What amp/voltage psu are you running ? what spec are the steppers ?

 

Stargeezer, you are correct. The right side is opposite from the left. That is how it was shown in the C machine video.
Flash22, I am using an OpenBuilds 24 volt power supply and Open builds Nema 23 steppers.

I will try swapping to the 4th axis tonight and seeing if it works. Ill also research flashing the firmware.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

Ok. New information. I took all of the connections loose and reattached everything making sure all connections were nice and snug. Now the Y moves less than 1/2" and then quits, thats it, no more. Still makes the single click sound after moving but with no movement after the initial movement. Seems like there is no logic behind the amount of movement. Sometimes it moves 1/2" then stops, sometimes less than a few mm.

 

UPDATE. ITS THE BOARD! I moved my Y motor to the X connection and the X motor to the Y connection. Y motor works, X motor now does not... So, now to order another board and wait.

Thanks

 

Glad you got it sorted out. Hopefully they replace the board quick.

 

For a machine as simple as these are, when they don't work right it can seem like you are chase your tail. I'm sorry it's the board, but happy you got it sorted out. I hope the gods of shipping are on your side. And on the bright side, you now know almost every way there is to solve this kind of mystery. Learning never ends.

 

Is anyone else having problems with GrblPanel ?
Mine will connect to the xPRO, read and modify settings, jog the motors, etc.
What it will NOT do is to load a file for me to run, i.e. the file menu contains only an "Exit" item.
I had tried the GrblPanel.application, that seems to go out onto the web looking for files and eventually tells me that the application could not be installed.
So I am running the GrblPanel.exe directly.

I suspect that the GrblPanel.application is what goes out and gets the menu items - just GUESSING here.

 

try the universalGcodeSender java app, I've had no issues at all with it, I'm just getting to grips with fusion360 what is free to the hobbyist

 

Thanks flash22, but I had trouble with that too.
Despite java updates and removal of obsolete jre.

...and I thought the HARDWARE side of this was going to be tough, the software (for ME) shoulda been a breeze.
I ain't a "mechanical guy", spent a LOT of technical years in the compooooter biz though.

 

I have had 2 versions of the code sender 1 worked the other didn't, the one in the software download didn't work for me

The one on GitHub does tho, direct download http://bit.ly/1BSKon6

 

View attachment 10803

You can use Bosh like the pictures, Dewalt and Porter Cable even Makita you only need to check the spindle diameter for the OB router mount, It's an awesome machine
Ps. Double check if the router or spindle have speed control or variable speed, and use good quality router bits that's also very important not only the spindle

 

Thanks flash22, but I had trouble with that too.
Despite java updates and removal of obsolete jre.

...and I thought the HARDWARE side of this was going to be tough, the software (for ME) shoulda been a breeze.
I ain't a "mechanical guy", spent a LOT of technical years in the compooooter biz though.

@Flash22;
That version does work here, the version from the C_Beam files area did NOT.

Thanks - now for a little "air milling", then maybe buy a router and get going on some foam Yoda heads or ,,,who knows ?
Oh yes, plates, I will HAVE TO make some plates for something.

 

So the flex Y gantry plate finally got to me and i redid it. I grabbed a linear rail i had lying around that was an ebay scratch, and chopped it in half luckily where the scratch was on the bearing race, so that part threw away, then i mounted the derlin nut to the back of my tool plate and attached the linear rail trucks on either side of the plate.









i do have to cut out some channels for the rear Y bearing plate to clear the tool plate.

remarkably the linear rail+trucks were exactly the right height, so lucked out there. now it's pretty much rock solid.

 

About Universal G-Code Sender;
I think Mark made a comment in the video that it doesn't have a preview of the path that the tool will follow, I could be wrong about this.
Anyway, there is a "Visualize" button and the view that comes up seems OK, it also updates as the file runs and the machine cuts.
You can see both where the router is routing and where the buffer is leading (at least it SEEMS that the higher intensity bright line ahead of the tool probably represents what is in the buffer).

I am starting to like this and right now I don't see a reason to use anything else - although I would like to get Estlcam running and of course the grbl-panel to load and run files.

I'm still just "air milling" to check out the tools, so any problems of accuracy and precision have yet to reveal themselves (-:

 

Hey Charlie. Are your pics super sized? I'm just getting a big blank square. Of course this might be win 10 issues to since I just upgraded this cpu.

Thanks
Larry

 

openscam is brilliant for simulating .cnc files

Its been a steep learning curve but I got my first 2 cuts done yesterday - next up is a multi pass cut in some alloy

 

hmm maybe ? , i linked them straight off the googles (cropped them a bit). they're on my HAD project log too which automatically resizes them a lot smaller and you can click them to expand etc, https://hackaday.io/project/6921-openbuilds-c-beam-machine-build/log/24737-adding-linear-rails

i'm waiting for Service Pack 1 to come out for win10

 

There dead on your blog, looks like there set to private ??

 

strange, google+ must have changed policy. i've been linking them link that for a while.

ok fixed, guess i'll have to go back over all my posts n stuff and fix them. sigh punishment for using google+ i guess.

thanks for pointing it out.

 

Unfortunely, I have not heard from the open builds parts store yet. I submitted a ticket Friday.

 

Might be the backup due to the holiday. Maybe nudge them

 

Charliex, nice job on the new Y work plate. I just got some aluminum in today, do you think that it is better to use 1/2" or 3/8" plate?

 

thanks! 3/8" would be fine, i've been considering dropping the size down to get some more Z, same for the 1/2" MDF spoiler, my plan is to cheeseboard it and the tool plate and use that for work holding , carpet tape doesn't work that well on MDF i've found, at least the MDF i'm using it is too smooth. i was going to try 1/4".

my other trucks should be here this week so i can do four corner holding instead of the middle. you can find nsk/thk useable linear rails for well under $100 on ebay.

i'm considering chopping off tiny bit from the top of the Y C-Beam, or putting a slot in the tool plate for clearance, rather than spacers, i'm using about 0.025" - 0.05" spacer, so a slight extra gain on the Z if i don't use them.

 

charliex

I like that idea it should take out any flex in the build plate, I was toying with using 2 Y axis C beam actuator

 

I just finished putting my C-beam machine together and followed the 2 hour youtube tutorial meticulously. When I went to run the 'hello world' foam test, I followed the instructions and dropped the router bit down until it barely touched the top of my foam. When the program started it hovered above the foam by a few millimeters. Any idea where that setting is located? Also, is there a good software tutorial for newbies? Im using grbl panel and open S-cam

 

added the other two trucks, using 075" precision spacer clears the Y C-Beam, but i still have to mill out a channel for the end plates.

 

I may lack some general workshop skills, or discipline, I am NOT much of a "mechanical guy".

I haven't had much confidence that the general system of tee nuts and cast corners is good at pulling things together "tight and square" - lack of which will probably show at some point.
Perhaps I'm over thinking this, or maybe some of you have a "feel" for just setting them in a tiny bit from the end of a section to make joints tighten up square automagically ?

Today I came across this;

{I like it}
It may be proprietary, but it seems like an open source design could be developed that wouldn't infringe.

 

what cast corners do you have some are flat others have locating tabs these are fine when lining 2 channels that run the same direction but if you have one running horizontal and the other is vertical one side will sit in the rail but the tabs will push the other rail way out of square

the answer is to file 2 of the tabs off, to pull the parts/rails in tight use a clamp then do up the bolts

are you in the UK or US ?