Looking through new windows #114 - Isarn, Thailand

[Robert M]

Wooaow....that was fast
Congrats....many hrs of fun to come
Enjoy

[Tom Ayres]

Its Alive! Excellent Job Al!!!

[KenC]

Bravo!

[darren salyer]

SWEEET!!
Great job.

[lonestaral]

Thanks for the kind comments.

Just run its first proper program.
144 holes 10mm dia in the spoilboard for my clamping arrangement.
1 hour 55 minutes.

[MetalHead]

Awesome !!! Now for some logos !!!

[lonestaral]

Wow !
Its moved and I have been moved.

I spent the afternoon installing the T nuts. Boring but it had to be done.

More to do tomorrow weather permitting.
The remains of " Typhoon Wutip " are heading directly for us.

I had a lucky escape this afternoon.
The machine was powered down.
I was using a pistol drill to finish some holes.
The pinions were engaged so I was using both hands to move the gantry.
The gantry stopped, without thinking I gave it another pull.
It moved a bit.
Then I realised something was wrong.
The extension cord was wedged under a V wheel.
The cable was thin so I was lucky I did not give it another pull.

Next time a proper extension lead and not across the machine.
Been a bit ironic if me and the machine were finished on the same day.

[lonestaral]

Z slide & Router squared to the bed.
Spoilboard faced.
Logos on order.

Getting there.

[darren salyer]

Glad you averted the close call with the cord.
Machine is looking really good.

[zumergido]

looks like your spindle is not 90degrees on the y x axis. that make a pattern when you face the spoil board.

there is a easy system with a wire and a drill bit to calibrate the spindle. i cant find any tutorial online. i have to make one.

[KenC]

There are 2 ways to set yout Z axis perpendicular to XY plane.
1) the simple way. eye balling a set square the cutting bit to the table (after it is surfaced

2) the complecated way which I won't go into as it is very well documented somewhere in this forum.

[smreish]

Super quick and easy way........
Cut a 24" x 24" square double or triple thickness FLAT MDF/PLY base....drill 1/2" hole in middle
Chuck up router/spindle in collet - then tighten the machine world around the base and spindle.

Surface the table.

Do it again, this time use a L shaped scribe and feeler gauge if needed to set the pitch/yaw of the assembly.

Personally, I used (2) framing squares to set the z-plumb in the y carriage in the x and y direction. Then I connected the router to the z and did it again.....The second time I did it the first way I described and saved about 3 hours.

[lonestaral]

Thank you for your concerns and comments.
I squared it using the facing cutter.
Perhaps not perfect but good enough for what I want to do for now.

I am very pleased with the machine and its performance.

I ran a test this morning.
Everything cut the right shape and size.
Like a hot knife through butter.

[lonestaral]

One MechMate reporting for duty Sah !

[smreish]

..definitely has the logo part covered!
Congratulations...happy cutting

[darren salyer]

I thought I had a lot of logos.....lol.
Just kidding, machine looks great.
As you gain experience, you will look at every project, no matter how simple, and think: How can I do this with the MechMate?

[Alan_c]

Jolly good!...carry on...

[MetalHead]

I like the motor logos !!! You get #114 !!! Congrats !

[lonestaral]

Yahoo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A number, thank you very much.
Very happy to be here.

I saw the .dxf for the motor logos.
Someone said about keeping dust out of the rear bearings, so I ordered a set.
The blue is a bit darker than what I wanted but it might fade with the sunshine.

I said in my first post that I spent 25 years on other peoples machines.
Now I have one of my own.
Absoutely brilliant.
Thank you all.
Now I had better go and do some work.

[darren salyer]

Now its time to start building cool stuff.
GREAT JOB!!

(I have the same motor decals on mine.)

[digger]

Happy dusting Al.
Looks very nice.

[domino11]

Congrats! Looks great!

[jhiggins7]

Al,

Here is the Updated Builder's Log with your entry added.

Congratulations on earning Serial #114 on a great machine...and FAST too!

[lonestaral]

Thank you Gent"s.

Number nailed to the Mast.

Thanks for updating the build log.
Just a small point on the "Builders Log"
The Y travel is 696mm (It could be somewhere over 700mm if I changed the hard stops)

What is a "Small form factor ?

I think the build hours are about average.
It took me about 500 hours but I had nothing else to do all day.
Now I have something to do all day every day.

[Mrayhursh]

Congrats on your build. Can't wait to see your first project(s).

[lonestaral]

I had a play about this afternoon.

Quite impressed with the small detail on the rose (30mm dia).

A bit like watching a Sumo wrestler dance in a Ballet.
Well pleased.

The rose is in Tamarind.(End grain)
The ship in Padauk.

[MetalHead]

I love it!!! Sumo at a ballet!!! Good description!!

[lonestaral]

I had a couple of cable drum ends(plywood) that I salvaged a couple of months back.
I saw Darren Salyers gear and thought why not.
Glued some mdf offcuts to the ply.

Well impressed the way my machine cut the teeth.
I will have to turn it over to cut the teeth full depth as the cutter was too short.
Hope to finish machine it tomorrow.

[Tom Ayres]

I'm jealous, everyone is making their own gears but me

[lonestaral]

Don't worry Tom.
One day soon you will be heading away from the kitchen table and carving signs "Get your gear here"