Ok so have decided to just build the standard configuration to get me started. But with the bundle, the step motors are Bollinger available. Will they be available anytime soon? Or is there a recommendation on other motors to use.

What else will I need for the build. I have included the 24v power supply, I will source the router and collets/ cutters and fixing local.

Thanks for your help on this.

 

Where can I find four pin connectors (24 AWG) for the 23 stepper motors? The wire for the motors that comes with the build are way too short to mount the controller on the upper section of the Z axis.

 

Is that a Standard Z axis height? Also, looks like a 4th axis? Where did you find one small enough?

 

Any feedback on this question?

 

Thanks Peter, I did find the motors will be available on the 1st of March.

Is there anything else I should look at purchasing for this build?

 

dear Mark
I ordered OpenBuilds MiniMill with Nema 23 and 24v power supply.
I installed, its look very nice.
I had CNC xPRO Driver v2.
when I connect the stepper motor to the driver, it's become overheat.
as I checked later the CNC xPRO Driver v2 is peak current 2.5 A, and the Nema 23 is 28 A.
is this setup is ok or I need to change the driver of the motors.

regards

 

Ok just about to hit order and these are the options I went with:
6 ft. Power Cord
1 A$6.77 A$6.77
OpenBuilds MiniMill (Add 3 NEMA 23 Stepper Motors? No, Add 24V Power Supply? Yes)
1 A$575.58 A$575.58
Smoothieboard 5xC v1.1
1 A$217.43 A$217.43
DQ542MA Stepper Motor Driver
1 A$51.15 A$51.15
NEMA 23 Stepper Motor - High Torque Series
3 A$56.27 A$168.80
Micro Limit Switch Kit with Mounting Plate
6 A$6.38 A$38.30

now the question i have is with the stepper motor driver... will i need 3 of these? one for each motor?

 

Great! Thanks for that. I was going to use the machine to demo CNC technology in my industry, which is Aluminum extruded windows and doors. So that’s why I tried to get some more powerful drivers so I can demo it machining extrusions. That or chocolate... (chocolate might be quite to machine and a good hand out at the events)

 

So if I have 3 motor drivers will the standard power supply still suit?

 

Just need a reply on the last piece of the puzzle (well until I start to build it).
The power supply has 3 out puts. One for each motor driver. But I also need 24v power supplied to the smoothieboard. So do I just use one output from the power supply for both the driver and smoothieboard?

 

Yeah I read that, which shows the smoothie with a supply from the power supply. My question is the power supply has 3 out puts. Do I need 4? 1 for the smoothie board and the 3 (1 each for the motor drivers).

Or do I just double up from one driver to the smoothie (which splits the power between them)

 

Killer!!

Check out here I come.

 

Hi All, I have a Mini Mill kit I am planning on putting together soon.
How much of a difference do the high torque nema 23 motors make as compared with the regular ones? Will this be a noticeable difference in the performance of my CNC?

 

Thanks!

 

Great little kit! No issues with the mechanical side of the build. Now the hard part of setting up the electrical side of things

 

So what other software options do i have to run the smoothieboard? I have seen Pronterface but that's about it.

Can I use Mach3 or LinuxCNCor is there anything else that is more CNC orientated

 

Apologies if this has been asked before, but:

I've just finished assembling the MiniMill kit. (BTW, team: awesome video. Once I moved my wireless mouse over to my assembly table so I could pause without having to run across the room to my desktop, I zipped through the assembly in about two hours. I didn't have to rewind more than once or twice. Great work.)

The only issues I had with the kit were

1. A very odd 10mm bolt that was a) plastic, and b) had no threads. The head had the recessed hex spot for a tool, though. Shrug. I happen to have 500x 10mm M5 bolts here, so no big deal for me.

2. Y'all are really, really serious about your packaging. That's awesome, but I couldn't get it all to fit back in the box it came in - much like refolding a map - so it took a couple of trips to the recycle bin to clear out the refuse. (Much better than having dinged up parts due to apathetic delivery guy.)

3. I don't really understand the use of self-tapping screws vs. a tap and a bolt. I went ahead and tapped the c-beam where necessary and used some bolts I had lying around, as it makes it easier to take things apart later. Also, unless you're very careful, it's easy to strip the hole with the self-tapping screws.

4. I found it easier to install the handles and motors last. That makes it easier to lay things flat and provides less opportunity for stressing the motor mounts.

I'm planning to mount my xPro to the back of the Z axis as was shown at the end of the assembly video, but I'm wondering what y'all would recommend to insulate / isolate the back of the board from the c-beam. (Having all of the pins short against the c-beam would be a very entertaining experience, no doubt, but I'd rather keep my $120 and spend it on beer than on a replacement board.)

Suggestions? I've considered just cutting a piece of thin MDF and mounting that to the c-beam with t-nuts, but that'll be kind an ugly addition to an otherwise very-pretty machine.

Cheers

 

I

I 3D printed a back plate (PLA) and held this in place with x2 T-Nuts in the slots - the xPro board screws onto this (3mm csk screws) .. then printed a cover to keep the dust off (it just rests on without clips). There's slots in the side of the cover for the cables etc, but I haven't provided any additional cooling. So far, no problems ...

Links to files here (Fusion360)
https://a360.co/2GR5dsf
A360

 

@BrianKnight

Sweet! Thanks for sharing the CAD files. I don't have a 3D printer, but I can use my (diy, pretty crappy) CNC router to make a few.

In the mean time, I cut a piece from a 1/2" plastic Walmart cutting board to mount the xPro. Works fine, but I want an enclosure. I can easily imagine some AL chips flying up or around the Z axis and shorting a voltage regulator. I swear - some of the debris that comes off of these things are like Kennedy bullets in training.

Thanks again!

 

I like your cable clips that fit into the c-beam slots. Got a link?

 

These were brilliant .. I stole the design from Thingiverse ..

With thanks from:
V-Slot Cable Clips by pekcitron
V-Slot Cable Clips by pekcitron

I printed them in ABS (0.2mm). Thought I'd print about x6 but ended up with about x20 .. used them everywhere !!

 

Hello, this is my first post so likely in the wrong place.. I am just putting together my C-Beam machine and bought the LED ring with it. The spindle mount has four right angle brackets, two top and two bottom. To use your LED ring, I can't use the supplied bottom brackets as the thickness of the ring PCB offsets the holes. I saw the video for the LED bracket on the smaller version of the C-Beam, it only uses the top brackets - it this OK? make me nervous to remove 50% of the support structure for lighting...


thanks

KB

 

Unless you're plowing through aluminum at warp speed, it should be fine. On the MiniMill, it's held in place with two bolts through the back plate into the bracket, and two of those corner connectors. If you're cutting fast enough to bend that joint, just slow it down.