I'd say "about £200" but I'm guessing that's not the answer you are looking for. As you're probably comparing the Ooznest offerings, the simplest answer is that the Workbee is a fair amount stouter than the Ooznest version* of the Ox. The difference is mainly evolutionary as the main framing members in the Workbee didn't exist at the time the Ox was developed. Beyond being stouter, the other difference is that the Ox is only available in belt drive and the Workbee is available in both belt and screw drive. And to answer the question you haven't asked yet of which drive system is better, it depends on what you intend to use it for. Screws offer more driving power and better resolution and belts offer better speed. Screws are better for cutting aluminum where resolution and power matter and belts are better for cutting acrylic where speed is more important. Wood doesn't really care either way. The only other real issue is the strength/stiffness of the gantry beam. If you're planning to use a trim router or larger you're probably better off with the Workbee as the gantry beam supports the weight better. The main key here though is determining what you intend to use the system for and that will help lead you to which type of system is most appropriate.
Thank You for this! I have been working on (what I take to be an original) Ox CNC, following Mark Carew's instruction/construction. I will be using the new Openbuilds Blackbox, and downloading the free Software: is there anything I should be concerned about as I link up Limit Switches and the like?
Just pay attention to the documentation at docs.openbuilds.com/blackbox making sure not to short things out, or use some random wiring scheme you found on the internet instead. Other basics: - Always turn off power when plugging/unplugging things - Never move motors / axes by hand when plugged in, they work like generators and feed power back into the drivers than can damage the drivers - Check twice before powering on any new wiring - Pay attention when attaching any terminals that you are clamping the wire good, and not just pinching insulation
Thanks Peter! I'm trying to cover all of those bases. I have a question around Homing: I have set up all the limit switches-- X, Y, and Z, and my machine is an Ox build. I have been following Mark, who is offering instruction on Electronic Hookups and software on his Workbee 1010, and 1050; everything seems ready to go, but as soon as I click on the Home All, the Z begins its motion up, but hits the Limit Switch, which shuts everything down. What am I not doing to fulfill this Home All movement? Does it make a difference that I am following Mark's guidance: his machine is a Workbee, while mine is an Ox? Any advice would be appreciated.
1) If hitting the switch (even by hand) completely shutdown something, its exactly what I was talking above: faulty wiring causing you to short V+ to GND on the Limits inputs (one or all of them wired wrong). 2-wire setup for the old switches (V+ not connected) , 3-wire for Xtension limits Xtension Limit Switch Kit (pay attention to labels) 2) Use the troubleshooting tab to make sure switches are responding as they should. 3) Read gnea/grbl
Not so much Ox vs Workbee. Watch one of the BlackBox-related wiring videos instead: OpenBuilds® in terms of limits its all about the same - irrelevant of machine I'd say docs.openbuilds.com is better at communicating that, than a video...
Hi Peter, you have never seen such an excited person as myself, when this machine performed the Home All, after I tweaked the wiring on the Limits! Thanks for your patience and guidance.
Hi Rick, two heads are better than one-- yours and Peter's: I am having trouble downloading the 3D viewer; I am using a Windows 7 system if that helps?
I assume you mean OpenBuildsCONTROL? head over to OpenBuilds Software - FREE Software for CNC Control: OpenBuilds CONTROL and OpenBuilds CAM or OpenBuilds/OpenBuilds-CONTROL
Hi Folks, I have reached the amazing point of homing my Machine using the Blackbox download, however, the Control is unable to show the 3D part of the process because the graphics on my computer is shown not to be Supported. I have change/updated my operating system from Windows 7 to Windows 10, and enabled my Browser Firefox/Chrome -depending on the tests I have been attempting- to show that the graphics is working and supposedly supported-- still no acknowledgement that the 3D is supported. As the Controller says-- "Sorry!" I'm hoping there is a fix from Forum Support.
