- Joined
- Aug 20, 2017
- Messages
- 31
So after many months of ordering stuff and getting other projects laid to rest, I've at last managed a step of serious progress. Many thanks to JBolt and TomS for sharing their conversion experiences, photos and parts drawings -- They have been indispensable.
Tonight I connected the final wires to complete the mill controller, plugged in the steppers, connected the CPU and finally, the power. Finger on switch ... [ drum roll ] ... click ... ... ... Nothing blew up, definitely a good sign. I hadn't plugged in the monitor, mouse or keyboard, so grabbed the laptop to remote access the CPU, a Raspberry PI with the auxiliary CNC Hat board (shown in the photo sitting loose on the table top, but mounted on a little shelf which is ready to be mounted inside the enclosure). Did some simple testing, and the steppers all turned when they were supposed to, and didn't when they shouldn't, so I'm declaring this step a success. I built the enclosure, just because I'm stubborn and all the suitable enclosures I found were ridiculously expensive. Time-wise, I'm sure I didn't save anything. I'm sure I won't get many points for neatness, but hey, I'm going to mount a door (with a vent) on it and latch it closed.
Now to really get serious making the parts to mount the steppers and ball screws. I've only got one made so far, but again, thanks to JBolt I have good drawings to work from.
Tonight I connected the final wires to complete the mill controller, plugged in the steppers, connected the CPU and finally, the power. Finger on switch ... [ drum roll ] ... click ... ... ... Nothing blew up, definitely a good sign. I hadn't plugged in the monitor, mouse or keyboard, so grabbed the laptop to remote access the CPU, a Raspberry PI with the auxiliary CNC Hat board (shown in the photo sitting loose on the table top, but mounted on a little shelf which is ready to be mounted inside the enclosure). Did some simple testing, and the steppers all turned when they were supposed to, and didn't when they shouldn't, so I'm declaring this step a success. I built the enclosure, just because I'm stubborn and all the suitable enclosures I found were ridiculously expensive. Time-wise, I'm sure I didn't save anything. I'm sure I won't get many points for neatness, but hey, I'm going to mount a door (with a vent) on it and latch it closed.
Now to really get serious making the parts to mount the steppers and ball screws. I've only got one made so far, but again, thanks to JBolt I have good drawings to work from.