This is an old revision of the document!
MaxNC
| Name | MaxNC 10 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Makers' Alliance |
| Location | Electronics |
| Training needed | yes |
| Hackable | no |
| Model | MaxNC 10 CL |
| Serial | Serial Number |
| Arrival Date | 2013 |
| Working | yes |
| Contact | Sam Harmon |
Current Status: Mostly Functional
This is a donated MaxNC 10 CL that has been hacked into functionality. MaxNC electronics have been replaced by an Arduino/gShield combo running GRBL. All of the stepper motors on the X/Y/Z axes have been replaced. Technically the machine has a 4th (rotary) axis, but the current electronics do not support it.
Current Status:
90+% usable at this point, but be careful.(see Caveats)
Caveats:
- endstops are currently non-functional, so automatic homing does not work.
- For some reason (EM Interference, probably), turning the spindle off/on will sometimes cause the Arduino to reset. This usually happens when turning the spindle off. With the back cover attached this happens less frequently.
Proposed Upgrades
- Coolant drip pump
- Vacuum for dust collection
- Air blowing for chip clearing
- Upgrade electronics to a 4-axis capable board so we can use the 4th axis (should probably also get an appropriate tail stock as well)
Instructions for use:
First: You should have some in-person training before using this tool. Wear safety glasses if the box is open.
Second: Your first job should probably not be done in metal. Try using wood, plastic or foam first to get a feel for how the machine works.
Generating Gcode: The easiest way to generate Gcode for this is with Inventables' Easel (it will run on the CNC computer, but WebGL rendering of what the final product will look like isn't possible because the machine is too old… I'm just happy it worked at all) On the machine itself, we have Inkscape with gcodetools (probably better for more precision work) and MakerCAM (easy for beginners, but Flash-based and not very precise). We also now have bCNC installed as a Gcode sender/editor/CAM suite.
Zeroing: In bCNC, use the arrow keys to move X&Y, and Page Up/Page Down to move Z. You can set the step size in the software - 1mm is good for big moves, and .1mm when closing in on zero. Get your endmill to within a few thousandths of the material (use a sheet of paper as a feeler gauge, and you're there when moving it is “tight”). Click “reset zero” and the work position will be set to zero.
Run your job. Attend the work. If cutting metal, apply cutting fluid every few passes. If something goes terribly wrong, hit the emergency stop.
Suggested usage (set these things in your Gcode)
- Keep feed rates relatively low for now (~10 inches per minute seems ok for aluminum)
- Keep your depth of cut light for aluminum