The original idea comes from this post by “catlord”
For my project, I wanted a solution for fine alignment of the webcam axis to the Z axis so that pointing is accurate at any distance. I got inspired by the mounting used for telescope secondary mirror, as shown is this video
For accuracy and stability concern, my design is based on a ball joint. The fine adjustment is done with 3 screws.
The machine is now cutting fast, I can start the mass production !
Some cleaning to be done …
I have experienced poor cutting speed with complex curves. The feedrate was not constant, even with G64 command.
After googleing few hours, I found a clue: LinuxCNC needs a tolerance parameter to be able to blend complex curves with true constant feedrate. Now I use “G64 P0.01” which gives 0.01 mm allowed error for the tool path. With this feature I have decrease the machine time from 3 hours down to 40 min for the same job, 1/4 ratio !
Below a video showing my machine cutting POMC at 700 mm/min feedrate.
I have now nice results with contouring after backlash compensation fine tuning.
Top workpiece : before tuning
Bottom workpiece : after tuning
Here is a new box for noise limitation and safety !
Build with 10 mm and 18 mm medium.
The machine stands on a plate of rubber like material designed for washing machine vibration isolation.
The blue tube is the connection to the external air compressor.
The mill in cooled and lubricated with a home-made microlub.
The oil/air mixer is based on a standard lubricating system. There is a by-pass if only air flow is required. Currently running with 3.5 bars and a oil flow of 10 drops/min.
The nozzle is based on a Locline modified according to http://www.usinages.com/supports-lubrification-eclairage-entretien/realisation-artisanale-systemes-microlubrification-t9118-60.html
The nozzle hole is 1 mm diameter. With 3.5 bars, the air flow is around 30 liters/min.
CNC milling of a rail track for a tramway model.
Material 5mm PVC sheet
A short video showing the milling machine cutting a sheet of PVC.
After lot of tuning of my CNC mini-mill, a first real project: the remake of a broken part from a radio mast.
Step #1: an image of the broken part is done with a scanner. Then, the object is reconstructed within TurboCad V12 with a red spline.
Step #2: the toolpath is computed with Cambam CAM software
Step #3: machining on my homebrew CNC mini-mill
Step 4: the remade part with POM-C material
