MM builders: Here are some pictures of last saturdays (1-9-10) session on getting the motors to turn. First picture is one gecko wired to one motor and the pmdx, second is the power supply , third is the pmdx. The leds are on but may not be seen in the picture. The last picture is all of the motors and geckos wired up. All of the wires are "out of the junk box" as Gerald would say. Will be replaced with the real stuff soon. Thanks Jimmy

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...5/100_2433.jpg

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Those driver wires look more like they are "off the boat trailer" than "out of the junk box" :D

Looking good!

Good job.

Jimmy

Looking good!

Speaking of boat trailer wires, has anyone used trailer hitch couplers for the motor wire links? I am tempted to do so because they are cheap and available but would like a second opinion.

Joe,
That sounds like a great idea. I would check the voltage and current rating.
Trailer voltage is 12vdc and pretty low current.
Connector should pass 8A @ 80 VDC to be usable.

That sounds like a brilliant idea Joe. Most trailer wiring is 14 awg or bigger.

Four conductors, polarity guaranteed, cheap. Thumbs up!

Besser is already using trailer plugs in Australia:
http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showt...3&postcount=29

Steve: You are correct about the trailer wire. Left over material from a trailer wiring job that was in the junk box . Thanks Jimmy:)

Hello mechmates. finally have some time to catch up on my build. It has really been busy at work and around the house with spring projects that started in the winter. Like removing wall paper, priming, painting and then came spring with yard work and pressure washing driveways, sidewalks and curbing. Some of the MM build so far. Have the control box rewired and sandblast and powercoated and mounted on its stand. It will be a free standing unit as I don't have a vacant wall to mount it on. I will finish the "E" stop and other switches as the final aassembly goes. Have powered up the control box and it worked just like the table build. Our sandblast cabinet was not large enough for the table sides and the Y car so we had to send them out for blasting. Our oven was large enough to powercoat the Y car but not the table side so we had to send that out also. All of the parts are at home now for the final assembly. Here are some pictures of how things are progressing. Getting closer to sawdust. Thanks Jimmy

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...5/100_2455.jpg

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Looking good! Now the hard work is really over. you will be making dust real soon.

Looking very good Jimmy. I see you have had to move some of your existing machines outside to make place for the MechMate.

ps why the cage around the pool, is that to keep the crocks/alligators from taking uninvited swims?

Jimmy,

Your machine is looking very good.

Alan, the screening (cage) is used to keep out the bugs and leaves. Almost all the pools in homes have them. When the last group of hurricans hit Florida in 2004, there was lots of aluminum being thrown out because the cages got hit bad.

Alan, Moving the mechmate home forced me to rearrange everything in the shop and a chance to clean up. If the crocks/alligators want to swim in my pool then that cage won't stop them. Like its been said before . Where do alligators/crocks swim ? Anywhere they want. :D Thanks Jimmy

Northwest Fl. build
 

Hello Mechmates. About time to catch up on my build to this point in time.The machine is up and running but is not a 100% finished. My last picture posted is it going into my shop at home. I did take pictures as it was going together but somehow they got lost. After a lot of manual jogs and air cuts I was ready to turn the router on to cut the roadrunner. The program came on the the router came on and ran for a few seconds and shut off. It would not run for more than that amount of time. It went to the repair shop in May and I just got it back this month. It was still in warranty.But I still had a lot to do and learn.I tried to install the home and limit switches with the parts that Sean used but could not get it to work so I went the way of Gerald . Just got to know were your at on the table. I do have the router back on the table now and can cut the roadrunner. Have cut it many times with a few mistakes. It was really good to see it work.I have made a viedo of it cutting the roadrunner to submit for a serial number. Will do that after I learn how to post a viedo. Then the decals will go on. Thanks to gerald for making this all possible. Its been good meeting some of you in person. Like Nils, Sean and Doug Ford. It also seems that I know some of you thur your post and pictures. I my not post a lot but do read this site alot. Here are a few pictures of the roadrunner and a couple of mistakes.
Thanks Jimmy

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...5/000_0039.jpg

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Hey Jimmy...almost there!:) Looking good.

I see paint and it's cutting. Let's see those logos. Then it's Serial Number time!:D

Jimmy table is looking good. I will be up in Pensacola on Tuesday for Advance Composite School. If you would like I can stop by and help out with the limit and home switches. I did a bench test here and had everything up and running in no time. The course is 3 weeks long so anytime in there should be ok.

