I had to show off while Marius visited and pushed the X-gantry speed up to some mad figure....the thing was flying. This is where the DEMO ended and I did not change the setting back to normal so when I did some cutting later in the afternoon poor old BBB was jumping and skipping on the x-rail. I realised my mistake and brought the speed down....but nothing broke.
I also managed to fit my Dremel engraving bits into my router. A while ago I managed to break the 1/4 inch collet...trying to tighten a 6mm shaft... When I was at the Makita main distributor...just around the corner where I work... I bought a new 1/4 inch collet and a 6 mm collet. The small Dremel collets fit inside the 6mm collet without a problem.

Marius, what does your existing table look like, and what are its key dimensions now? Time for you to start your thread! :D

Gerald,
I have done so and answered in the new thread. Look under "Project started not running yet"

Last night I had a scare....switched old BBB's computer on and a blue screen tell me there is a big problem. Eventually sorted it out by putting the H/D into another machine running as a slave. ... This brings me back to BACKUP....Where / How in Mach3 do I backup all my settings so that I don't have to go and figure out ALL the settings to cut correctly. I did play around ad found a file with an extention called .xb1.....are all my setup's in this file ?

In the Manual there is a 5.8 DOCUMENT YOUR SETUP where you can write down all the settings....I want a soft backup.

Kobus,
Under the Mach directory you will find some files with the extension of "XML". One of them will correspond to the setup that you are using. IE if you are loading the mill screen, you will fins an xml file named Mach3Mill.xml. I do believe that this file contains all the setup data but I stand to be corrected.

The settings files are the .xml files (typically you would have used Mach3Mill.xml)

Also back up the licence file (mine is in Mach1Lic.dat)

Those two files are enough for quick new installation.

Thanks, I used the MACH LOADER tool to setup a new PROFILE and saved it under a new name. I then whent and did a search for all new files with that new name and I got the .xb1 and the .xml file....both the same size 42k...
Thanks Gerald and Marius... I had made a backup of my LICENCE before.....but all the setup's.....I got a few more grey hair when I saw that UGLY blue screen.

Just for reference ....

The support crew at Mach will send you a new license if you "misplaced" the original. Great support at Mach. Don't ask how I know. :o

I know they are great AND quick.:D

Did some cutting this weekend....trying to sort out my workshop....was living out of boxes for the past year and everytime I am looking for a small nail or screw I had to go an buy some new ones. Made some shelves and decided to make some wooden boxes for all the little things....I don't like the glass jar storage system so much, therefore I am busy phasing them out.
Attachment 3364
Attachment 3365

Also took a picture of some jolly monks having a wine / beer and made a Mural on some scrap plywood....

Attachment 3363

Later I was told by the boss of the house to make her some coasters. Did 24 of those round ones I made earlier and while I made the 24 square ones I notice something odd.

While doing the POCKET, the firat one had some DIRT inside, but the other 23 pocketed cleanly...all on the same file.... I seems that old BBB and Mach3 had to WARM up first...
Attachment 3366

Any idea why this happens ?

. . . why that happens? Many possibilities:

Cutter moved in the collet
Router moved in the bracket
z-pinion gear loose
Step motor lost/gained steps (overload or interference)
Job moved (clamp adjusted during cut)

I would say it was the router heating up, bearings expanding and such. Or it could be air trapped under the sheet that worked out as it vibrated on the first cuts....or the whole table might shift just so much as your beer got lighter and lighter...

It might be from standing too long not using it.:)

Ja ou grap gat....haal daai MM uit die container en laat hom brul my maat:D

Mooi man! Wish my machine was at that stage! Can't wait.

Ek is besig wag en kyk.Had a dream the other night and number 20 came up.

Play the LOTTO...the way you are going #20 will be taken...;)

Hallo Kobus Dis Hennie Se Ander Helfte, Die Mooi Helfte. Ek Dink Hennie Mik Vir No.37 So By Die 12 Rond. Se Vir Jou Beter Helfte Ek Se Dankie Die Rissie Saadjies Ontkiem Mooi. Ek Sal Dalk My Rissie Boom He Nog Voor Hennie Se Masjien Klaar Is Soos Hy Aangaan.(miskien Moet Jy Kom Help !)

Groete Carolina

Se net wanneer en waar...ek hou van help ...en kan nie sien as iemand so sloer nie...miskien is hy BANG hy kan die ding nie operate nie....verskuilde agenda ??:rolleyes:

hey guys - don't let us miss all the fun - kindly share the joke's - I don't seem to understand :D

Sorry Irfan, I am joking with Hennie taking such a long time to complete his machine. His wife then replied and said that he could be in line for #37. She also said thanks to my wife for the chilli seeds that she got while visiting our house in December....apparently they are growing....maybe Hennie should eat some chilli's and catch some SPEED.....:D

thanks Kobus - its fun to share the happenings at Home!

