The new 24VDC 240W power supply arrived today. I’m very impressed with powerbox. I ordered the power supply yesterday and it turned up today! This power supply was chosen so that the stepper motors will delivery more torque.
Desktop CNC Progress Report
There has been a recent rush of progress on the desktop CNC. All three axes are fitted with stepper motors. The brackets for the drive belts are in place. The drive belts are installed. The limit switches are mounted but not wired up.
The machine has had an initial test just to see if it will move. I programmed 50 mm radius circles in the XY plane with great success.
On the to do list:
- Stop for the Z-axis limit switch so that the machine can be homed. Grbl does not support individual axis home. It will do all three or none.
- Wire up the limit switches.
- Mount the terminal strip for the X, Z axes and the Y axis.
- Upgrade the power supply from 12VDC to 24VDC to give more torque to the stepper motors.
- Post pictures and video on the website.
- Build base for machine with enclosure for electronics complete with E-Stop.
It’s Alive!
Today was time for a trial run of the Z-Axis. After correctly wiring up the stepper motor and correctly setting the steps per mm it ran really well. I looking forward testing the other axis soon.
Trial Assembly
The MakerSlides have been cut to length and the ends have been tapped. The fasteners are here and it’s time for a trial assembly. I want to find out if I have all the parts I need and if they all go together.
Secret Box
I have a card file box which has been converted into a small ballot box. I needed a locking mechanism for it but didn’t want anything added to the outside of the box. I didn’t want any visible sign on the outside that the box was locked in order to preserve it’s original appearance.
MakerSlides Have Landed
The MakerSlides I ordered for the Desktop CNC project have arrived. Five one metre lengths of glorious MakerSlide. Now the serious building can begin!
MakerSlide
Christmas Train Controller
My kids have been bugging me for years to get a train set to put under the Christmas tree. They like the thrill of watching train circle the base of the tree, and besides there’s a Christmas train set at Nanny and Pop’s house!
Garage Door Light
My garage door opener has a small light which turns on when the door is activated and turns off after about one minute. It provides enough light and enough time to get out of the car and into the house. I leave home for work before sunrise and I like more light than the garage door opener gives off buy itself.
Power Supply
The power supply and coupling have arrived. I will be able to test the laser now.
Power Supply and Coupling
Ugly Code!
My first job out of Uni was as a programmer for a small company which manufactured network switches. One of the other programmers there challenged me to write a program which output itself without referring to the file containing the source code. The following piece of ugly C code is what I came up with.