This will be the main pictures page for showing work on parts in progress......

This is one project to start later this year. First all parts to be drawn in CAD/CAM
All parts will be CNC machined (if I ever get the miller ready for this).
If possible I will make this project as metric = adapted to what is *normal* over here.

Stay tuned as more pictures will come

Here some pictures of my CNC conversion of the ALDRIN milling machine

New driver *housing*, now only 3 drivers for test are installed. Space
is reserved for 4:th axis driver inside the housing.

Soon also a custom made breakoutboard will be installed as well,
buffered and optoisolated.

This must be best ever cooling for  the drivers, directly mounted
to the massive column *backside*.

Well protected from swarf and shielded in aluminium housing.

Drivers for testing are LMD18245 based, 3Amp 55V 1/8 microstep.

Later on Geckos will replace these drivers for more power. Motors
used on all 3 axis are API Motion ST-0342 8.5Nm (1200oz/in) steppers.

X/Y axis moves at 900mm/min, Z is around 150mm/m with serial connected
windings at 3Amps. Still some mechanical adjustments are needed and new
figures to come when Geckos are installed driving these steppers with
parallel windings for more speed and torque.

Z-Axis with 1.8:1 HTD belt reduction,   X/Y with same HTD belt reduction.

The power supply

AC input filtered
2x 250VA 28VAC Toroid, parallel connected
4x 10000uF + Bridge = 41VDC

Smaller toroid/bridge/cap for 5V (not ready yet)


Hopefully this will be powerful to drive 3-4 axis, if
not I have to build an other :)

Spindle speed detection

Opto reflex detector for spindle speed

ITR8307 IR-light reflection switch
1- transistor / 3- resistors, schematic
1- index on motor shaft.

Simple PCB made with AcadLT > DXF
Imported into Sheetcam, export G-code
and milled in Mach2

Mounted on top of spindel motor, fixed
with cover screws.

New drivers + breakout (041214)

Geckos  have been running for a few 
weeks as well as the new breakoutboard.

G201 on each axis. No space over for
4:th axis as planned before. Anyway this 
will be totally separated unit with own PSU
driver etc, only step/dir will be provided
from this breakoutboard.

2x 5V isolated Traco DC/DC converters
supplying external as well as *internal*
drivers/optoisolators.

Speed regulation

Next item to be built, 0-10V step/dir spindle
speed regulator.
Pictures here when ready built/tested.

New Workshop as I have moved out to the country side

Portal on its workbench and the Aldrin miller and toolingboard on the right side.

My Blomqvist CNC3000 in its new 'home'. All CNC machines side by side.