Thanks everyone for the suggestions, thats exactly what i was hoping for!
Elbow, you are correct, it doesnt need anything too fancy.... i'd even go as far as to say we wouldn't need to even implement GCode on it. Its yet another layer to extrapolate to. Select Key type, enter bitting information, then a series of vertices can be generated. Do we then want to generate GCode from that, only to have to reinterpret back again to step pulses? I don't know the answer to this one yet, it might need some more thought. If the hardware is cheap enough, it might make sense. Alternatively we just use some Driver chips or driver modules from pololu and calculate everything on the arduino.
I do like the idea of having a stand alone unit, with no additional PCs, Android devices etc, IMHO its just not needed. I'm not sure if any of you have worked with 4Dsystems Inteligent display modules yet? Its freaking simple to develop great looking GUI touch interface for Arduino or other m/c platforms, you can take a look here if you want, mouser sells them for pretty good prices - especially the 2.8" and 3.2" models
http://www.4dsystems.com.au/product/uLCD_35DThttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1TPs6dI11khttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGD-TUgciQMThere will also need to be some limit switches for homing and maybe a relay to start/stop the slaved cutting machine. As for the MK II version, i think we have some similar ideas.... you can mount several clamp blocks across the table for different operations. But yeah, i foresee clamping an SC4 vertically and turning it into a primus blank in about a minute using the cutting disc. I'm also thinking about a Z axis with maybe 2 inches of travel, that we mount the cutting wheel and spindle to.... the disc cutter can be rotated for angled cuts, with a pivot line in line with the disc obviously and a tiny ER spindle for the laser cuts!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-CNC-Spindle-Motor-Kits-PWM-Speed-Controller-Mount-Bracket-/111558709140?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f96acf94 But lets get the first version made and documented and then look at other things later
Rick, AKA pick'n n grin'n sure ill share what i'll be working on.. its open source after all! if you have any info for this, feel free to stick it up here, or you can email me direct at
l0ckcr4ck3r@gmail.com ill probably get some stuff up on github so it can be reviewed and changed as needed.
Coolant may not be needed to start with, although it might be something that could be an option later, especially for steel keys. However much help or evolvement you want is fine by me.. just means i have to do less work.
ckc123.... that would be awesome!!! the less we have to reinvent the proverbial wheel.. the better. there are some technical questions i have right off the bat, especially concerning math and geometry between adjacent depth cuts, that you have probably figured out already. email me the code at the address above. I think some kind of standard block of code is needed per key type, just to specify Depth and spacing, ramp angle, MACS etc... maybe you have some thoughts on that?
Rlhems57... I picked up a brand new FB-200 on wednesday from craigslist. it was 16 years old so the belt had turned brittle, but it looks like it will do a good job. I have heard its fairly easy to cut to code with depth/space keys but it would be nice to just be able to cut to code, without the need for a bunch of code keys.... especially for some of the european stuff. Just as a curveball option, maybe the x/y table could be hinged at the back and sprung loaded.... that way you could just release a clamp and allow a cut key to run against the tracer and run the Y axis back and forth. Basically retain the duplication function, but i don't know!
Ok, so right now i can't afford much of the hardware, but i will make a start on the user inteface with a display i have and some of the basic coding for limit switches etc. If anyone wants to help sponsor this project, then i'll be offering some nice cutaways on the BST forum over the next few weeks to raise money for this. Thanks again and post any other ideas you have.