Author Topic: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion  (Read 70094 times)

Offline sparky961

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #50 on: January 05, 2012, 06:22:06 PM »
Just as an aside, flourescent lamp tubes work to expose the board as well - at least with the brands I've used.  They just need to be very close and provide fairly light perpendicular to the board.  Exposure time will vary with your setup.

-Sparky

Offline andyf

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #51 on: January 05, 2012, 07:08:53 PM »
Another aside: I print a mirror image of the pattern on plain paper, improve any grey areas with a felt tip pen, and put it printed side down on the photosensitive PCB in a light box with a 12" UV fluorescent tube.

Andy
Sale, Cheshire
I've cut the end off it twice, but it's still too short

Offline raynerd

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #52 on: January 05, 2012, 07:13:44 PM »
Andy, just to clarify, you just print on paper?

Chris

Offline sparky961

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #53 on: January 05, 2012, 08:11:54 PM »
.... on plain paper ....

I'll second the quizical look from Chris.... if it works, I'll have to try that too.  Do you still end up with nice crisp traces, or maybe you haven't tried really fine lines with this method?

-Sparky

Offline andyf

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #54 on: January 06, 2012, 03:52:49 AM »
Though I have used transparencies intended for overhead projectors, plain paper works fine for me if exposed to UV for a bit longer. If you can find flimsies (as were used for carbon copies) and your printer will handle them, so much the better.

Because the printed side is in contact with the PCB, light doesn't bleed round the edges of the black areas to any appreciable extent. As I said, a bit of improvement with black ink helps, especially if your printer (like my old b/w laser one) produces a rather streaky black. Another trick is to make two prints, shifting the image a bit before doing the second one so any streaks come in different places, and use one on top of the other after taking care to ensure the patterns register. But having  two layers extends the exposure time considerably.

Andy
Sale, Cheshire
I've cut the end off it twice, but it's still too short

Offline raynerd

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #55 on: January 06, 2012, 04:09:09 AM »
Hi Andy, that interesting. I`m not going to say I`m going to try it because I have 3 boxes of 50x sheets of printer transparency which I`m using but sounds a great method if you can`t get hold of transparency sheets which seem quite expensive these days!! Great method!!

Offline Chuck in E. TN

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #56 on: January 06, 2012, 06:04:25 AM »
Craynerd, is that Luk's post with copper.pdf and silk.pdf?
 
Chuck in E. TN
 
 
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Offline raynerd

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #57 on: January 15, 2012, 05:04:15 PM »
Hi Chuck, Sorry for the late reply!!!

Yes, Lucas:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/893705-post346.html

It is much easier to etch and much more forgiving. That being said, I have now improved my method of etching and can do Steve`s original pcb which requires much less time to etch! Here is Lucas pcb being etching:
After developing:


After etching:

Offline sparky961

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #58 on: January 15, 2012, 10:53:22 PM »
Looks like you're getting the hang of that etching, Chris!

Offline raynerd

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #59 on: January 16, 2012, 01:19:02 PM »
Cheers Sparky, yes I`m getting there for sure! I just wanted to show people the other pcb as much as my etching skills lol, or lack of them!!

Offline kwackers

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #60 on: January 16, 2012, 02:01:31 PM »
I don't deliberately design my pcbs to be quick to etch, being tight I like to remove as little copper as possible... :lol:

Offline raynerd

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #61 on: January 16, 2012, 02:32:52 PM »
No Kwackers, your more than right! I`m not sucking up here but your board is perfect, less etching and a quicker time!! I must admit though, for someone etching for the first time or using the print transfer, this other is a good one!

Offline johnstij

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #62 on: February 18, 2012, 05:25:13 AM »
Hi all.
I've been following Kwackers  build on CNCzone from the beginning with great interest, and after seeing Craynerd's build on here I took the plunge to build one.I've never etched a PCB before but using the OHP film method I produced a very good board at the first attempt ( just lucky?? I etched a second PCB  to just see, & this one was as good) The rotary table had allready been fitted with a stepper motor for use with MACH 3 on my CNC emco mill. But this controller is so use full as a stand alone divider.
 Thanks to Steve & Chris for sharing this great device.

note: keypad is not fixed down yet

Offline John Stevenson

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #63 on: February 18, 2012, 06:30:38 AM »
John, Which driver board is that please ?

