http://diylilcnc.org/forum/tags/arduino Free, open-source plans for a low-cost 3-axis CNC mill by Taylor Hokanson and Chris Reilly. Sponsored by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. en-US Thu, 17 May 2012 23:20:55 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://diylilcnc.org/forum/search.php http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-941 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:04:02 +0000 Taylor 941@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@T4b,</p> <p>The core v2 design is complete, but we're still finishing up the documentation. See <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diylilcnc/6757291097/">this link</a> for details. I hope to release the rough draft by the end of the month.</p> <p>We tested some USB alternate boards, but were unable to settle on a solution that can drive large motors. We'll look at doing a geared-axis secondary release that could play nice with existing USB solutions, but that's further down the line. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-930 Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:22:18 +0000 T4b 930@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Could you maybe summarize what you've already done and what you still want to do to finish v2.00?<br /> And what do you think when it will be finished?</p> <p>I would build a v.1 instead of waiting, but I it would be a real pain to get those non-metric parts, I fear (probably with a lot of additional cost for shipping) and it would further increase cost to get a computer with a paralell port. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-901 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:16:33 +0000 T4b 901@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>As long as I can use it to cut the modified panels it's no problem for me.</p> <p>I guess I'll order the panel set as soon as it's available. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-900 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:50:35 +0000 Taylor 900@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>T4b,</p> <p>The new design will address shipping cost by reducing part count as far as possible. This means you'll buy a higher percentage of materials locally (like metal stock, hardware, etc.). We'll also shift the entire BOM over to metric standards.</p> <p>Once the design is complete, documentation will probably be released over time in blog-form. Last time we did a pdf, but that meant all the instructions got held up until we had the whole thing finished. This time we'll stick to an online format, meaning that we can dump a rough set early then come back through and add polished images and other support media.</p> <p>As for "fully tested", the reality is that this kit gets nowhere near the quality control you'd find on the initial release of a more conventional product. That said, we get the same result over time by working with our users to identify and redesign problems. V2 is benefiting enormously from this approach, but you may still find minor problems if you buy early. We hope you'll see this risk in the context of our alternative approach to research and intellectual property. I can say that the device will essentially function fine, but you may have to use it to cut some mod panels as we do V2.01. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-898 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:40:16 +0000 T4b 898@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>As long as I know that the assembly instructions will be coming at some time for the case I run into serious problems and the shipping costs to Switzerland aren't as I horrendous as I think, why not?</p> <p>But please specify "not full tested" more accurate, do you mean the individual kit hasn't been full tested or that there might be some design changes which haven't been fully tested and which could cause problems? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-893 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:18:54 +0000 Taylor 893@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>I'll be doing a solid month of design once my semester ends on December 15. I hope to have a working prototype by Jan 15, but the instructions and related material may follow at a lag. Would you be willing to purchase a panel set before the assembly instructions are finalized? This may also involve buying a kit that hasn't been fully tested, but that's what this project is all about! </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-888 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:15:15 +0000 T4b 888@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>When do you think the v2 will be finished? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/z-cart-modification-questions#post-860 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:35:41 +0000 Ming 860@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Thanks for the information Chris! I was thinking of linear bearing blocks too after <a href="http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/a-very-modified-bulid">seeing</a> it in Sly's build. Sly used VXB, which looks like a good choice. </p> <p>Right now I'm trying to contact VXB in regards to some measurements for the <a href="http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PROD/12mmLinearMotionSystems/Kit8512">12mm bearing blocks</a> because the Rhino model I built from the listed measurements looks like a flattened version of the actual bearing block. If I'm reading the measurements on that page correctly, the block should be 28mm tall and 42mm wide. Thus the height should be 2/3 of the width but the photos don't convey those proportions. </p> <p><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6197146952_ca4004166b_b.jpg" /></p> <p>I'm emailing VXB about the dimensions and hoping to have a reply soon. Hopefully I did something stupid and that the listed dimensions are right (instead of me being right and being therefore unable to trust any of the measurements given on the site).