8bit klubben: project: cnc design

woohoo! we have a new URL and a new layout
you gotta love it

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We have finished up soldering the control-kit, and tested if the voltage was right. Everything seems to work out fine. We really want to plug it to a computer and test if it actually control the motors, but we have just now found the computer to use, and have to reboot the thing and install the ubuntu with the cnc-software to it.

Unfortunately the components for the X/Y mechanism has not arrived yet, so we are a bit stuck in the building process. This makes this day a bit short.

Another task have been to figure out the power sypply. We have decided to use PC power supply, but it (or they) need to fittet to this use. The good thing about PC PS is that they delivers 300W each which is hopefully suitable for the CNC. Jremin have done this before in a 8×8 LED-display project (www.campingsex.org/8×8), and there is also a description about making a PS here. When doing this remember that the green wire (in some PS it has another color!) has to be connected to ground through a resistor. This connection switches the power supply on.

So a little short and unproductive day, but the list for day 3 looks fun:

• Installing the CNC-software
• finishing the power supply
• testing the motor-controller
• building the housing

Well probably not make all of it, but we will see how far we get.

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Day 1 - Planning the project

Intro

This is a project about building a CNC milling machine, understanding the primary functions of the machine and software and using this knowledge to make experimental prototyping of mechatronic ideas. The project is carried out on the M/S Halfmachine (www.halfmachine.dk), whom is also a big contributor to the project. The project is done as a 13-weeks course at Technical University of Denmark (www.dtu.dk), which is set for approximately 8 hours a week for 13 weeks. The course-description can be read here (course-description.pdf). We plan to use every Friday at the M/S Halfmachine.

The components

First we need the different parts and components for the CNC. The first day the circuit for the control is arrived along with the motors (www.hobbycnc.com).
The rest of the parts and components will hopefully be available next Friday. A list of components can be found here: (link not up yet), and we will update it along the way. Also suppliers and prices are included.

Being students at DTU, we have tried to get scrap materials, milling head and milling tools for free at the workshop in DTU. This is needed during testing and calibrating of the machine. The materials seem to be pretty easy, but getting the milling head and tools probably needs some more friendly conversations with the guys at the workshop. Hopefully they get tired of us at a point, and give us some old stuff to experiment with. When the final setup is made we probably need to bye some tools and possibly a milling head.

We need to make a plan for housing and the mechanism holding the milling head. Also a huge concern in constructing the frame is taking safety in to account. Some kind of Plexiglas screen is probably needed, so we can observe the machine at close range without being in danger. We will publish drawings and pictures when we find a proper solution.

First step in the quest for a CNC is to assemble the control board. The kit is pretty straight forward and the guide very good step-by-step instruction. This takes a couple of hours, so day 1 is pretty much over with the planning and the first assembly.

The 4 stepper motors and the control board kit

Specifications of the driver

What you need

Soldering in progress

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