Thread: VSD enclosure

Mine are a lug type suitable for a screw... see first pic

is this the same type as yours?

or do you have a similar type as per the second pic

I was planning on using Cat5 cable for the inverter controls. The "machine control V" on the drawing in my previous post could be as high as 32VAC.
Two questions.
Does anyone know if Cat5 is good for 32VAC?(I'm pretty sure it should be ok but I cant find a voltage spec)
Will 32VAC in one twisted pair give me cross talk problems with the other 6 conductors controlling the VSD at 12V?

Thanks

Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

I was planning on using Cat5 cable for the inverter controls. The "machine control V" on the drawing in my previous post could be as high as 32VAC.
Two questions.
Does anyone know if Cat5 is good for 32VAC?(I'm pretty sure it should be ok but I cant find a voltage spec)
Will 32VAC in one twisted pair give me cross talk problems with the other 6 conductors controlling the VSD at 12V?

Thanks

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

Cat5 is good for 300v, 32VAC should be ok, but remember low current. crosstalk won't be a problem provided you stick to the pairs. In any event you are probably talking low frequency signals. So I can't see crosstalk as an issue.

I have examples where cat5 cabling has been used for stepper motor control and power, but the trick is to parallel up conductors to get the current rating. The Makerbot 3d printer (sort of a reprap clone) uses cat 5 cabling for this.

I've used cat 5 for up to 1amp per pin without problems.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

The Makerbot 3d printer (sort of a reprap clone) uses cat 5 cabling for this.

Off topic for a moment, but Ray, have you some experience with the Reprap/Makerbot setup? One of my mates wants to build one with my help (and I want him to build it, so I can print stuff, lol).

Thanks Ray
As it stands the most I will be doing is closing three contactors so I should be under 200mA. Good news I the cross talk.

Stuart

Originally Posted by Jekyll and Hyde

Off topic for a moment, but Ray, have you some experience with the Reprap/Makerbot setup? One of my mates wants to build one with my help (and I want him to build it, so I can print stuff, lol).

Hi Jekyll and Hyde,

I built a makerbot with my son a year ago, works fine, the only issue we had was the extruder head needed to be rebuilt after it gummed up and ended up blocked with burnt plastic. The kit comes with all the stuff you need, and easy to follow instructions. It's down in Melbourne at the moment, but it was good fun building and playing around with it. The 3d printed parts we made were surprisingly strong.

Apologies to Stuart for the off-topic diversion..

Regards
Ray

PS.. The one we built was the cupcake http://store.makerbot.com/cupcake-cnc-ultimate.html
One tip, I can offer, we found the on-board arduino would pause during downloading the G code, (via the usb port) and the pauses would show in the extruded abs,
but if you uploaded the g code file to the sd-card and executed the g-code direct from the card it ran without pauses.

Fine by me Ray...... I knew of the printers, I had no idea you could make one at home. Now I want one. Pricey?

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

I didn't buy it! My son did, and I helped him build it and played around with it for a while, it cost about $1000 a year ago, but with the dollar the way it is, it's probably cheaper now.

That project was the initial inspiration that prompted me to buy a HM52 and start doing the CNC conversion. Since then, I have seen some projects on CNCzone, where people have fitted extruder heads to cnc mills and run them as 3d printers.. I'm thinking of having a go at doing that, but I need to get the cnc conversion finished first..

Regards
Ray

[QUOTE=RayG;1258617] a makerbot

/QUOTE]

what does it do?....does it use cutters? ie router?

I know its a cnc of some sort ....would it make little wooden scupltures

[quote=eskimo;1258703]

Originally Posted by RayG

a makerbot

/QUOTE]

what does it do?....does it use cutters? ie router?

I know its a cnc of some sort ....would it make little wooden scupltures

Quite the reverse actually - they add material, rather than take it away. Actually prints using a plastic filament extruded for a nozzle, and keeps on building it up until you have a 3d plastic part.

This will show you what it does: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzL391LfsvE]YouTube - 3D printing our wedding cake topper![/ame]

nifty...but I dont want one now.....I wont be getting need or want another wedding cake

did it once..never again

Interesting, didn't know something like that existed.
Like you I wont be needing for another wedding cake, the machine probably cost what a wedding does.

Dave

But the machine would be cheaper in the long run...

Originally Posted by Bryan

But the machine would be cheaper in the long run...

hahahaha......

what about alimony.......