</p> <p>On a tangent, I am currently planning on making a highly modified LIL CNC. I'd like to include <a href="http://grumpygeek.com/?p=915#more-915">stepper motor dampers</a> to increase IPM, an <a href="http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/2011/07/25/wiring-a-stepdir-type-stepper-motor-driver-board-to-an-arduino/">Arduino replacement</a> for serial ports, a dust shoe, a <a href="http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/2011/06/27/diy-cnc-dust-collection-cyclone-separator/">cyclone dust trap</a>.</p> <p>In addition I'm planning on switching out the timing belts for leadscrews or racks &amp; pinion. I feel like I'd end up screwing up the timing belts by tightening them to different tensions. I will update you on design modifications as I make them. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/z-cart-modification-questions#post-857 Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:13:29 +0000 Chris 857@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>To answer your other question regarding the long Y-Rail bearing assemblies: we tried to make them shorter, but found that the gantry would rack pretty substantially, since it's only held down by gravity. That's another thing we're planning to address in V2, getting the Y-bearings trapped somehow so they're more stable. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/z-cart-modification-questions#post-856 Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:11:17 +0000 Chris 856@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Ming, great questions (good to hear from you, btw). </p> <p>It's pretty much friction holding the Z-Rail bearing assemblies to the Z-Sled. Really the Z-sled just needs to stay aligned vertically; the acme screw does all the work in that part of the gantry. </p> <p>One alternative we're going to look at in an upcoming redesign is to use bushings wrapped around steel rod. Something like this:</p> <p><img src="http://diylilcnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/bushing.jpg" /></p> <p>This will eliminate lots of bulk in the Z-cart as well as all the extra parts required for the skate bearing assemblies. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/revisions#post-854 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:39:44 +0000 Chris 854@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Now that our kickstarter campaign has [successfully!] ended, we're gearing up to do some serious R&amp;D for the next version of the DIYLILCNC design. </p> <p>We've got a lot of changes planned, so many that we've created a special forum for hashing out all the planned upgrades: <a href="http://diylilcnc.org/forum/forum/diylilcnc-v2">http://diylilcnc.org/forum/forum/diylilcnc-v2</a> </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/z-cart-modification-questions#post-852 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:40:53 +0000 Ming 852@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Is there anything to hold the Z-Rail bearing assemblies to the Z-Sled besides a tight fit? I see that the X-Rail bearing assemblies are bracketed in place by trap and tensioner panels but there doesn't appear to be any for the Z or Y axis.</p> <p>Also a related question: why do the Y-Rail bearing assemblies stick out so far from the Vertical Braces? </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/z-cart-modification-questions#post-850 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:13:12 +0000 Taylor 850@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>@Ming,</p> <p>The Z sled is a great target for redesign. As you've pointed out, there are many opportunities to save space (and gain travel). You might want to consider permanently attaching some panels with glue - this will reduce the need for bulky tab/slot fixtures. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/z-cart-modification-questions#post-849 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:11:03 +0000 Ming 849@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p><strike>Can I also reduce the width of the Z-Sled?</strike> </p> <p>Nevermind I see that the space is needed for the interlocking t-bolt joints. </p> http://diylilcnc.org/forum/topic/z-cart-modification-questions#post-848 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 23:57:51 +0000 Ming 848@http://diylilcnc.org/forum/ <p>Hey Chris and Taylor, I'm an AIADO alumni who's looking to modify the LILCNC plans and I'm seeing that the dremel tool seems to occupy only 2/3 of the Z-Sled. Is there a reason for this or can I remove the space occupied by the Z-Sled Front piece? I'd have to shorten the Z-Rail Bearings and maybe lower the position of the Z-Rail Bearing Trap but it looks like I'd gain more cutting height from this.</p> <p>-Ming</p> <p><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/307214_550806737542_82100200_31425105_900287934_n.jpg" /></p> <p><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/307214_550806737542_82100200_31425105_900287934_n.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/307214_550806737542_82100200_31425105_900287934_n.jpg</a> </p>