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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    Sydney
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    Default mechmate build to come

    hi,

    i have been kicking around with differnt ideas of cnc's to build for 3 or 4 years now.

    about 2 yrs ago i came across the mechmate which is a very bullet proof cnc.

    the modifactions that i want to do include two spindles plus an air drill,

    i am looking at using alternative boards from the PMX, the simplest is to go with the Gecko G540, but having a multiple z''s axis the G540 may run out of inputs.

    i have found this complete z slide with motor / driver on ebay, my question is would this take the weight of a 1hp spindle or is it going to be limited to use for the airdrill.

    YouTube - V0204090001

    some questions in regard to wiring up a machine are:

    if having multiple e stop buttons are these wired in parrell.

    the construction of a power transforma, can these be pre purchased from a mainstream supplier?

    how hard is to get the wiring all done,

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    3,784

    Default

    Hi Gaza,
    Yes mechmate is a really good machine.

    Hard to tell about the actuator with just a video. My guess is it would be OK but you will have to satisfy yourself to that. A 1HP spindle is 800 watts and they are not too heavy in the air cooled version.

    E stop should be in series otherwise all switches need to be pressed before they work.

    You could use Gecko 251's and up to six of these on a Mach3 system. The gecko 251 are used in the Gecko540. You can buy a ready made switching power supply for around $70 to $80Aus. Search AusXmods or Peter Homann Designs.

    If you can understand this link here this will tell you if you can wire up a machine. Ask questions here but if you ask anything about high voltage stuff then few if any will answer due to the flaming from tradies and legal aspects of working with high voltages.
    Cheers,
    Rod

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sydney
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    Default

    rod,

    thanks for the wiring diagram,

    which control cards to you use with your build's?

    do you install an RCD in your control box?

    is microphone cable ok to use for driver motors? as it is sheilded.

    any hints for doing the wiring?

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    988

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gaza View Post
    is microphone cable ok to use for driver motors? as it is sheilded.
    As long as its AWG22 or larger you can use it, thats for the Nema 23 motors, you will need AWG18 for Nema 34 motors.

    AWG conversion table

    ^-- mm2 conversion chart.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    3,784

    Default

    Hi Gaza,
    Microphone cable is a little light for motors - I use microphone cable for limit switches and touchplates.

    Ausxmods and Peter Homann now stock the correct shielded cable for motors - you guys are spoilt by these suppliers as us older builders had to buy overseas for a lot of the gear they now stock.

    I usually use a CNC4PC C10 break out board only because I got five of them a while ago and Gecko Drivers. Sometimes a smooothstepper before the break out board.

    Yes I install an RCD but in all my instances it doesn't do much as where the machine is installed it has had an RCD in the main circuits anyway. I suppose it is an extra safeguard.

    Tips on wiring would be to keep the high voltage well away from the Bob, driver and anything to do with low voltage. Electromagnetic Interferrance (EMI) from the high voltage can destroy your week while you track it down. Look close at the earthing on the wiring diagram in the previous post. Proper earthing is the key to removing EMI in shielded cable and signal lines. Mounting your low voltage stuff in a metal case will also help.
    Have a separate run to your spindle otherwise you may overload your power point where you draw the current. Doing this helped resolve a problem I had with my last machine where the VFD was creating EMI issues.
    Cheers,
    Rod

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sydney
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    Default

    Thanks everyone,

    i had a look at that link plus the wiring diagram that is with the mechmate drawings.

    This is what i have come up with as a starting point for my wiring,

    Out of the CNC build the wiring and then use mech3 is the biggest thing to overcome during the build process.

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