First trial EMC with mini mill (retrofitted microscope positioner)

I added stepper motors to a 3-axis stage (the axes are from www.velmex.com) and controlled it using a HobbyCNC EZ controller. Here it is plotting the splash screen to EMC.

I pulled the stepper motors from miscellaneous junk including an old color laser printer.

The motors are mounted with modified PC card blanks (the brackets that go where you don't have a PCI card) from a Dell computer, and hook fasteners (super-strength velcro) from Radio Shack. The motors are coupled with the same stuff, on 1" potentiometer knobs. Except for one which has the velcro on a lump of propoxy 20 mush-together epoxy. (Because the shaft was 5/16".)

It works better with a sharpie, but the pen I used is a Townsend Harris High School pen.

My plan is to replicate the machinery (to free up the micrsocope positioner!) and use a similar machine for pcb etching/drilling, and for small parts prototyping/manufacture. I also hope to use it for 3D scanning.

see www.linuxcnc.org and www.hobycnc.com.
Inspired through my involvement with FIRST Robotics usfirst.org.
also recommended, google linistepper, reprap, cadsoft eagle.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• thhs
• emc
• cnc
• pcb
• robotics
• first
• usfirst
• 8020
• 80/20
• stepper
• hobbycnc
• ez