[atomarc]

here are some quick videos documenting the custom homing sequence for mach4 that has been coming together over the last week. The machine is currently waiting on a replacement hydraulic seal for the draw-bar cylinder. Getting closer...




https://youtu.be/VIjoA5kOhTg



https://youtu.be/Dc-_CjMxNgE

[atomarc]

Was able to run some test g code. Stuart made a cool floating sharpie holder. A touch of fusion and 'bob's our uncle'. If you notice the start date on "the grizz" build (12/9/16) ....happy one year anniversary! omg! Last week a new draw bar cylinder was made (other one was....leaking.."unapparent design flaw") . Tomorrow, planning on putting the draw-bar back together and testing.... fingers crossed.




https://youtu.be/_uDYpKxTDvQ






:cheers:

[atomarc]

Things are looking promising with the new draw bar cylinder!


https://youtu.be/sxvwjMFmMgo

[atomarc]

playing catch up on the pictures... oldest to newest =)


here is the electronics enclosure with all the wire duct snapped on, definitely tied the room together =)




a sling-dinger ...




The side windows installed

[atomarc]

.........................


sweeet!!! (hit up your local HVAC guy and have em make you a cool stainless edge guard)






buttons, the labels are just printer paper.. the lens of the button comes off...

[atomarc]

...................................


Wanting something to stop large chips from going directly down the drains. I figure scuff-pads that have been "de-scuffed" look pretty "filter-esque" to me! Sharpened the end of a pipe in the lathe and punched the pads out on the hydraulic press. we shall see...

[atomarc]

If you recall there was a latency issue with having the wireless keyboard receiver inside the electronics enclosure. Moving the receiver "outside" the enclosure fixed the problem. Using a usb pass through and a un-unused 3/4" knockout got the job done. The fun part.... modeled and printed a snap on dome to cover the receiver. PETG per usual. I proceeded to drench the thing in black spray paint for that "just showered look". I think it was a post mock-up redo that turned out pretty good all things considered... i.e no major modifications required =)

[atomarc]

t-nuts and something to hold a vise on with.... check. parkerized... check.

[atomarc]

today....

If you watched the video back a few posts you know what this is....if you didnt... this is the "iteration" 1 draw-bar cylinder.



and the new one, it dosnt have cool pin stripes but at least it no longer weeps....




that is it for today...

:cheers:

[CL_MotoTech]

Tis' beautiful! Truly production grade, makes me wonder how my G0704 even works.

I started with Scotch-brite pads for filters for my drains, they tended to drain too slowly after not very much machining. My pump assembly has a separate 5 micron system in the coolant tank. The filter I now use in the enclosure is cut from furnace filter. It's dirt cheap and flows much better. Just some food for thought should you encounter slow drainage once you get cutting.

[Fastest1]

A swarf drawer technique would have allowed for incredible flow and easy cleaning.

[atomarc]

Thanks for the comments. Our tank is a two compartment deal with the first compartment sort of a settling area, then over a weir into the pump chamber. The pump is slightly elevated so some settling can take place here too. The Scotchbrite pads are just a early experiment. we have looked at the little 'crumb cups' you can buy for your bathroom sink and they look like they may work. It's going to be a work in progress kind of deal..I'm not sure what a swarf drawer is but it sounds interesting.

We have yet to machine anything with this so technically, that fat lady hasn't uttered a single note yet!

Stuart & Nick


On a side note, this site is crawling again, and the page layout loads in a very strange format!

[Fastest1]

A swarf drawer would be just upstream of the final tank where the pump would be. This would have required a much larger trough under the base of your machine, then the drawer directly below. The bottom of the drawer is perforated and has a huge surface area, it is just over the final tank..
The scotchbrite or even a bar sink strainer will clog quickly.
You are doing exemplary work. Cant wait to see the results.

[toddbeau]

I use Danco 88822 kitchen sink strainers in my swarf drawer over the drain. Place it upside down and let the swarf build up on it, a couple of magnets will hold it in place just fine.

[CL_MotoTech]

I use magnets on standard drain covers and they hold in place the furnace filter, I place the furnace filter under the drain covers in a bowl shape to increase area. I actually have two swarf drawers, one for each drain. I think it's a battle between a bit of pre-filter cleaning or emptying swarf drawers. Either way I dispose of chips.

[atomarc]

Thanks again for all the ideas on swarf control in the coolant. I have only seen videos of CNC machines with enclosures running flood coolant and didn't really realize how it was filtered...no first hand knowledge so I appreciate all the hands-on comments. We have what we have, so as we get into actually cutting material we'll maybe have to make changes..don't know. I was sort of hoping the chips would fall into the pan and stick as the coolant flowed passed into the return drain, leaving all but the fines in the enclosure. Maybe I had my head where the sun doesn't shine...wouldn't be the first time.

Stuart

[CL_MotoTech]

They will be fine. The only time coolant really starts backing up on my machine is after I have like 3" of chips in the bottom of the enclosure. The worst thing that has ever happened to me after the drains backed up was that I had to clean them during a tool change. Literally 2 minutes of work.

[Fastest1]

I agree with CL on the fact you will do fine with this system.
The method I was referring to generally has the bed of the mill suspended on a square or rectangular tubing frame over a trough maybe 8" x 18" for the 0704, with of course the drawer directly underneath.
Of course you could do an auger. We would all expect no less for such a fantastic build ;-) I am kidding. It is going to need a live feed for the fan club!

[atomarc]

UPS came through with some spherical washers and low head cap screws for the vise hold downs. check.

[Fastest1]

Press Cycle Start! The suspense is agonizing ;-)