John S.
John Stevenson

Offline johnstij

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #64 on: February 18, 2012, 07:12:09 AM »
John s.


It was  off ebay from Hong Kong (no surprise there !!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250990148810

Offline John Stevenson

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #65 on: February 18, 2012, 07:57:51 AM »
Thanks, next question where is the case from please ?
John Stevenson

Offline johnstij

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #66 on: February 18, 2012, 09:16:11 AM »
John s.

The one I used was from out of my loft !!

Its from RS  external Dims are 170mm x 118mm x 55mm, diecast aluminuim with lid.

Every thing just fits in. I cut an aperture in the back for the stepper driver to be fitted from the rear with the heat sink outside the box. When the keypad is fixed in its correct position the bottom edge is approx 6mm from the edge of the box.

Offline John Stevenson

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #67 on: February 18, 2012, 09:20:22 AM »
John s.

The one I used was from out of my loft !!



I have a workshop like that.  :lol:

Thanks.
John Stevenson

Offline kwackers

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #68 on: February 18, 2012, 01:30:47 PM »
John s.


It was  off ebay from Hong Kong (no surprise there !!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250990148810

How do you find that driver?

Looks ideal for this sort of use.

Offline z3t4

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #69 on: February 18, 2012, 01:42:21 PM »
Echoing the above: nice find!

Offline johnstij

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #70 on: February 18, 2012, 02:47:37 PM »

Kwackers.
I only completed the controller on Thursday so have not really used it. But the driver appears to rotate the table with no loss of steps & high torque. As I think you said early on speed is not really important for this application. I'm not sure if it would lock/hold the table whilst milling. Did I read some where that shorting the two limit lines locks the table?

PS How do I insert a quote in the reply?





Offline kwackers

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #71 on: February 18, 2012, 04:42:20 PM »

Kwackers.
I only completed the controller on Thursday so have not really used it. But the driver appears to rotate the table with no loss of steps & high torque. As I think you said early on speed is not really important for this application. I'm not sure if it would lock/hold the table whilst milling. Did I read some where that shorting the two limit lines locks the table?

PS How do I insert a quote in the reply?
you can insert quotes automatically by clicking on "quote" on the top right (in my view anyway) of each post. Alternatively there's a quote icon in the editing toolbar (again in my version).

It looks to be rated at 3.5A which will drive most common steppers quite happily. Generally the table will lock by virtue of the worm drive even without the motor powered. The only movement should be in the backlash (which is why you probably want to use a physical lock).

Connecting the two limit switches together and toggling them doesn't lock the table but it does lock the controller to stop inadvertent key presses.

Offline kwackers

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #72 on: February 18, 2012, 04:52:17 PM »
I've ordered one anyway - worth a punt at that price I think...

Offline raynerd

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #73 on: February 18, 2012, 05:11:03 PM »
If this the same TB6560 that is in the common 3 and 4 axis controllers, despite their rating they are apparently not suitable for even half that, likewise the voltage is rated 35v with 40max, apparently the chips blow easily if taken above 26v!! If you google TB6560 you will find the links to what I`m talking about.

I`ve got one of the TB6560 3 axis drivers in front of me now so I`ve been reading a lot about them over the last few evenings...before I plug this one in and  :zap:   Perhaps these single drivers will behave differently. Apparently, the issue on a high voltage is during power OFF...but of course you only get the "pop" of the blown driver when you just turn it back on.

Let me know how this driver goes, I`m keen to know as I`m making a few of these up and expect people would like them with a driver or at least recommendations for one.

Chris

Offline Swarfing

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Re: 4" Vertex Rotary Table CNC conversion
« Reply #74 on: February 18, 2012, 05:34:23 PM »
Chris you are right, i would not recommend them above 24v (typical supply voltage). Above that is asking for trouble, had first hand experience with that.
Once in hole stop digging.