Build: XZero Predator... With more teeth!

Added a task manager... Gotta keep them workers in line! Oh, wait, that's me!

OK, last for the day.



The green box is where status is displayed, like running, or error. It will also be where any type in boxes will pop up, like directly entering in an axis offset, or a tool number to change, or the job quantity.

I cant think of anything I've forgotten right now. Maybe you can

Pretty self explanatory. It's a control panel milling itself

ihavenofish wrote:

Got me wondering now, can linuxcnc do this type of probing?

In which it creates a map of the surface, correcting the Z offset dynamically. It seems like it would be pretty simple in my head (like everything complicated ) I supposed it doesn't even need to be dynamic, and could just perform some math on the file and resave it as a compensated version. Hmmm. That actually does sound fairly easy.

I can't see why it can't. You can save the probe data to a file and from there you could feed the results back into a component that used external offsets so the z axis followed the surface via linear interpolation. I have mapped the surface on a straight line like this.

Ooh that's sounds good then. I'm still quite a long way for doing the UI and special features, But I'm trying to plan out everything I want in it now.

My Sanyo servo for testing will be here Wednesday (explain to me why shipping from korea take 2 days and is free, and shipping from 6 blocks down the street takes a week and costs $50? Sigh.

Revised the panel a little to use acrylic buttons (pressed or cast) with printed paper faces underneath. This might be a lot easier to deal with vs printing then painting then lasering then decaling then clear coating. also means you can change the button function by just printed out a new piece of paper. Downside is a mould is needed.

With a stainless steel front the control has a very heidenhain look.

Added some button guards to the power and run related buttons. Now you cant accidentally press them.



I need to pull apart my MPG and measure it to make sure it fits.

Construction now is a 3d printed front shell (with the 2 side lighting bars). A 3d printed rear shell which gives enough structure to press the buttons fairly firm. Then the front panel face is a laser cut sheet of, anything. Black acrylic, or black anodised aluminium if you want more durability. Stainless if you want it to match your kitchen. Anything 0.0625" thick. Well, almost anything. Pie crust probably wouldn't make a good front face. The button guards are part of the front shell, poking through the laser cut sheet.

I think need to add a USB port and an SD slot in the bottom right corner. Seems like a bad idea though for getting chips and dirt inside. maybe it has to go under a little door, or maybe there are some rubber plugs that fit the ports (like they have on some usb charging ports).

Knobs to twiddle!



All MPG knobs are 60mm. I only have 50mm of useful space. As a result, I drew up my own to be machined and attached to the stock encoder. All ive really done is reduced the outer flange. Because of this reduction, there wasn't much room left for numbers on the dial.

Question:
Do the numbers matter? Those of you who use MPG wheels do you look at the numbers? Or do you just look at the DRO and machine and feel the detents while turning? I haven't used an MPG on my machine, but it seems to me the numbers aren't relevant but the etched lines are useful.

Mmm lasers.

Now we have to build the thing! My 3d printer will be here end of next week I hope. The laser cut bits (in acrylic) are easily done by a maker friendly shop nearby.

The button caps will be tricky. the "right" way to do them is to machine an aluminium mold for an arbor press. you heat up 1.5mm thick acrylic and then press it. Like vac forming, but in a closed mold under higher force. I was shown this trick ages ago, I didn't think it could be formed more then just bending / stretching, but you can fully 3d form it like playdough!.

BUT a mold is expensive (for now, since I cant machine it myself yet).

the hard way is always the best
but there are so many "cheep" hitachi control panels at 24V that fit the 7i76
look
www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_odkw=panel&_osac...w=cnc+panel&_sacat=0