It needs WebGL-Experimental support on your machine. If updates (Chipset and GPU drivers, don't forget firmware updates too (motherboard and gpu) doesn't help, then upgrading the GPU, or trying a different PC is your best options Of course you aren't locked into CONTROL either, slower/older hardware can use bCNC or Platform - UGS CONTROL uses its own built-in browser (part of Electron) so tests in the web browser doesn't help. We need WebGL available inside CONTROL, and all we do is check this: OpenBuilds/OpenBuilds-CONTROL
Hi Peter, I was unable to rectify the WebGL Support problem with the existing computer, so I switched over to another that I have-- and Bingo! All systems go. I didn't want to use another Platform: My reason for Purchasing the CONTROL was because it has everything at my fingertips: simple to Download (baring the appropriate Drivers that is), efficient Hookups: everything is spelled out for you-- I am a Visual Learner, and the device basically runs on its own. My next task is to understand Toolpaths: when I go to do a Test run, I get an Error in (Red Labeling) telling me that I have to set up a Toolpath! Since much of this is Greek to me, I flounder. But I am persistent! Your continued guidance is Appreciated.
Open a file: Screen fills up with "entities" you can select Select some of those entities and click the green Add to toolpath button to create (or add to an existing) toolpath (ctrl/shift and the document tree can all help you select relevant entities) Setup parameters for that toolpath Click Generate Gcode Save Gcode right next to it or use the Transfer button below it Watch the Hello World video
Well here's a bit of a conundrum-- I think: when I engage the incremental jog's movement, be it 1, 10, or 100 mm, the 1mm moves 10mm, the 10mm moves 100mm, and the 100mm would move right off the track if it weren't for the limit switches. When I start at 0.1mm, it moves 1mm, 1mm moves 10mm, 10mm moves 100mm. Go figure! What's going on?
Refer to gnea/grbl There are calculators next to the parameters in Grbl settings, and can be further fine tuned using the Calibration Wizards under Wizards and Tools
I have attempted the "Fine Tuning" of the Y and X axis set at 10mm increments, using the Calibration Wizard, wizard tools; as I go through the instructions to "Mark my axis position" then attempt the next step, I get an "Error: 15 - Jog target exceeds machine travel. Command ignored. [$j=G91G21X100F1000]. This is as far as I get.
Hi Giarc, my $100, $101, $102, are set at 250.000 steps per the default settings for a openbuilds C- Beam Machine; though my build is an Ox 1m Y by roughly 610 mm X: there is no reference on the Blackbox for an Ox Build Setting!
Are you using belts to drive the Ox? If so are you using a 16 tooth pulley on the motors? If so is your microstepping set to 1/4? If you answered yes to all of these, your microsteps should be 25 steps/mm not 250. That may be why you are off by a factor of ten.
Hi Giarc, I have 3GT belts with 20 tooth timing pulley: I adjusted the Micro steps as you suggested, and settled on 27mm-- I now have 1, 10, and 100mm increments!!! I have ordered Openbuild 3 wire Limit Switches, and awaiting their arrival. Thank You for your support! It is very much appreciated.
Hi Folks, I reach a Plateau with each new movement on my machine: today I actually got to "Run A Job", the Openbuilds Hello Logo. Unfortunately, the machine shuts itself off as it moves toward the "World" part of the Logo: I have uploaded some pictures of the "Warnings" and "Alerts" that come up on the screen to tell me what's going on. Can you advise?
I thought I would try again with the Errors and Alarm pictures that come up when I attempt to Run the Hello Logo: the last batch of pictures didn't upload properly. I also have a question around Power Boxes: I am running my Blackbox through a 24v power box; and understood that I needed a 48v power box to run my Spindle or Router separately. Can you advise? Thanks!!!
Target exceeds machine travel: make sure gnea/grbl is set correctly The error just says you are sending gcode thats larger that the machine thinks it is (max travel setting) or machine zero/homing isnt working right (homing direction wrong?)
Hi Folks, after much trial and error, and some very good Tutorials on Hello World cut, I finally managed to route my own. Having trouble uploading my file-- let's just say, I was ecstatic! Now I am wondering if anyone has any Guitar Routing projects they are willing to share. Thanks!
Hi Folks, I have been trying to copy the DXF file on the making of OX plates from Mark Carew's "Files and Drawings" listed in his OX Build; when I copy them to the OpenBuilds CAM Code Creator, it begins to Pars, then crashes with a "Awe Shucks" or something to that nature. What am I missing?
Refer docs:software:file-errors [OpenBuilds Documentation] - ie pull the files into a CAD application first, and do a little cleanup They haven't been updated in a long time For example, split out each of the plates into its own DXF file, etc (Edit: Did a quick test, copied out one of the plates into its own DXF, saved-as DXF-R14 format, and opened in CAM: /EDIT)
