I have the my dust collector set up with a run off a timer. It fires up automatically when the spindle & k1 energizes for the first time however it has a 15 minute on time. Basically the spindle is off for 15 minutes. This helps collect stray suspended dust particles. The start/stop station on the dust collector allows me to turn it off manually if I don't need it on.

Pete that's a good idea but I'm not sure if I'd want more than a 5 minute timer. I'd be more inclined to set up a on/off button with some kind of optional trigger when the spindle starts up in mach3.

Don't tie the set up to rigid, there will be time you wish the DC is never on, & there will be time you find the dust food is in your way.

Tom, we are all trying to give you examples. The choice is ultimately yours.

Sorry Guys I'm not ignoring anyone intentionally, just had this overall picture in my mind's eye of how I wanted it. I do agree with everyone though, flexibility is key.

You are going to be busy for the Turkey day deadline. Good luck, I am sure you can do it.

I can do it! I can do it!

Visual Basic as Timer
 

The one thing that I see Mach3 can do is interface with Visual Basic. Once you start the spindle it sets timer one to run the vacuum. and when the spindle stops it resets the timer to run 5 minutes more. Visual Basic is fairly easy. I learned to use it at work to exact data from files and send it to the mainframe. Oh and the basic package is free.

Sounds like something to check out, can't beat free if you have time to learn it.

If I don't give myself a deadline it may be next thanksgiving.:eek:

Welding of the base is done for now, next is turn it over and re-tune it. This will be interesting. I'll have my brother-in-law lift it with the tractor, hopefully everything will be alright. I'll have someone shoot a video or take pics of the progress so all can see.

Should be fine. As long as you weld in a way not to draw it you should be fine.

Well if you need us to hold you to it, okay, I look to see it completed in two weeks.

Is it in 2 weeks?:eek: I do have the majority completed though there are a few things in the electronics area that I'll need checked and verified, software configs, that kind of thing. But I feel confident that even if it is not completed by the deadline it'll be darn close.

you can be the first to use the MM to slice a turkey. Hmmm g-code for that let see da vinci surgical system. Your kids can get involved what was the field they were going into nuero biological. Oh no you could be the one that creates the Borg.:D

Ha Ha:D yes I might. My son is going into genetic engineering maybe chemical.

Well the table is on its feet now! Holy Crap it's big, 14' long. I really have to get rid of a lot of stuff I've not been using, stuff like that Bowflex I use to hang my welding jacket on, or the extra 350 Chevy block I rest spray cans on, or the collection of ball and claw leg blanks that I never finish carving, or the......

14':eek:
The mind boggles.
Remember, it is only junk until you throw it out.
Put it on E Bay for the price of a small beer.
That way you can drink and be merry and drowned melancholy:).

I've always heard, bigger is better.:rolleyes: I'm not a pack-rat, I've just collected stuff for very expensive projects never started (or finished). Maybe its time to give up some of those projects for a little space.:( OR I can build another building, Yeah!:D

Space, the final frontier. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds as if you might complete your latest expensive project

This wannabe pack rat wants a bigger one and the building to go with it.
Happy with what I have for now.
It ran all afternoon with no problems. :D

They say 'Go Big or Go Home'. I like it. I can't wait til its up and going.

Bro I know the Feeling
 

Yep I know the feeling. Three car garage isn't big enough. I checked with local zoning to see what the largest mini barn I could build. Takes my wife's stuff back there and pray for a hurricane to do its magic.

Oh I already have the 2 car garage (full) at the house, my shop next to the house is a 30 x 40 and I still feel I need to add a second floor for more 'junk'. This summer I almost bought a 9000+ sf home that had a 52' x 52' garage just for the garage itself...The guy was not ready to sell.:(

When we went house hunting at one time, the realtor asked what kind of house we wanted. I suggested we needed an old big-box grocery store, carve out 2000sq ft to live in and the rest for 'storage'. He got the hint.

You are obviously in the same shape :)

Enjoy.

That's funny! :) No its not that bad, I'm just not a good housekeeper when it comes to the shop. The shop makes money when running, clean-up is for when there is a little slow or down time. Unfortunately, when I'm done with a job I walk away from that part of it hoping to come back to it later. I once asked my grandson, 'how do you spell the word lazy?' he responded, 'Lay-Z-Y'. That's how it's really put into context. I'm not that nearly that bad...actually my wife has to have things neat as a pin, the shop is my "Man Cave"

Finish the machine before starting the building Tom, bring some closure to this expensive project. :D

I promise I won't build another building. thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

You can build one, just finish this project. I have been looking forward to see this one make it for a while now.

You got it Pete, I'll do my best.

Turkey Day is rapidly approaching!!!! How about your prediction? Still on track for completion? :)

never commit to a date. Just ask Obama about ACA

Well guys I am trying, but it doesn't look like completion by thanksgiving is going to happen. I've got to sand blast and paint the MM, paint the shop floor and move the mm into its permanent position. Then level, then, then, then...

At least I'm not rolling out a failing project to start with:)

Lets stay focused on our projects and lets non MechMate projects get covered elsewhere please. :)

Pete, it's coming along nicely though...

I think Mike is trying to tell us that Politics are best left elsewhere, I would agree. I do not get upset about one persons view on anything but many do and would cause problems. It can cause a disruptive flow to the learning aspect that this forum provides. I would assume that is why Gerald originally and now Mike do not allow Avatars.

Mike (MetalHead), maybe there should be an 'Etiquette' thread in the 'About this forum' Topic. :)

Tom, I thought it was an ambitious end date. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe you can treat yourself with an early Christmas present instead.

Pete you maybe right. I'm still plugging away at it though, just finished grinding the first v rail to completion, on to the next. Probably should have done all at once in stages but I noticed on the first 2 passes that the bolt (height adjustment) ground down too quickly, by the time I got to the other end it had almost gone too far. Glad I caught it. I found that the bolts had a small concave lip on the end of the thread and basically had no meat touching thus wearing out quickly to the flat inner part. A quick file to flatten it all the way fixed that, but still proceeding cautiously.

The big thing I will tell you and hope you have done is to make sure you are keeping a photo timeline. You will love it later when you look back and see the process as it unfolded. I wish I would have taken more. I have to selectively pick which pictures to make public to share. I know how things can be misused so I try to keep a lot of stuff private. I have more pictures that you cannot see on Flickr (marked Private) and looking back at those, it was a good time. Funny how a mind works. You say you will never forget it and then you see a picture and say 'I don't remember that'.

The next good reason for it. You build a second one, they will be a great reminder. Something like you just posted is worth a thousand words to others and to the next build when you/they see it.

I've taken a few pics via cell phone, camera, etc, the phone got killed, the sd card won't transfer to the iphone so I got to start again. You are right though, it will be good to review the build later. Never did get a video or pics of the table being turned over with the tractor, too busy making sure there wasn't a mishap. I hadn't realized how big a 14' table really is and how much room it occupies until that day it was brought in the shop.