Search found 48 matches

by jutz
Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:59 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: One Power Supply or Three?
Replies: 18
Views: 6779

You don't necessarily need three power supplies but, if you use a single, it must be able to deliver full power to all three simultaneously unless you plan to make sure none of your programs ever try to drive all three at once. However, you have a lot more choices when shopping for small transformer...
by jutz
Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:34 pm
Forum: Lathes
Topic: Possible low cost DRO for 9x20 lathe
Replies: 6
Views: 3970

That DRO appears to just measure the rotation of the dials for it's distance measurement so you would still have to account for backlash in any measurements and it's measurement is still dependent on the accuracy of the lead screws. It is basically just a digital replacement for the dials. It does r...
by jutz
Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:29 pm
Forum: 3-in-1 Metalworking Machines
Topic: New member and need to drill some big-ish holes
Replies: 14
Views: 10519

The spade bits designed for wood working have a brad point which does a good job of staying on center and are only sharpened at the front, so they have a lot less tendency to wander than standard twist drills. They have a lot less surface in contact with the plastic so they don't heat the plastic up...
by jutz
Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:55 pm
Forum: 3-in-1 Metalworking Machines
Topic: New member and need to drill some big-ish holes
Replies: 14
Views: 10519

I'm not at all sure I understand what you are trying to do. If you just need to drill a 7/8" hole down the length of the rod, I recommend purchasing a spade type wood boring bit and using that in the tail stock. Those are my drill of preference for most plastics.
by jutz
Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:23 am
Forum: Lathes
Topic: I need a toolpost!! Can't stand this anymore!!
Replies: 21
Views: 7441

You say you really can't afford one. Have you considered making one? I have photos of my construction at http://home.earthlink.net/~jsutz/ (in the Projects section). I can send you my drawings in PDF format if you're interested. You would probably need to adjust the size a bit. You do need some meth...
by jutz
Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:23 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Thread forming taps
Replies: 4
Views: 2963

There is no need to back the tap up periodically. You definitely need a lubricant, but not a cutting oil. I've found that way lube works quite well. So does 75W-90 synthetic hypoid gear lube. I imagine most any heavy oil designed for high pressure applications will work. I've also had success with a...
by jutz
Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:20 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: How to build an Indexer?
Replies: 5
Views: 5658

I found information about one that used a stepper motor through a harmonic drive. The motor and drive fit quite neatly inside the body of the indexer and harmonic drives can be built with zero backlash but they are a bit pricey.
by jutz
Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:36 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: OT: Coffee Maker Boilers
Replies: 17
Views: 4874

If you search the internet for "Coffee maker lime removal" you will find lots of sites, most of which say to run vinegar through it to clean out the lime.
by jutz
Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:37 pm
Forum: Request For Services
Topic: Small Turning Job
Replies: 14
Views: 13720

Harold,

Weren't you the one who told SealKiller about reverse boring? Seems to me this would be an excellent use for that skill. At least that's how I would do it.
by jutz
Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:19 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Protective coating aluminum.
Replies: 0
Views: 1099

Protective coating aluminum.

I've been searching but haven't found anything yet. Does anyone here have any experience with the Sanchem conversion coatings for aluminum? I plan to paint my parts with an epoxy primer and urethane top coat but I'm curious if Sanchem products work as well as the chromate conversion coatings (Alodin...
by jutz
Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:43 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Motorized Geneva Drive
Replies: 13
Views: 3995

A company called Mattson makes some semiconductor manufacturing equipment which makes use of Geneva drives in the material handling system. A four lobe is used for rotating the handling robot between each of the four stations (two process chambers, one cool-down chamber and the airlock for getting m...
by jutz
Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:41 pm
Forum: Home Shop CNC & 3D Printing
Topic: Stepper Driver Circuit
Replies: 1
Views: 2196

I used a 555 timer circuit to control a stepper driven saw for cutting glass. Worked quite well.

I'm not familiar with the StepGenie IC you referred to but I'm guessing it doesn't microstep. I recommend using a microstepping drive in order to get reasonably smooth motion. I used a Geckodrive.