SPECS: Coming Soon... BACKGROUND: It is no secret that the OpenBuilds team has been working really hard over the past couple of years on a brand new, high end professional-grade CNC controller for the open source community. This collaborative project between Peter van der Walt and Mark Carew has spawned one of the most innovative designs ever seen in the CNC world. Expect this to become the Industry Standard! Recognizing that electronics are usually one of the more challenging parts of a DIY machine build, we knew that this new controller needed to be easy to use. The drivers plug right into the control module – no wiring necessary! This ultimate design is plug and play yet totally hackable. The CNC controller was built to be a robust system that could move from machine to machine throughout the workshop without having to rework the entire electronics structure. So much more has gone into the design of this ground breaking new system that we can’t list here (yet) Naming Contest Winners + APEX Preview https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1502540913129524
Super excited this will run on smoothieware! We've been looking for something better than our current MKS SBASE board and can't wait for this!
I can't wait to see it in action and what it is going to be capable of.. Looks really so great and so promising too...
Hello Adam. Great question! We are very excited to launch our new APEX Control System as soon as possible. We expect this awesome new product to be available in several weeks (no ETA at this time) on the OpenBuilds Part Store! Be sure to keep an eye out!
So, is this ARM GRBL that Sonny has been working on? would make sense with the possibility of 6 drivers! is there an HDMI on the other side? Or a Smoothie type, looking at the layout can see it's more smoothieboard (Cortex) looking than ARM?
Hey guys, we really want to hold off on announcing (promising) any specs at this point in time until we have completed final version prototypes we are satisfied with, as you know so much can change in the development process.. We have a write up that is ready to be shared listing all the specs of the APEX and will release at the time of finalization. Thanks for understanding
Thanks brother, same here! Its really going to be a great CNC controller and everything we all have always wanted in one
Feature request: I would pay extra for a controller design that I could simply unplug from my CNC lathe and plug into my CNC Plasma, or any other CNC based project. Ideally, I would love a system where I could just leave the stepper motors attached to the machines, but have a plug to attach for the steppers on each axis, and another plug for the limit switches. Each machine would have it's own profile in my CNC software. All things being equal, I would rather spend more money on a top-of-the-line controller that has all of the bells and whistles that moves from machine to machine (with my PC) than to buy multiple controllers that skimp on the features for every individual machine. I realize that not everyone would be interested in a feature like this, but I'd be completely satisfied with an optional add-on module that bolts to the side of the controller that includes the "quick disconnect" plugs I described. I'm envisioning something like this: It would be especially cool to have 110v AC outlets for powering things like routers, but that might be asking for too much for the built-in power supply. Anyway, It's really a shame that there's not an industry standard for these types of plugs and cables because I think it would be much easier for beginners if they could just plug in cables and not have to make so many confusing connections.
I would second a couple of @Rick_Brade suggestions : * A/C outlets for vacuum, air compressor, spindle, vfd, mister * standardized quick connectors for servos and limit sensors
Regarding the stepper motor drivers, are you designing toward a specific category of driver? Assume l am completely ignorant about options there - I have seen A/C and DC types, and two-phase, etc. I ask because your video talks about snapping them underneath the apex board, but I wasn't aware the layout of the green terminal connectors had a standard layout. I would also like to start looking at options in anticipation of buying an Apex box. I don't need full specs.
Hi Mark, totally understand the delay and I too want to get my name on the list for the first release. Also, is the board going to be available separately from the Apex control box?
This is exactly the thought we had with the APEX Rick. Its always been on my wishlist. OpenBuilds has such a nice modular building system so it would be great to move the controller to each machine in the shop (One of the reasons I want to add handles to the top of mine ) and able to instantly load the profiles in the software. We hope we are able to accomplish this mission. We agree, and to be honest in testing and design we went through so many ideas back and forth for the best way to make these connections. What we found is that when you are using a modular system your best bet is to use the simple screw down plug ins because they are so configurable on set up and wire length for different machines and you can leave the plugs in place for all the machines and plug the APEX into them as you need the machine. Right now we are designing for the DQ542MA drivers they are robust nice divers that perform well for all the machines in our motor range. Yes we will have everything as a separate option so that you can build up the system you like, with the components you choose. Thanks to all you guys for all the interest and support for the APEX controller! We can't wait to get these in your hands to see what you can do with them. Mark
This is Awesome, Very nice job Peter and OB team. This is going to lower the entry point for so many new builders who are intimidated by the wiring aspect of a build.. I look forward to hooking a Apex controller up to my original C-beam plate maker machine. If you need any more beta testers just let me know
Right on Kyo! Oh yeah, I want on that list too! I've got more than one machine I'd like to try this on! I've also been wanting to build a dedicated plate maker. Not just a OX copy, a lot sturdier than a typical small ox would be, and much stronger.
