@SamKeller I was wondering if you'd be willing to share any photos or diagrams on how you have your 6pack/drivers wired. I'm working on a (close) copy of your machine and i'm getting kinda hung up there. I think I have it right in my head but maybe since you already have it functioning I can check my work against yours? Thanks!

 

hi
I might seems ungrateful, but has anyone typed out a list of parts? I'm in a cast and would love to order this so I have everything by the time the cast comes off, but even just typing this has taken ages. It would help if I could copy/paste
thanks

 

Sam gave a list of parts( if your talking about the cnc router) on page 1 of this thread.

 

I appreciate your reply, and I should have been more specific.
Is there a list thats been typed out that I can copy and paste into search? my arm is in a cast and typing is very tyring. I can't copy and paste part of a picture into search.
If not I'll wait till cast comes off.

 

Thank You Sam!

 

If you were to re-build this machine would you still use the DUAL z Gantry Design? Was slaving the second axis difficult?

 

Hi, I am not sure about this machine, but I am just putting together a different build, with a dual-Z (i.e. XYYZZ configuration). The capability of the control board is a key factor in running two motors on the Z. I am using FluidNC for my build, and having two motors on Y, and another two on Z is trivial, with full independent control and auto-squaring being easy. The auto-squaring needs independent end-switches on the axes for homing, but again that is only a cost and cabling issue, rather than controller restriction. Other cnc controllers may need the servo drivers to be ganged to a single control signal (which risks getting out of sync if steps are missed), or a belt/chain etc. could be used for a mechanical link.

Evan

 

It seems like the blackbox can only handle 3 limit switches, so autosquaring with that controller, isn't an option. I suppose that is why your using fluidnc

 

Amazing, thank you.

 

Yes fluidnc is not the only possible controller by any means. GrblHal as a prime 'alternative' code can support many options, depending on the underlying processor and board configuration.

My machine is a new design and I did not know how well it would actually work until I powered it all up.... For XYYZZ operation with true auto squaring on both Y and Z, you need a minimum of 5 input lines for switches, but may need additional lines too if for some reason you need to be able to differentiate each axis end. I used all 10 endstop switches as being independent lines for my initial trials so that I had options of homing at each end, but most importantly, if (i.e. when) I crashed the machine into an endstop, the machine knew which way to pull away when I restarted. I used fluidnc as it could handle 10 switch lines. Any config change is just a tweak of a text file, so is fast for debugging a new machine design, but GrblHal has the web builder which is quite quick too. GrblHal has some nice features that fluidnc does not have yet though, and I am still mulling over which way to go for the future.

I have now ganged the switches at either end of each axis, so I only need the 5 input lines, but if for some reason I manage to crash into an endstop, I have to manually wind the axis away from the stop to clear the switch before I can power back up again. Thankfully with homing and soft limits, it is rare that I have to manually move an axis as some of the drives are tricky to reach and move by hand.

 

I forgot to mention, as Peter said, if you always home Z before Y, then you can get auto squaring of both axes in GrblHal by ganging one pair of the Y and Z switches. Fluidnc does not like that option and needs independent switch sets on each axis. I have the option of homing in any order though, which is important for me as I have a secondary horizontal spindle and I swap the Y to be Z and Z becomes -Y, changing the homing order.