I have been tinkering off and on with a machine to drill PC boards. Just=20
for myself, no commercial interest. Building equipment with all new=20
parts just does not fit into my life style! I have this big milling=20
machine (about 800 pounds) but it has a lot of friction, more than I=20
think practical for stepper motors. I have been using the $6-$10 variety=20
that normally run from 4 AA batteries.
They simply cannot handle the load.  I am looking toward a 3 point=20
remedy for that problem. First, disassemble, clean & lube the XY table. =20
Next, use bigger electric screw guns to get more torque. And last, =20
Reduction gears to drive the table slower on the same power. None of=20
these solutions has much to do with electronics. Distance sensing has=20
worked well with micro-switches on the hand-wheels. One revolution =3D=20
0.100 inch. My reduction gear uses a worm & spur for a garage door=20
opener at $16 and is pretty good for its cost. Tiny belts, pulleys and=20
gears are particularly pricey.  I have decided that the hardest parts of=20
most projects are the packaging and mechanical considerations.  I did=20
not know what a boring job it was to drill holes in PC boards until I=20
started to have some success at Toner Transfer Boards!
I have been away from IBM for over 20 years now, but the big Steppers=20
were used to move paper in some of the printers then. When they would=20
screw up it was always an expensive repair.

Mectronics & robotics are coming on strong. I wonder if the kids are=20
really learning anything plugging Arduino boards together...
Hopefully the next project will be remote controlling the tractor....=20
The steering is fully hydraulic.

On 5/20/2013 5:26 PM, IVP wrote:
>> Arduinos seem to be ubiquitous because they're really good at
>> what they do... making entry level electronics easy. Use that,
>> don't resent it.
> Didn't intend to come across as snippy. Arduino is a good tool
>
> I'm mosty just disappointed that the enthusiasm and/or imagination
> for adding a couple of LEDs or sensors to one and calling it a
> "project" doesn't seem to extend much further than that
>
> Maybe it's engineering/workshop resources that are lacking. I'll
> have to look into that
>
> Joe

--=20
John Ferrell W8CCW
That which can be destroyed by the truth should be.
P.C. HODGELL
  =20


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