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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default First dipping of toes into the CNC world... bought a little engraver/mill

    Well, I finally did it...
    I bought a desktop fixed gantry CNC engraver.
    $_58.PNG
    It is a few years old and came from an industrial environment but appears to have very little wear - other than the spindle brearings.
    It weighs about 60kg + and is almost entirely made from ribbed cast iron castings and sections.
    The control system was proprietary and driven by serial port - and it didn't come with it.
    So my intention is to fit new stepper drivers and an off-line motion controller, that reads G-code from a USB or memory stick.
    I also intend to raise the gantry by about 3" (75mm) to enable me to get taller work pieces under it. I can slide the motor down by the corresponding amount in its clamp to enable flat work to be machined.
    A question remains, in that I don't know how to select a motion controller: what pulse rate should it be able to deliver? How can I know? There seem to be $150 50kHz ones and $250 500kHz ones ....
    Anyone want to clarify that for me?
    Last question: I intend to generate G-code in Fusion360 Cam module, but what do I need to know to get the right "dialect"?
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Australind , WA
    Age
    58
    Posts
    1,277

    Default

    That will keep you quiet....lol
    Well done.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Very cool Joe - two projects in one (get it to work, then get it to make stuff)!!
    Watching with interest!

    Steve

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    473

    Default

    The DDCSV controller seems to have a bit of following on mad modder, with at least one guy producing some much improved software.


    Russ

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Yes, Russ. I read the entire thread now. Very interesting insights - and lots that went WAYYY over my head.
    However, I pulled the trigger on one. A DDCSV2.1 4-axis. See what I can do with that....
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  6. #6
    jatt's Avatar
    jatt is offline Always within 10 paces from nearest stubby holder
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Bendigo
    Age
    51
    Posts
    760

    Default

    That will keep you quiet....lol
    Recon so, theres nuthin like adding software to the mix..... hours of "fun"/ pulling ones hair just in that alone!! And I'm running out of that fast!

    Even a turnkey setup isn't immune from those dreaded software gremlins.

    Interesting to see how you progress.
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Hi Joe,

    late on the scene here but I'm really interested to see how this progresses.

    Nice project!

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

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