z axis which would be completed on Monday. Thanks to Irfan for the nice Gear box design which i cut for Him & me. The machine is coated half way with 1'st coat of paint. Hope to complete everything by next week end.

OK OK - after all the waiting - U turn up with just 2 pics -

:D - man where are the rest of the Pics - no gear box in detail? what about the belt - I thought u had it already.

RGDS
Irfan

Hi Irfan,

I had a low battery on my Camera so could manage only a couple of pics. I would post the detail pics later. Just keeping you guys upated.

Vishnu,

Turn the motor 180º to get the cables down ;)

Well-spotted Yuri! You don't want the motors to breathe in a pool of dust as the temperature changes. Also cover the open back bearing of the motor with a decal or something.

HI Folks - just had a phone call with Vishnu - he's fixed all the gear boxes yesterday and wanted to start powering up today - Since he already has his cable tracks - I asked him to fix those up first before cutting any cable.

Probably this weekend we will have movement on Vishnu's table -

RGDS
Irfan

there is a rumor that the x and y are moving!

Finally BBB's Axis Moving
 

Hi Guys,

Today i got the X & Y moving. Thanks to Irfan for Tele support to configure Mach and finally some Pics to keep you updated. Irfan no more Rumors see him live.............:cool:

Hi Guys,
Link to the video of my machine moving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6zlJN8kzGw

Congratulations!

Well done.

Nicely done! Good video....fun to watch your machine move.

Thanks Guys, today i mounted the Z axis, but it wouldnt move. I have checked the motor on other axis and it worked fine. I have to recheck the Z wiring tommorow & get them all moving. Is there any other setting i have to do on Mach pls suggest.

Congratulations Vishnu,

Great seeing another "classic" design in action.:)

Congratulations Vishnu! :)
Cant wait to see your first cuts.

I have found the problem on the Z axis, took me nearly 2 hours to solve. It was due to a flawed wire from the PMDX Step output to the gecko. Swift replacement was made and finally had movement on the Z today. Planning to machine the spindle mounts in a couple of days and start my first cut. I am eager to see the BBB cutting after months for hard work. :)

congrats man. you really inspired me. From last one month i didn't get any time to put my hands on my build. But seeing your sucess, I have to put my more effrots towards my build.

Thanks Buddy,

Well take your own sweet time, understand what you are doing, certainly you would would feel the success on the first cut. Building a Mechmate has become an Obsession for me. I can really tell you building a MM a junk like me has learnt machine building & automation. Full credit goes to our G'reat mentor & fellow Mechmater's :). I have started working on the Spindle mount today hope to do the first cut before this week end.

Hi,

Today i connected the Spindle to the Z axis and did some air cuts, it was really fine. But suddenly a glitch, after the program runs for a while it suddenly stops and an estop is triggered. I powered down the spindle and checked and it went fine. I have found out that there is some problem with the EMI so i shut it down. I have assumed that these are due to the following errors.

1. Cable to the spindle motor is not connected to the Ground.
2. PMDX & Geckos are not grounded.
3. VFD close to BOB & Spindle control board.

Have to correct the errors before i can run the machine again.

But still i have made my first cut of the letter 'P' with a 6mm end mill on MDF to 5 mm Depth. That was like a dream come true after all these days of hard work.

Kindly suggest me if i have missed anything other than the above that has to be checked.

Vishnu

Finally - what a relief!

Congrats on the cutting Vishnu!

Don't be too hasty with those modifications. The Gecko's need no further grounding (they are not causing the random e-stops anyway). The PMDX-122 must not be grounded to the control cabinet - it is grounded to the PC via the parallel cable.

First thing to try is to increase the "Debounce Interval" setting in Mach3. Try 500 instead of the default 100.

Hi,

I have dismantled my machine last friday and want to finish paintingby this week end, probably vouching for a serial# :). I have one question urgent on behalf of Irfan. When he homes the X axis one on Motor turns & the slave is not working, this is a new problem which i have never come across, Immediate assistance is required from the members.

Regards,

Vishnu

solved - "Under config/ General config there is a check box for "home Slave with
Master"

Hi Vishnu..Very nice progress on your machine..

First Commercial Order
 

I have been off the MM forum for quite a some time. I had my first order today for 3 Mirror frames cut from 4' x 2' MDF 16 mm thick. I was fun doing today after a faulty wire stopped my machine for over 2 hours in between. The total design was V carved with 90 deg V tool at 70 IPM feed rate.

I will be cutting the Mechmate Name plate on Wood tommorow to grab the Sl.# 30 .. hope its available. But man working with Artcam is really like starting from Kindergarden to Phd :confused: looks like my brain has be sharped.

Mechmate is Neighbours envy and a owners pride.:)

good work vish

Good to see you again Vishnu!

Vishnu,

Looks good.