CNC Machines, Robotics etc

[deanforbes]

The space is now acquiring a few CNC type machines and few of the members have projects in this domain, we I feel need to start looking at building a core group around these machines to look after them and train 

This really is an exploratory note if you have skills and are willing to help please put your hand up

If you dont have skills and just want get involved also please make your self known 

Tatenda :-) 

[Adam Camp]

Count me in!

I was previously involved when we were looking at building a maslow CNC, I have built two MPCNC machines and have another machine "in the works" - I'd be very interested in getting involved with this!

Adam

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[Adrian Godwin]

<waves>

On Mon, Sep 20, 2021 at 1:48 PM deanforbes <de...@deanforbes.com> wrote:

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[michael....@gmail.com]

Happy to lend a hand, at the very least I can put together documentation/user guides/FAQs

Michael

[Mauro Vilasi]

Saw the CNC machine in the woodworking area yesterday, excited to get it running.  

I can offer contributions on software, basic electronics and generally helping out.

Mauro

[deanforbes]

That is great to see the interest and support - I think we have a nice group in the making 

The space has a mill and there is a lathe with tool changer and  puma arm that will be available for who ever to play with when we get it up and running 

I will probably look at setting a day a month initially as a meet up to get this started 

[Rowan Hoggarth]

I have some relevant skills and will be happy to get involved with this group

R

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[KP P]

count me in too

Cheers,

-Kunal

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[Aidas Baltušis]

I'm very interested as well!

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[Erica Calogero]

Hi there,

I'm bumping this conversation. 

Do we have a monthly MeetUp yet? I've been learning LinuxCNC over at CreateSpace and have been helping Adrian with the new spoilboard on the Denford. Thanks to Liam, Richard, Lojain and Mai as well for help on this. The dxf file I created for lasering new ones is saved on the laser cutter PC as DenforSpoiloborad.dxf or as a lightburn file or something similar.

In terms of what's left to do:

1)  I believe Dean and Adrian have agreed on repacing the driverboard and control software with a LinuxCNC system with Mesa board. If anyone wants to volunteer to help out on that aspect, please make themselves known to Adrian or Dean tomorrow. 

2) We need to look at 3D printing some bellows out of TPU to protect the gantry screws or whatever the technical term is. I found a model on thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2007634 the cross section is 50mm * 55mm. I didn't measure the length yet.

3) We need someone to look at dust extraction. This would involve at the very least a 3d printed flange with a hole of 60mm diameter to keep the vacuum cleaner hose in place. Thanks to Adrian for supplying it. Then there are different opinions on whether and how to attach the hose to the business end of the CNC. If anyone wants to volunteer for this, again, please make themselves known to Dean or Adrian.

4) Adrian is looking at a pre-existing air system and working out whether it is a vacuum system for the bed or a blowing system to keep the dust clear from the mill end. If someone wants to volunteer to investigate further into how to set up a vaccum bed on a CNC, please make themselves known to Adrian, who has been working on the necessary fittings and supply tubing.

In general, maybe we should start a pledge for the new mesa board and any other bits of equipment. If anyone wants to donate some bits and pieces, we could do with a spoilboard surfacing bit and a 4 flute 1/4"(or 6mm) flush up-cutting bit and a 4 flute 3mm (or 1/8") flush up-cutting bit. This would be in addition to everyone supplying their own bits to work with on the CNC.

I started writing a blog post about my learning journey, if you want to read it, it links here:

https://ecalogero.medium.com/an-introduction-to-cnc-1fd40748e814

[deanforbes]

Erica - all of this is in hand as you know 

[Remi Chateauneu]

If it can drill 2.05 mm holes in polycarbonate 2.0 mm sheets, I am interested too, thanks.

[Erica Calogero]

Hi Dean ,

No I don't know about everything mentioned being in hand, or by whom and I don't know what the problem with sharing the details of the equipment status and plans on the mailing list until it is abundantly clear. You have done so just recently for the bandsaw, the wood lathe and the high temperature kiln. It was all welcome communication, I dont know why the Denford is any different.

Some of the work on the Denford is in hand and I know, because I took on the responsibility to complete part of this infrastructure work, i.e. the new spoilboard. I was just updating the situation, partially to inform you. Usual professional practise might suggest a thanks was in order, as with the latest work on the 3D printers. Again, I'm not sure why this is any different. I would love to know. 

