Modular Synth Panels

There are two very active CNC groups at Yahoo

CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com

mach1mach2cnc@yahoogroups.com

The second one revolves around the MACH3 CNC processing software program:

http://www.machsupport.com/

There is also an excellent open source Linux version available:

http://www.linuxcnc.org/

You can download a disk image of the latest version of this application and
it will create a bootable CD-ROM so you can explore the program without
making changes to your system. It comes with Ubuntu Linux.

Both stepper and servo drives are "talked to" by step and direction pulses.
These generally come from a parallel printer port.  USB is not recommended
as there is a large latency issue while the parallel ports are locked
together. If you are simultaneously moving two axes, you need to have them
in lock-step otherwise you will have machining errors.

Gecko is one manufacturer of controllers

http://www.geckodrive.com/


The language of CNC is G Code -- a bit of a learning curve but not too bad
and there are lots of tutorials out there.  Using G Code means that you will
be able to use all sorts of 2D and 3D software out of the box.

A lot of time to get into but not that much money if you are frugal. The
learning curve is a bit stiff but your time will be very much in demand once
you come up to speed and have reliable equipment.

DaveH 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Doug
> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 2:43 AM
> To: ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ModularSynthPanels] Re: getting started
> 
> Check out cnczone.com  Lots of helpful folks.
> 
> --- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, gino wong 
> <ginowong@...> wrote:
> >
> > I am actually thinking of getting a small cnc machine do 
> both panels and
> > green circuit boards.  I would share it as I don't need the 
> full capacity
> > of the thing.  I was thinking of drafting the Ills , expert 
> panel designers
> > they are but when costing out a trapezoid via a while back 
> an fpd panel
> > costed out to over $200.  One tenth the cost od some cnc rigs.
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
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>