The quickstepper
http://www.quickstepper.com has the software with it. It uses a special
command protocol (and via the serial port, which is unusual) which sends
paths, rather than step and direction, commands from the PC to the
controller. This avoids all sort of reliability problems with a Windows =
PC
(non-deterministic timing) and allows the controller to run the steppers
faster, get from point A to point B in a nice ramping motion, and never =
miss
a beat.

I have several leads for good (not great) machines that can be purchased =
for
around $400 to $500 dollars, but so far, none of them has worked out. =
For
example:
www.cnconabudget.com sells VERY nice 6" slides for $130 w/o steppers and =
a
hum-dinger of a spindle for $62 w/ motor. If he made one or two of the 3
slides shorter and added the motors, I think he could have a complete
machine for $500 or less. He says $700 (with his controller, etc...) but
that is not so much more.=20

Now: He is A) a one man shop with no (apparent) desire to expand other =
than
to buy new toys (like most of us!) B) several months behind on orders C) =
not
interested in other controller designs D) desperately needs better =
marketing
(web site is really bad and most forms of contact don't seem to work) =
and E)
with a more consistent product output, which could be taught to an
apprentice, he should / could concentrate on the development of new and
better stuff and automate his production (we are talking about CNC here
after all!) but it doesn't seem that he is headed in that direction... =
yet.

This is the classic problem: Some people love to tinker and design and =
try
new ideas. Others like to have a 9 to 5 with a stable, repetitive =
workload.
I like to work with people, market, do the web site stuff, etc... CNC on =
a
budget, E.g. Roman, Jon, and others are in the first group: Ask them to
crank out product on a production basis and they are stifled. A
(hypothetical) apprentice or other local associate of CNC, Jen (Romans
friend), my neighbor Jeff, and many others, like to know what they are =
going
to do every day and can challenge themselves to get more done. I like to =
be
in front of people, helping, calming, supporting, selling, writing =
etc...=20

In any successful business you will find each of these three people. =
Either
in one company or as a partnership between different companies. Trying =
to do
it all yourself doesn't cut it. We need each other. So I don't =
manufacture
(ever) or design (much). Designers should never be forced to manufacture
(ever) or talk to the public (much, feedback on design, high level =
support,
etc...) but I do think they should be forced to use what they design on =
a
regular basis. And production should never design (much, some feedback =
to
designers) or talk to customers (EVER!).

At least that is my perception.

Harbor freight here I come!

---
James Newton, massmind.org Knowledge Archiver=20
james@massmind.org 1-619-652-0593 fax:1-208-279-8767=20
All the engineering secrets worth knowing:
http://techref.massmind.org What do YOU know?



> -----Original Message-----
> From: paul jones [mailto:paul_jones50@hotmail.com]=20
> Sent: 2004 Jul 21, Wed 18:50
> To: James Newton, Host
> Subject: Re: stepper controller
> Importance: Low
>=20
> Hi James:
> Sorry to take so long to get back to you, been crazy here. Am=20
> doubling the size of my shop but am doing the building=20
> myself. Trying also to get a run of PCB spindles done, and=20
> finish up axis orders. I manufacture everything here, and=20
> time slips away so quickly.
> I have been designing a PCB mill for some time now, but I=20
> would find it impossible to sell for less than 700.(=20
> including L297/298 drivers and some basic software) I am=20
> always looking for people to sell product to but right now I=20
> am SO far behind..........


> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list=20
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Howard Winter
> Sent: 2004 Jul 23, Fri 05:29
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [AD]: (will be) Small CNC mill, controller and=20
> software for ~$500
> Importance: Low
>=20
> James,
>=20
> On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 12:56:18 -0700, James Newton, Host wrote:
>=20
> > I'm not looking to design the mechanical part, just resell some one=20
> > else's unit.
>=20
> Ah, OK.  I've been looking at the sort of things currently=20
> available, and all of the ready-made milling machines are far=20
> too expensive, and seperate x-y tables that would be suitable=20
> don't look as if they would be easy to add stepper motors.
>=20
> > JCK says that machines should be designed from the spindle=20
> out, so I=20
> > think the best setup tends to be with the Z axis mounted firmly and=20
> > the X and Y slides stacked. Most professional mills work that way.
>=20
> OK.  From scratch it's probably easier to do it the other=20
> way, though, as the Milford Instruments machine does.
>=20
> > Looks like my best choice is not going to work out... I may have to=20
> > start looking at Harbor freight... But I really don't want=20
> to do this assembly.
> >
> > HELP? Anyone what to make a living selling a little mill?=20
> Target $425=20
> > for three slides (maybe 6"x4"x2"?) with the steppers and a good=20
> > spindle and I will get about $75 for the controller, software and=20
> > serial interface. User supplies power and a PC.
>=20
> I'd love to take this on (I'd like one myself for a start,=20
> and I could do with some income), but I'm not convinced it=20
> can be done for that price - certainly not in the UK with=20
> UK=A31 =3D US$1.80 !
>=20
> I presume the software would be user-supplied as well,=20
> probably from one of the PC-CNC suppliers out there?
>=20
> Cheers,
>=20
>=20
> Howard Winter
> St.Albans, England
>=20
> --
> http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
> email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body
>=20

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