As for any questions you believe to have already informed me of, I obviously didn't find it clear and thought that there may be others who would also like to hear about it.  

Hi Remi - if you can write the Gcode and determine the correct feeds and speeds, clamping, and tool selection, then I should imagine it is. I would refer to either Dean or Adrian for more information though.

Best,

Erica. 

[deanforbes]

Oh dear 

I am not sure what I have done for the bandsaw, the wood lathe and the high temperature kiln.

Dan did the work on the old Bandsaw and Paddy sourced and sorted a new one.
Toby has been the lead on the Kiln.
Jonathan has sorted the Wood Lathe.
The 3D print maintainer are maintaining the 3D printers I am  confused as to what my involvement with the 3D printer is.

All of these people are maintainers on these bits of kit,  its there discretion as to how they go about it.

When I've communicated with them they have all understood me and to the best of my knowledge I've understood them, and most importantly there have been no needless melodrama    

Erica you are a pilot user on the CNC router, which with hindsight was an incredibly poor decisions of mine as a maintainer of this tool as it has resulted in a lot of pain and not a lot of benefit to date.

As you said "you want to take a break you are burnt out"  perhaps you need to take a break 

I would prefer not to comment on this again here, its not healthy for the list or you  and I dont want to add to your racketing.  

[deanforbes]

Remi the machine is in pilot mode and not in active service - 2.05 is a very precise number I am not sure it is supported by the machine or even the material 

[Remi Chateauneu]

Hi Erica.

Thanks for the answer.
" write the Gcode "
I imagine this is possible because I created DXF files with Python programming language so it should be possible to adapt the drawing to GCode (Inspired or example by https://python.hotexamples.com/examples/CNC/GCode/-/python-gcode-class-examples.html ). These are just lines of holes separated by about 1 cm. How can we have technical informaton about this machine, please ?

Remi

[Remi Chateauneu]

Hi Erica.

Thanks for the answer.
" write the Gcode "

I imagine this is possible because I created DXF files with Python programming language so it should be possible to adapt the drawing to GCode (Inspired or example by https://python.hotexamples.com/examples/CNC/GCode/-/python-gcode-class-examples.html ). These are just lines of holes separated by about 1 cm. How can we have technical informaton about this machine, please ? Many thanks.

Remi

Le vendredi 25 février 2022 à 20:26:02 UTC, ecal...@gmail.com a écrit :

[Erica Calogero]

Dean, I haven't used the Denford CNC machine once. I had no intention of using it. I just made the spoilboard. It took 2 weeks and was successfully demo'd on the induction day. Adrian can attest to it. The melodrama was mostly provided by you. You remain accountable for your behaviour to, which has caused me significant stress and burn-out. There's no need to continue to volunteer my time for such as the likes of you.

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[Remi Chateauneu]

Hi Dean.
Thanks for the answer. 2.05 is a theoretical number, any figure between 1.90 and 2.15 for example will perfectly work.

What is more important is the spacing, half-inch, but imprecision is tolerated if on long spans, the average spacing is OK.

[Remi Chateauneu]

Another question please. Is it worth preparing a gcode file with the LinuxCNC simulator ? Also, I am happy to help for anything. I takk a look at the Denford machine today and would be happy to see how it works. Thanks.

[Adrian Godwin]

I have been able to use gcode generated by the easel.inventables.com web tool by just adding a short preamble. The generated code assumes that the tool starts at 0,0,0 which is the top front left hand corner of the work. If you clamp the work down (with a padding sheet to protect the spoil board .. it may be called 'spoil board' but it's there to catch accidents, not regular cutting), you will then move the cutter to that corner and set the program origin there. I would recommend first setting it there but much higher, to see that it traces out the expected pattern.

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[Remi Chateauneu]

Sounds great ! Is there please a moment where we could see this ? Thanks !

[Adrian Godwin]

On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 2:40 PM Remi Chateauneu <remi.ch...@gmail.com> wrote:

Sounds great ! Is there please a moment where we could see this ? Thanks !

That was the idea of the demo sessions at the induction day recently !

However we'll aim to do another session at some convenient time - possibly when the new controller is fitted.