- Joined
- Feb 1, 2015
- Messages
- 9,671
The z axis moves rather than the tool. Likewise, the x axis will move taking the place of a conventional cross feed. The y axis wouldn't normally move but it could be used to access other tools. The primary reason for doing this is to allow CNC turning with a piece of equipment I already have. The only requirement is to remember that because the work is moving rather than the tool, the G code is reversed. If drilling is required, drills can be mounted vertically on the table, ditto with boring bars.
I'm not sure of the origin of the holes in 1-2-3 blocks. I tried digging into the history of them but was unable to find any information. Like a lot of tools we have, they sprung from the necessity by a machinist and became commercialized. The blocks that Tom Lipton, Ox Tools, made are a superior design.
I don't think that using the ELS will cause any more wear other than the fact that I would use it more. I haven't used the power feed much in the past, largely because it was such a pain to be changing from feeding to threading and back. Now that it is just the push of a button, I'll be more inclined to do so. My plan is to cut power to my driver unless I plan to use the ELS which will stop the lead screw rotating when not in use. This will cut down on gear case wear.
Re: the auto release, there is a discussion in post #2 in this thread. https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...ops-or-disengage-mechanism.79084/#post-675769
I decided to use a mechanism similar to a firearm or crossbow trigger rather than a simple mechanical action. The seer is released by a solenoid (the rectangular box) and an extension spring will pull rod to the left and in turn, pull the pin on the half nut lever to release the half nut. The rod is slotted to allow the half nuts to be disengaged manually. Engaging the half nuts will cock the mechanism. The solenoid will be activated by a microswitch or possibly an optical or Hall effect sensor.
Unfortunately, as Clough as discovered, there is no easy way to use the ELS to trigger the mechanism. His design has the encoder adding counts whenever the spindle is turning, performing an occasional subtraction to avoid overflow. Using the ELS to stop z axis movement would require keeping the half nut engaged all the time. Otherwise, positional information will be lost. I think it is possible to keep track of the total number of counts but it may require some sort of homing circuitry for the carriage. We'll have to see what Clough comes up with.
Actually, it should be possible to keep the half nuts engaged at all times and use the enable and steering circuitry on the driver to to disengage and reverse the lead screw motor.
I'm not sure of the origin of the holes in 1-2-3 blocks. I tried digging into the history of them but was unable to find any information. Like a lot of tools we have, they sprung from the necessity by a machinist and became commercialized. The blocks that Tom Lipton, Ox Tools, made are a superior design.
I don't think that using the ELS will cause any more wear other than the fact that I would use it more. I haven't used the power feed much in the past, largely because it was such a pain to be changing from feeding to threading and back. Now that it is just the push of a button, I'll be more inclined to do so. My plan is to cut power to my driver unless I plan to use the ELS which will stop the lead screw rotating when not in use. This will cut down on gear case wear.
Re: the auto release, there is a discussion in post #2 in this thread. https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...ops-or-disengage-mechanism.79084/#post-675769
I decided to use a mechanism similar to a firearm or crossbow trigger rather than a simple mechanical action. The seer is released by a solenoid (the rectangular box) and an extension spring will pull rod to the left and in turn, pull the pin on the half nut lever to release the half nut. The rod is slotted to allow the half nuts to be disengaged manually. Engaging the half nuts will cock the mechanism. The solenoid will be activated by a microswitch or possibly an optical or Hall effect sensor.
Unfortunately, as Clough as discovered, there is no easy way to use the ELS to trigger the mechanism. His design has the encoder adding counts whenever the spindle is turning, performing an occasional subtraction to avoid overflow. Using the ELS to stop z axis movement would require keeping the half nut engaged all the time. Otherwise, positional information will be lost. I think it is possible to keep track of the total number of counts but it may require some sort of homing circuitry for the carriage. We'll have to see what Clough comes up with.
Actually, it should be possible to keep the half nuts engaged at all times and use the enable and steering circuitry on the driver to to disengage and reverse the lead screw motor.