Hi all! Some quick replies to the questions above Gary Caruso: "So, is this ARM GRBL that Sonny has been working on? would make sense with the possibility of 6 drivers! is there an HDMI on the other side? Or a Smoothie type, looking at the layout can see it's more smoothieboard (Cortex) looking than ARM?" At this time the ARM port of Grbl (Which will be called Gnea) is not far along enough yet. This controller is based around the LPC1769, and therefore can run Grbl-LPC 1.1 (for 3 Axis CNC/Laser applications) or Smoothieware (For 3/4/5/6 axes CNC/Laser application, or 3D printing) Rick Brade: "I realize that not everyone would be interested in a feature like this, but I'd be completely satisfied with an optional add-on module that bolts to the side of the controller" We have a host of expansion planned and built in. For example Unused stepper driver bays can be repurposed for expansion modules, and additional GPIO are made available inside the enclosure The goal here is to find a fine balance between not limiting an experienced user from extending their use, but also to ship, right of the box, with all the modularity available without any extra skill. Therefore we spent the last two years extensively playing pros and cons, and after a long process think that what we have built in should suit almost any machine imaginable without needing any hacking.... The exiting part is the machines you guys are still going to dream up, that needs that available expansion capacity (; Rick Brade: "It would be especially cool to have 110v AC outlets for powering things like routers" - This was considered, but, defaulting to a mains output is limited in terms of the "modular" nature of the controller. Instead there is an onboard SPDT relay, with its switch terminals exposed on easy-disconnect terminals. Should you wish to control a mains powered router for example, you can either splice your Live wire, into the NO poles of the relay, or use the relay to switch a larger external SSR. Just one example of course - the use of a generic Relay means that its not limited to turning a router on. It could switch AC or DC, using the NC terminal to break circuits, or the NO terminal to close the trigger on plasma torch. The possibilities become a lot wider than simply powering a load at will Rick Brade: "It's really a shame that there's not an industry standard for these types of plugs and cables" - That's why OpenBuilds decided to tackle this head on and invent the future! Karl Miller: "Regarding the stepper motor drivers, are you designing toward a specific category of driver?" - Yes, as OpenBuilds has spent considerable time finding and evaluating drivers and motor combinations that already work really well together, the as-shipped complete Apex will fit our DQ542MA drivers, as they suit the motors OpenBuilds stocks really really well. However, the option exists, to install push-on screw terminals onto the headers inside the chassis, and extend the signals to your own drivers. You still benefit from the additional Buffer circuitry included on the Apex board! (Yes, it is not just sending the unbuffered 3.3v signal from the micro-controller directly to the drivers, we actually included a whole 3.3v-5v high speed buffer interface to provide clean, fast, signals to the stepper drivers)
Hi Peter, This board sounds awesome, I can't wait to get my hands on one. The one passage you included above caused me to pause just a little but I'm sure it is something I didn't understand. I've been using electronic proximity switches for limit switches. They become completely unreliable below 4vdc and exhibit questionable reliability below 5vdc. Would this be a concern or just require an independent 5-36vdc power supply to meet the needs of these switches? Thanks so much.
@stargeezer that refered the Output IO for the step drivers. Endstop and probe connectors have 24v power supply and open collector IO protected against high voltages.... Because no-one gets between me and my SN-04s either!
I have nothing constructive to add, other than I'm excited to see the options. I'm in the design stage of my first build and have not been able to select a controller yet. Thankfully I'm a little ways out from needing to buy one, so this could be a perfectly suitable choice.
I have only one wish/request, I'd love to be able to run a Mach3 Style Pendant with this controller. Although I make all my setup adjustments on my mini mill manually (love those OB jog knobs), this would be great for something like the C-Beam Machine XLarge (which I see in my near future ), since you can end up pretty far away from your laptop or tablet of choice. They also offer the Pedants in wireless versions Sonny
I wish the Openbuilds steppers would have the option to be prewired with DB9 Connectors and you also sold Shielded BD9 Motor Cables to easily connect everything together Similar to CNCRouterparts 380 oz-in NEMA 23 Stepper Motor, 1/4" Shaft | CNCRouterParts CNC Motor Cable | CNCRouterParts
This is going to be exciting for myself. I've not ever used the type of driver boards a lot of folks are using here. I've been focused strictly on Mach3 and using older computers to put it all together. It's been rewarding though I must say. At this point I have a machine that I can machine a 4'x8' plywood panel. It's a very capable machine. I'm now ready to explore the creations that people have put together and also start to learn what an Arduino board is. Could someone recommend where I could go to start an education on the Arduino boards? Thanks for a great site!! Lee
well, the pendant is USB, so surely that should plug into the PC and the GUI handles communication with it? so, buy one for your favorite GUI developer and it will get integrated (-:
