Scott's 2.x Log

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Scott's 2.x Log

Postby sshwarts » Mon Sep 15, 2014 11:35 pm

This log is a little bit disjointed in that I'm posting it after the fact to help any others who want to take this on. Feel free to ask any questions you might have and I'm happy to share my files, source code, etc.

As I write this, here's what my build looks like now:
done.JPG


I started the project in April 2014 and now in Sept, I'm making my first cuts and finishing up odds and ends. I started by looking as most do at the various others designs (Blacktooth, Lasersaur) as well as Chinese eBay lasers, Full Spectrum, etc etc. I settled on the buildlog 2.x design as the most flexible and I also had some previous experience with CNC machines, 3D printers and even makerslide).

I knew wanted to scale the design a little bit to accept roughly 18x24 sheets so I used the parametric_buildlog_laser tool (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:12864) to scale it up and create my list for Misumi.
frame.jpg

My other goal was to print all the plastic parts. For the end plates and lens carriage, I was lucky enough to buy a set from one of the users here and all I had to do was sand them a bit and have them anodized.
plates.JPG

The plastic parts that would support moving parts, I printed in Nylon so that they would have a little bit of give but yet be strong. The other parts were printed in PLA for rigidity and strength. So for example, this part is the Z motor mount printed in Bridge Nylon (Tauman). I moved the motor to the bottom of the frame instead of the top because I didn't like how close the whole assembly was to the tube and I wanted the tube within a few inches of the first mirror.
IMG_1398.jpg

Here's an example of where I used PLA. All the electronics is mounted across the rails in the electronics bay. I added a middle rail and then made mounts for each of the items. These set of mounts hold the 24V power supply. In this way I avoided needing a tray for the electronics and the extra weight.
IMG_1408.jpg

Here's another example. This part holds the water input and output as well as the solenoid valve for the air assist.
IMG_1394.jpg

Here's the tube brackets:
IMG_1395.jpg

Here's more pictures from the electronics bay. The part standing up with parts on perf board is my power supply card. It has a 24V-9V buck converter to power the Arduino subsystems controller, as well as the relay modules for the water pump, air compressor, blower, and aux. It also has to five volt supplies. One for the relays, and an isolated supply for the ma meter. The second relay module laying down is for the solenoid valve on the air assist.
IMG_1411.jpg

This is the front panel area. The AWC-608 controller sits on top. On the front is a touch screen interface to an Arduino Uno which controls the sub-subsystems. It also keeps track of the laser running time of the job and total time on the laser tube. Brought out to the front are all the AWC-608 inputs (Ethernet, USB, USB key) and the all important, "Oh Sh**" button. Trivia fact, the key switch is from a Macintosh Quadra 950 that's been in my parts drawer for going on some 17 years!
IMG_1406.jpg
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby Enraged » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:38 pm

Very nice build!

Do you have any addition info on the Uno and touchscreen? Did you develope it yourself or get the code somewhere?
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby sshwarts » Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:50 pm

Enraged wrote:Very nice build!
Do you have any addition info on the Uno and touchscreen? Did you develope it yourself or get the code somewhere?


I built it myself. What it consists of is a Uno, an Adafruit Proto-Screwshield (http://www.adafruit.com/products/196) and a Adafruit 2.8" TFT touchscreen (http://www.adafruit.com/products/1651).

On the protoshield are optoisolators (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9118) to take the Laser Firing input form the DSP (which is pulled up to 24V, not 5V contrary to what was posted on LO's forum). It also takes the input from the water flow switch. On the output side, there's an optoisolator going to one of the protect inputs on the DSP. While I didn't add it to the code, the Arduino watches the cover switch for example and then could trigger the protect input. Later I might also have the Arduino watch coolant temp and do the same thing.

To switch the various systems, I used these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0N ... UTF8&psc=1

Happy to share source code or STL files for the case, bezel, etc. if anyone wants it.

Scott
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby injunear » Sun Sep 21, 2014 2:24 am

Wow, very nice, especially the front panel. You say you printed all the plastic parts? I have to ask, how long did that take? It now takes me about 4 hours to cut and mill all the parts from HDPE on my CNC Router. I can't imagine thermal printing them. It must've taken days, weeks, no? I don't have a 3D Printer but it's on my 'wish' list but from all I've read in various forums from guys using them is that they're sloooooow......

Bob T.
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby sshwarts » Sun Sep 21, 2014 7:47 pm

Thanks for the compliment. It doesn't take that long. For example, printing the Z motor mount (the standard one, B17008) takes about :45. Now I can plate more than one part at a time on my 250mmx200mm bed so time goes up from there but given that I can be doing other things while the printer prints, it's a good use of time. Slow is a relative thing. I can start a print job and then go off and have dinner with my wife. This is time I would not be spending in the shop normally. I can't trust the router or the laser for that matter to run without me baby-sitting the job.

Scott
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby sshwarts » Sun Sep 21, 2014 7:52 pm

BTW, on start-up the touchscreen displays one of two screens:
sharks_with_frickin.jpg
sharks_with_frickin.jpg (19.02 KiB) Viewed 66303 times

laser.jpg
laser.jpg (16.59 KiB) Viewed 66303 times
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby sshwarts » Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:46 pm

I wanted to post where I sourced some of my materials to help other with their build. All of the plastic parts I 3D printed either in Bridge Nylon (any moving related part) or in PLA if I needed strength and rigidity.

-Skins
I bought Aluminum Composite Panel 3mm Gloss/Matte in blue heron from XP Sign Supplies (xpsignsupplies.com). Because I knew I would be 3D printing panels for the controls and the back AC outlet, I wasn't going to need to do any routing. Any holes I needed to make I made with drill, hole saw, and sabre saw. I had them pre-cut the panels for me and then I just trimmed where needed with table saw and chop saw. Total cost was $91.72 with shipping.

-Solenoid Valve
For the air assist, I bought this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008IG ... UTF8&psc=1

-Connectors
To run power to the 24V blower and the water pump I used these connectors:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067 ... UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/Neutrik-NAC3FCA-P ... 2KT6HD5NS0

-Vent Connector
This is the connector on the back for the blower hose:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AX5 ... UTF8&psc=1

-Air Assist Tubing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007PG ... UTF8&psc=1

There's other sources. If anyone wants to know something in particular, please ask.
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby sshwarts » Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:37 pm

Here''s another view of the Z motor assembly that moves the motor to the bottom of the table area instead of being right up against the tube.
z-Assembly.jpeg

If anyone wants the STL files, you can find them here:

https://github.com/sshwarts/2.xLaser
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby pourcirm » Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:03 am

I actually did something very similar. If you put the spacers on the motor you don't have to use the second bearing plate below the motor plate. I saw it on an older buildlog, but I can't remember who came up with the idea first as I've read so many people's posts while working on mine.

20141006_213616.jpg
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Re: Scott's 2.x Log

Postby injunear » Fri Oct 17, 2014 4:45 am

Hmm, this company (XP Sign Supplies) seems to be no more, or at least the website isn't working anymore. Too bad as I'm trying to expand my choices of suppliers for ACP because my current supplier is reluctant to ship UPS.
Bob T.
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