I realized last night that if I got the “wood parts” of the CNC machine up and running, I would still need to have the “electronic” parts working.
I also realized that I am essentially out of time before the road trip.
So today was a bit of a mad rush, trying to confirm that enough things were working properly that I could pack it all up and take it on the road and finish it while I’m on vacation.
I attached the included DB9 connector to one of the motors, hooked it up to the Gecko, fired up the power supply, and downloaded Mach3 on my laptop. If that sounds like a lot of stuff crammed into one sentence, you can start to get the idea of how my mind is going today.
I wrote out my first G-code, G00 Z1, and did a little dance of joy when the motor started moving. No magic smoke seems to have escaped from anything. The laptop was missing steps, though. I am beginning to understand why everyone says “only use a desktop”.
I also cut out the Z-table and the Z-gantry bottoms (which hold the Y-axis transmission nut). I chamfered the edges of the Z-table. Had to bust out the router table for that. I decided that I was going to narrow the Z axis by 1″ to better fit the small router I’m using. It will give me a slightly wider usable cutting area.
I also cut the Z-axis rails, and once I did that, I was able to take the third critical measurement, the width of the Z-axis (which determines the width of the router axis parts). It’s 5-1/16″. I’m ready to cut the last pieces!
I went to Fry’s to get parts for DB9 cables. I bought the wrong stuff (stupid RJ11 vs RJ45 — grr) and have to go back tomorrow.
I soldered on the DB9s to all 3 motors.
I came out with the intent of making the final cuts, but decided to construct the Z-gantry first. So I drilled the new parts, and started installing them. That took a bit, until I got the hang of it; if you don’t do it right, it’s impossible to get a screwdriver where you need it.
With the Z-gantry moving back and forth, I decided to try test-fitting the leadscrew.
And that’s where the night went from “construction” to “troubleshooting”. The Y-transmission nut did not line up with the Y-gantry sides. Ouch. I played with it some (this requires a lot of taking everything apart and putting it back together), and determined that either the Z-gantry sides (the infamous parts C&D) were incorrect, or the Z-gantry bottom (parts A&B) were incorrect. One way or another, stuff needs to be re-drilled to make the axis fit.
(an aside, as I’m writing this I had an epiphany and realized that I can drill the hole wider and just put the hold-down nuts in a vertical instead of horizontal configuration. voila.)
I still need to drill the Y-axis rails, too. Things would have gone a little faster if I didn’t have to fight the bottom rail coming off all the time.
The Z-gantry parts are a little too long I think. But I won’t be sure until I get the rail attached. I can either shim (like I did in X), or cut a very small slice off of the parts. I haven’t decided what to do yet.
Anyway, I realized that I’m not going to finish on time. If everything went together exactly right, I would have a working machine (since all the parts are there). But I certainly didn’t figure troubleshooting time into the equation. No big deal, I just have to finish up while I’m on vacation.
Now I have to figure out how to get this stuff all packed up.
Topping the todo list:
– drill the Y-axis rails and attach them permanently.
– re-drill the Y-axis transmission nut holes slightly larger (not too big; the nut shouldn’t fall through)
– cut the last pieces
– cut the X-axis leadscrew
– cut the Z-axis leadscrew
– download Mach3, CamBam, and FreeMill(?)
– wipe the CNC computer
To pack:
– wood parts
– rails for all 3 axes (Y and Z are not attached)
– motors/gecko/power supply
– DB9 parts / ethernet cable / ohmmeter
– drill?
– drill bits
– screwdriver set
– the book
– the dvd
– the plans
– the mac
– couplings / bearings
– 3 leadscrews
– nuts/bolts (including the extra stuff — all the 1/4-20 in the house)
– square / pencil / tape measure
Tomorrow we pack. Friday we drive.