Power Supply
Still Piddling
Where in the heck is the time flying? I look at the blog calendar and it is weeks since my last post. Uh… make that a month! I guess that sort of proves I don’t spend all my time in front of the one wide-eyed monster. Then again I do. I really do if you count the time at my real job.
I have been working in Aspire which is the new CNC graphic and vector to code software from Vectric. Wow! What a powerful tool if you want to do detailed CNC carving, engraving and router work. I have posted a few times in the Vectric forum and am dieing to get the HB2 Power Supply and controller working to run some larger projects. All the other operational mechanical work on the HB2 is finished. I will add limits switches and other details once I get it running.
I ordered the last few parts for the power supply/controller. I am going to use 5 pin XLR plugs for the motor leads. I have been wracking my engineering brain trying to decide on suitable connectors that look good. Not cheap but neither is the project. The plugs and sockets are big enough for the 20 ga. super flex wire I am using and the pins in the 5 pin style can take the current flow. They are like a DIN connector/plug on steroids.
I had considered DB9 style connectors but the pins are just too small and close together. The current rating however was not going to be a problem. The DB9 is used by several name brand controllers. The motor (stepper) wiring must be lighter than what I am using.
My steppers are not large but they will be running for hours at a time.… Continue reading
Spindle Motor
The HB2 gets its router spindle. Finially looking like the machine it is supposed to be, The project HB2 build is moving along again.
The construction of the stepper heat sinks took time away from the HB2 but not anymore. The spindle motor (shown here) install is detailed more over in the THMS web site. Check the “What’s New” to link to the new page.
Heat Sinks Added to The HB2 Web Pages
The complete story on the construction and installation of the HB2 stepper motor mounts has just been posted to the THMShop web site. Click on “What’s New” in the first (left) menu “Site Tools” drop down. Then click on “HB2 Construction Section 4” The picture here gives some idea how good this project turned out. I am pleased with the results and I hope you like what you see.
I mention in one section of the web site display that I thought I might make these for sale. That is not the case now. At least not the way I made these. Far too much time is invested in these prototypes. If there is a real demand, they will have to be made from casting to get the cost down.
Heat Sinks Finished
All the stepper motor heat sinks are finished for the HB2 CNC router project. The HB2 requires four stepper motors but an initial heat sink was created as a practice piece. That is why there are five heat sinks in the photograph. The trial version (on the right) is actually perfectly suitable for use as it has only minor cosmetic flaws.
The “extra” copy will be kept as a sample of what can be accomplished on the tiny but mighty Taig CNC mill. There is over 8 hours of run time on EACH heat sink, so the photo represents 40 hours of run time on the Taig. The longest single period was 4 hours and 10 minutes. No problem what-so-ever on the mill and all the accessories. I did have my initial air compressor fail on the trial piece.
These are the most complex parts I have currently produced on the Taig CNC. The A3 wheels were complex too, but not near the run time necessary for these heat sinks.
I have already started mounting the heat sinks and the steppers on the HB2 frame. More pictures soon.