:D

I think I will be the longest time builder - considering my thread of older servo based mechmate :)

RGDS
IRfan

What does the clock look like now?
 

Kobus

Two questions 1: What does the clock that you were working on look like now? and 2: How you doing on the kiln for the glass?

Dave

Hi Dave, the clock has not moved yet...I was having problems finding the correct rod and tube...that would fit into each other.....when I found some brass stuff, the dimensions were different from the original design...therefore I need to re-work some parts to fit onto my size pipe and rod. But I will get there once the OTHER distractions like motorbikes and glass kiln's are done. On the kiln front Johan ( Lex ) just finished some drawings for me last week. I have the Kanthal element wire, the digital clock / timer and fire bricks available. I just need to get the frame finished and then the Boss will be happy.

It's producing money
 

My first commercial job...small but it came to me... Hennie needed 20 x small corner brackets...as his machine is not up and running he asked me to do it. They are 120mm x 120mm and very simple. Took me 30 minutes for all 20....I am not pushing old BBB hard...nice and easy....gives me nice and clean cuts...

Attachment 3546

During the cut

Attachment 3547

I decided to make myself some too, but with a nice shape....

Attachment 3548

An then the best....I went to the Post Office and picked up my cable chain that Koning send from his desert country.....R600.00 for 3 meters....not bad...a friend brought it with in hand baggage and posted it from Durban to me....less than R 40.00 insured parcel.

Thank's Koning

Attachment 3549

I have some work to do.....

Thanks Kobus, send me one of yours as an sample.Won`t tell you what I am getting paid for that with some shelving will post pics once project is complete.

Smart brackets Kobus. Show them to your local hardware store and ask them if they want to stock them. :)

Are you comfortable with a CAD program yet?

Thanks Gerald. I still use Coreldraw for everything. Found if I export the file to EPS my Vectric Cut 2D works 100 %. I surf and search for most of my ideas and then tweak them a little to my liking. Those brackets had more detail, but I decided to cut with a 6mm bit and therefore lost some detail. I went back to Coreldraw and took the small stuff out and made the two side holes a little bigger. Will go and speak to the local Hardware owner.

Attachment 3571

BBB has got the first cable chain connected. The X-axis will be a while as my table is close to the wall and working there could be a problem.

Attachment 3570

Maybe I did not cut deep enough but this little bit of FLUFF was easily removed by a very slight rub with sandpaper....once over and it's gone.

Attachment 3573

The NICE bracket close -up

Attachment 3572

Made a little 3 tier shelf close to the BBB computer to put bits and pieces on that prevoiusly were lying all over the working table and the computer keyboard.

These are brilliant for removing the "fluffs":

Will look for them next time I go shopping...at the moment a 80 grid belt sander piece works ok...just running it on the edge cleans it nicely.

Kobus, did you cut those brackets in one slow pass, right through? with a straight cutter (not spiralled)?

The reason I ask is because you got the fluffs on the bottom, which is unusual for us, because we normally use a spiral up cutter and get the fluffs on the top.

The amount of fluff is directly related to the sharpness of the cutter.

My guess is that the tip of your cutter is already a little dull.

Correct. Just a cheap YELLOW straight bit that has done some work. Not too concerned with the amount of FLUFF. Easy enough to clean up

Hello Kobus!
Great machine you have built. (I `m from norway, maybe my english i wrong)
I will build a machine, and planning all the electrical.
I am thinking to buy the motor from the Motion King as you.
Which model and what other components are you using..drivers, powersupply...?
I am very bad at electrical, so I thought to ask you for advice.

Best regards!

Kobus,
How are you mounting your shelf brackets to the wall?

Hi MrNorway, I bought the 34 HS 4801 from Motion King.
Using Gecko 202's with a BOB and power supply from our local CNC Guru Greg. You can contact him on belli (at)iafrica.com ...I know he does export. I did not put any limit switches / proxy sensors etc om my machine...less to go wrong and if you work with it, you know where you are and how big you will cut...so running off the rails etc is not going to happen....IF you concentrate and think a little.

Hi Heath, I made a BACKBOARD and did some slots in here. With the MM I drilled 2 holes / slot. A little glue in the slot and 2 small screws from behind into the bracket. You can also make a little foot for the bracket...do the same slot thing and put a bigger screw at the top and bottom of this foot into the wall.

......and IF you have fitted the mechanical stops.

Don't even have mechanical stops..was to lazy to fabricate them...they were not on the DXF list that I could send in for laser cutting....I just take care not to go over the edge.

Kobus - I hope you are not joking - that heavy gantry can cause a lot of damage - some day I am sure it will walk / run over the edge -

please try to have some sort of limits for your machine - and proximity switches definitely help me to re home and gain position back in case of a power outage.