Jimmy

Slap on the logos and lets get you a serial number. Good to see you have it up and running.

Northwest Fl. build
 

Hello again. Thanks John will get the decals on the first of this week. Nils , looks like you and Sean are the ambassadors in Fl. for the mechmate. Thanks from all of us. Russell , I will send you a pm. Thanks all Jimmy

Northwest Florida build
 

Hello again. Here are some pictures of the MM with the decals on i will try to load a viedo of it cutting the roadrunner Thanks Jimmy

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...5/100_2512.jpg

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Congrats - Great looking machine. He wants to wait a few numbers before he gets a S/N .... But great build !!!!

movie
 

Hello ,guess the show did not work. Will try again later. Jimmy

Jimmy you will have running limits and homing switches tomorrow. Found out the little thing that we where missing. ;)

Home and limit switches
 

Russell. Thanks and look forward to tomorrow. Thanks Jimmy

Home and limit swiches
 

Russell:
Just to let you know that I appreciate what you have done for me this weekend. It was good to see the home and limit switches work. What was really good to see, was you working it out in your mind. I did replace the GFCI wall outlet after that big lightning bolt and the computer and control box were okay. It was an experience watching you with all your expertise. Hope to see and talk to you again.

Thanks,
Jimmy

P.S. to Nils: There were at least two MM builders, so there will be pictures forthcoming.:)

Jimmy, I had a great time. If it wasnt for Mach there wouldnt have been any thinking just doing:D

Glad everything survived the lightning attack. Before I go I will have to get over there with my usb drive and maybe we can cut something out.

Jimmy / Russell,

It is great that two FL MM builders could get together and help each other and to work together. I wish I could have been there.

Now, Russell your MM needs to be cutting.

Hangin in the shadows
 

Nils. It was more Russell helping me. He was here Saturday and Sunday and the only thing he would accept was a glass of water. He is a really smart young guy and has his head on straight. A real joy to have around. Russell, when are you coming back.:D Thanks all Jimmy

hangin in the shadows
 

Hello Mechmates: Last Saturday Russell was able to come back over to my home and we were able to do some test cuts on the mm. With Russells knowledge he was able to make some adjustments to the mach 3 program that I did not know about. As usual with a new machine there were loose set screws on the pinions. And need to do some leveling of the rails. The stop and limit switches work real well.Russell showed me his Vectric V-carve program. That was what we used to make our cuts. I even got to program a cut.That program is really cool. Boy what a mess mdf is. First project is a dust foot. I already have a dust collestion system in place so just a matter of connecting the hoses. Here are some pictures of what went on that day. I can't think Russell enough for the time he put in with me. Those days were worth a good year on my on. I did order the v-carve program last Friday night and played with it most of the Saturday. Today I cut something on my on. Happy chips and may the broken bits be cheap ones. Thanks Jimmy

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...5/100_2515.jpg

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Jimmy - what are the dimensions on that control box?

Mike, never mind the control box, give the man a number! :D

He is holding out for 65 :D !!!

Oh yes, thanks for reminding me. :o

But, why not give him the #65 now? :confused:

I figured I would not skip forward since we have quite a few machines on the edge of being finished. This way I wont get the request for SN 999 .

control box
 

Metalhead: The box measures 28" high x 16.75" wide x 6.5" deep. The door has a raised section about 1' deep x14 wide x 18' high. Boy did I have fun today. Scorecard. Broken bits 0, fun , priceless. Thanks Jimmy

Mike, your logic is sound . . . .my logic says: forget whatever doesn't affect cut quality, speed and cost! :D

Jimmy,

Congratulation on your machine being completed. Congratulations on Serial Number 65.

A little help from a fellow MM helps.

Number
 

Nils:
Thanks, but #65 isn't here yet. I'm still making test cuts to work it out.:D I still have the fish that you cut for me in June of 2009 when I visited you. I compared the cuts that I made Saturday to your fish and I still need to make some adjustments.:)

Thanks,
Jimmy

Jimmy,

My machine was not cutting the way it should have been when I received my number. There is a learning curve to setting up the machine and for learning how to use it properly. Every time I cut some new material, I go through a process of figuring the best way to cut it.

I will be posting some pictures soon of a project I am just completing that is fun and has required some more learning.