Search found 176 matches

by DICKEYBIRD
Fri Oct 19, 2018 8:56 am
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: MAXNC 10 speeds and feeds question
Replies: 8
Views: 18459

Re: MAXNC 10 speeds and feeds question

Great explanation Dave, thanks!
by DICKEYBIRD
Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:10 am
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
Replies: 12
Views: 24508

Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance

This is the constant struggle in my life. While on the road, I dream big, and have to reground myself when I get home and am actually able to measure things. So very true 'dat! I'm not on the road anymore for work but still spend 9-10 hours a day away from my shop workin' for the man. It's always e...
by DICKEYBIRD
Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:15 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Building a CNC router
Replies: 11
Views: 18243

Re: Building a CNC router

Hi Ron, the things that many (if not most) CNC router operators cut don't need 3D CAD. 2D will get you going & reduce the overall amount of time spent scratching your head. Elephants have to be eaten one bite at a time. :lol:

Good luck with your project & keep on posting!
by DICKEYBIRD
Sat Oct 21, 2017 10:42 am
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Centroid finally taking Acorn orders
Replies: 5
Views: 12703

Re: Centroid finally taking Acorn orders

Spent way too long this morning fiddling around with teeny little crimp-on terminal pins for the encoder cable. I think it's OK so now I'm working on the 4.08 software update so the encoder test can be done. I'm so S-L-O-W!
by DICKEYBIRD
Wed Oct 18, 2017 3:57 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Spindle Motor Control
Replies: 5
Views: 11848

Re: Spindle Motor Control

I forgot to say use the KB assuming your small mill has a typical permanent magnet DC motor like most Asian mills. It'll work great for those types of motors. I've never done it but they'll also work on shunt-wound motors as well but I'm guessing yours isn't likely to have one of those.
by DICKEYBIRD
Wed Oct 18, 2017 2:27 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Spindle Motor Control
Replies: 5
Views: 11848

Re: Spindle Motor Control

I'd use a tried & true KBIC-125. Cheap & tough as a boot. Used ebay unit is fine because many are replaced in the commercial world with newer PWM designs. The ol' SCR types are fine by me though. Here's one as an example but I have found them for as little as $25. https://www.ebay.com/itm/MA...
by DICKEYBIRD
Wed Aug 02, 2017 9:41 am
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Centroid finally taking Acorn orders
Replies: 5
Views: 12703

Centroid finally taking Acorn orders

Ordered mine ($265) this morning along with the "Pro" ($99) software. Supposed to ship next week. Hope it's worth the wait!:)
by DICKEYBIRD
Tue Aug 01, 2017 8:02 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Using G28
Replies: 18
Views: 28146

Re: Using G28

Bill Shields wrote:send me a direct email and let's get off the public board
Gee whiz guys, maybe other inquiring minds would like to learn too. :( (Like me)
by DICKEYBIRD
Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:31 am
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: CNC Knee Mill Control Conversion
Replies: 22
Views: 29903

Re: CNC Knee Mill Control Conversion

Marty, Is that $300 number a typo? (I hope not) That beats the Mach 3 conversion I did on my Lathe. I paid $150.00 for Mach 3 license, then about $150.00 for a CM-126 breakout board and then added an Ethernet smooth stepper at $300 or so. So I am at $600.00 and I don't have the centroid software wh...
by DICKEYBIRD
Thu Jul 28, 2016 2:21 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Do I Need a Rotary Encoder?
Replies: 17
Views: 16987

Re: Do I Need a Rotary Encoder?

If Mach3 is controlling spindle speed based off feedback... Mach doesn't need to control spindle speed when cutting threads. Mach synchs the Z axis motion with the spindle speed it captures once per rev. You're better off to forget letting Mach control the spindle speed while threading. The spindle...
by DICKEYBIRD
Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:43 am
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: What do you guys think of these for limit switches?
Replies: 16
Views: 14958

Re: What do you guys think of these for limit switches?

Most home CNC, Mach 3 for example, does not allow you to do anything other than monitor a normally open or normally closed circuit for limits. This is common in "home" CNC software and its associated breakout boxes. With that limitation, the best you can do is buy good switches that have ...
by DICKEYBIRD
Sat Jan 30, 2016 8:11 am
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: need help - test my Emco 5 CNC retrofit setup
Replies: 12
Views: 14082

Re: need help - test my Emco 5 CNC retrofit setup

Hey Rex, did you ever get this going? If so, what did you do?