AnYwAy

I have not updated this blog for a bit.

ANYWAY.

My laptop broke:(

I am getting closer to finishing my two projects.

So I got those switchers I posted about earlier, and I started soldering them. I had my Grandpa cut the headers.

I miscounted and I couldn't finish soldering one of them. But! I am thinking of some new projects to do.

Vote on one in the poll next to this post.

• Automated parts storage
• Large CNC wood router
• Laser "Bit" for above and current CNC mill.
• Large LED lamp

The one I'm thinking is the storage.

I envision pushing a button, labeled "Resistor 1/4 Watt" or "IC" or "LED, 5mm" and a drawer with labeled and lidded compartments sliding out automatically. I would enter how much I put in, or took out, and it would print a list with parts I was running low on.

I'm thinking about Arduino.

Tell me what you think!

Huzzah!!!!!

SWEET NUGGETS OF MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'M SO FREAKING HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My circuit boards came today. Holy Noodles, They rock.
Pictures to follow.

YAY!!!

So, I was checking my BatchPCB orders, ready too see both listed as "Processing", which means they sant the panel to the boardhouse and are waiting to get it back. But, Lo and Behold, look what I found:

WOO HOOS!

MORE SOLDERING AND BUYING NEW STUFF!!

I bought solder braid!!

Erm...yeah.

I don't like this part.
It Sucks now.

My Favorite Part!

I'm in my favorite part of doing projects right now. It's that part where you have some of the stuff you need but not all of it yet. You have stuff to do, and you are excited to finish the project. And for those naysayers that say "If you like doing this so much, why are you excited to get finished?" I don't know. I LOVE doing these projects, but I love finishing them too. I think it is that feeling of "I did this amazing all by my 12 year old self!!!" Yeah, that's what it is.

MORE and MORE testing.

I found my steppers!! I am buying the high torque steppers from robokits. Here is the problem:I am buying six-wire steppers and I need five wire steppers for the controller board. The difference is that the two ground wires are combined in five-wires and they are separate in six-wire. Wait to you see my ingenious solution. I laid out a board in Eagle that has a six-pin header on one side and a five pin header on the other. Look at this:

I ordered 3 from BatchPCB last night.

I have pictures!!!

I made my PCB for the iPod Chargers.

Check it out!

I feel good about these.

Testing, Testing, 123....5

I am trying out BatchPCB for the first time. I just placed my order, and all seems well.
I just tried futurlec for my CNC project, and as you can see, it went well. I am just experimenting with different companies. Expect a review shortly.
I'm going to bed.

Wiring Diagram

I FOUND A WIRING DIAGRAM!!!!!!!!!! NO MORE GOING BY MY GUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I finished the circuit boards for my iPod chargers!!!

NEW STORE!!

I have a new store!!
Here's how it works:

1. Go through the list of description pages on the left.
2. There will be a checkout utility on each of these pages and on the sidebar and bottom bar of my blog.
3. Select the product you want to buy from the dropdown list.
4. Add to cart!
5. Checkout is easy from there!

Chuggin' Along

I was at my grandparents today watching the OLYMPICS!!!!
Then my grandpa and I started some more soldering!!
We got one more of our job nights done!

Sockets!-Check

Special Transistors!-Check

Diodes!

Other Components!

Light Sockets!
Jumper Wires!
Parallel Port!
Continuity Check!

We're Chuggin'!

USB Chargers!!!

So, I got the parts sorted for the USB iPod Chargers!
Alison was helping me (Thanks!)
I am almost ready to start selling these!
Let me know if you want to buy it!
*UPDATE*
You can buy the chargers at the checkout thingy next door!

Soldering is FUN!!

So I started soldering my IC sockets on to the PCB board.

                                                                      

                                                          I'm quite proud of how it turned out!

                                                                     (Thanks Grandpa!!)
Sockets!-Check
Special Transistors!
Diodes!
Other Components!
Light Sockets!
Jumper Wires!
Parallel Port!
Continuity Check!

Packages!!!

I got some packages in the mail today!
I got lots of parts for my CNC Mill (The small one, not the one made from MDF.) + Driver Circut and my RGB Door Lock.
Pictures below!!!
CNC Mill:

 All Together Now!

 

Special Transistors!
 

PCBs (I ordered two for SAFETY!)

Here they are again!
 

IC's and their sockets.

  

Various Diodes!
 

Resistors!
 

LightBulb Sockets!
 

Port for the computer

Capacitors!

RGB Door Lock:
 

Everybody! Except for the PCB! (It is being worked on...)
 

Digital Potentiometer!
 

Transistors!

 

Regulator!
 

Resistors!
 

Keypad and Board!

Hmmm....

I've got three steppers, but the problem is that one of them is bipolar and the rest are unipolar.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?

So Far....

I have priced out a little bit more.....
Hardware:200
PCB:20
Components:35
Motor:15
so far I'm up to
270

Pricing

So. I started pricing out the CNC mill.
Wow.
Sheet Stock --- $20


-a 48" x 48" piece of 1/2" thick MDF (any 1/2" sheet stock can be used I have plans to make my next version out of UHMW but cost was prohibitive this time around)

-a 5"x5" piece of 3/4" thick MDF (this is used to make spacers so any piece of 3/4" stock found around the shop could be used)



Motors and Controllers ---- $255

-An entire instructable could be written on chosing a controller and motors. In short what is required is a controller capable of three axes of control (with pulsed step and direction inputs) and motors with about 100 oz/in holding torque. I sourced mine from http://hobbycnc.com they have worked well and the kit was quite easy to solder. ( direct link )



Hardware--- $275 about 200.

-These parts can be acquired from three places. The conventional items can be acquired at Home Depot, the specialty drive products are easy to find at any industrial supplier, I used McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com) (I chose them because they have a nice online store), and finally because of the large number of bearings required I found the best price from an online seller (http://vxb.com) which sells 100 for $40 (leaves quite a few left over for other projects) ( direct link )



Software --- (free)

-What is required is a program to draw your designs (I use CorelDraw), and a programme capable of interpreting these files into pulses to be sent to your controller. I'm currently using a trial version of Mach3 ( http://www.machsupport.com )but have plans to convert to LinuxCNC (An open source machine controller which uses linux) ( http://www.linuxcnc.org )



Router Head--- (extra)

-I attached a dremel type cutting tool to my machine however if you are more interested in additive construction (like fab@home or RepRap ) you may wish to look into their deposition tools.
I will update this post but as of posting this is where I have priced.

Current Projects

I am building this CNC Machine, but I am indecisive as to what laser diode to use for the laser tool. (I am building it so that you can switch out the tools.) The one from this Instructable, or the one from this one. Or, if you have any other suggestions, leave them in the comments. I will try to include PDFs of all three Instructables.

What in the World?

Hi. I'm Zach. I love to build things and am always trying new techniques. I got a workbench for my birthday, and I've got a couple power tools and access to a bunch at my school and at grandparents, but I'd like to build my own. I'd like to build a multi-purpose CNC machine that can switch between a laser engraver, CNC dremel, and a 3D printer. Ambitious, I know. But I like to think that I'm mechanically inclined, and pretty good with a laptop. I've got some friends that are great coders, so I'm excited. I am currently building iPod chargers that run off a nine volt battery that will get me 14 dollars profit. I am trying to sell ten so I can get some money. I love sites like Instructables and Futurlec. Any advice, ideas, or you want me to make you something, just drop me a line.