Thread: 6b4

Hi Ken,
All my 8 fans push air out. The trick I have found is to seal the panels and draw the air in from under the cabinet preferably in the middle.

If you have a look at any woodworking machine it is generally clean under the machine. The electronics enclosure and VFD compartment draw air through another compartment so it further protects them.

Rather than ramble trying to explain it this photo sequence shows the inlets, outlets and compartments.

The air pump has a seperate inlet again from under the machine as it will draw a fair bit of air through the pump. The 25mm thick board has quitened down the pump considerably.

I should reverse the fans then it would hover and I wouldn't need wheels.

Originally Posted by rodm

I should reverse the fans then it would hover and I wouldn't need wheels.

You would have a jet on wheels if you reversed the fans.
The fastest CNC machine on earth

I was cleaning up the patio and found a half finished machine.
It's been eight months since I last touched 6B4 so decided to do a little bit of work on it.

This will answer a few questions in relation to comparing an entry level Chinese machine to an industrial version. I have flipped the machine over and are fitting the "T" slot table. There are 60 screws and T nuts holding the table to the machine. The angle is fixed to the beams so it knits together in two planes. Using this method I can adjust the table top if necessary to get the machine bed flat to the Y and X axes. The side plate of the machine has been removed so I could slide T nuts on the beam.

The purpose here is not to knock Chineses machines but to demonstrate an earlier comment of mine about Chinese entry level machines having limitations. Don't worry I would buy one of their machines if I was starting out again. They simply weren't around nor were cheap rails and ballscrews when I started.

Good to see 6B4 getting some Rod time.
David

Slowly does it.
I am doing a dual screen for the console just for something different. It means that even with small screens I have a large view of the toolpath and Gcode panel on the right hand screen and I have all the controls on the left hand screen. A much more useful layout than one screen and it has a smaller footprint than a 17 inch monitor. It was a bit tricky designing the extended screen and those that have used Screen4 will understand that.

Hey Rod,

Lovely as always. Love the second screen with just the toolpathing, might have to borrow that idea for mine.

Daniel

Originally Posted by rodm

Slowly does it.

Hmm, that doesn't quite describe the glacial speed of the build. Nearly 10 months so far.

Hi Daniel,
I wouldn't have thought of it but I am using all my left over bits for this machine. The advantage is all the controls can then fit on one screen so no flicking screens to setup and operate the machine. They are touchscreens so hopefully I can get the control screen to operate in that mode. I don't think both will work as touchscreens.

Hi Bob,
I am also building a hybrid mill which I haven't posted yet and have been distracted with a house internal make over and some solar projects so while I haven't been slack I have been somewhat distracted from this buid. Does that qualify for a good enough excuse?
I like your fence but daren't show SWMBO for fear of a request to make one.

Not wanting to break into a sweat but still keep the build going the console is nearly finished.
I had joysticks for jogging but they were too tall so settled for the triangular arcade jobbies.
Photos best describe the rest.

Hi Rod

That is one VERY neat control panel. Love the idea of the two touch screens and the fact that it all folds away neatly into a drawer. It won't be too long before you have 6b4 running.

I think, when I build my next machine, I'll be stealing some ideas from 6b4.

Cheers

Thanks Geoff,
Trying to juggle things at the moment. I got two aquaponics tanks Thursday and another 360w of solar panels to power the air and water pumps. That means making another frame for the panels and the electronic controls - timer and temperature. At least the pumps and electronics are cheap from China but the aquaponics setups aren't.

Take from 6B4 all you need. I am guilty of using ideas from other builds myself.

...........the story continues

Thanks to Big Shed he has reactivated this thread so I can keep logging the journey. My last activity on here was Nov 12 and I started the machine twelve months before that so it has been very slow . Lots has happened including retiring so hopefully I can pick up the pace now.

Since my last post I have mounted the electronics in the enclosure and replaced to a higher spec computer. I had a lot of trouble getting the Pokeys and smoothstepper working due to changes in hardware and remembering how it all works. The Pokeys gave me most grief and it turned out I was using the wrong machine profile in Mach3. Geoff Sims will laugh at this one as I was linked to the profile of his console after I did a bit of work for him and never changed it back.

As long as it is not too hot this week I should make some progress and post some picture by the end of the week.

"Geoff Sims will laugh at this one as I was linked to the profile of his console after I did a bit of work for him and never changed it back."

Um, er, ah, sorry about that distraction Rod. Good to see you back onto 6b4. I'll have to call around in the near future and have a look. Keen to see it working.

Cheers