Thank you guys, I will try again tonight sometime. I have a little fan here and I will run it directly over the boards to push the heat away. Hopefully that will take care of it and it starts cutting true again for long periods of time. I'll also tune the current and let ya know. I'll shoot for warm to the touch but nothing you can fry and egg on. Thanks again for the suggestions and help.

Thanks for all the help guys, I think I found the problem last night when I was going over the machine. I put a 12V fan on my 24V supply. You can run it at that voltage by the way... granted I don't know for how long but it will put out a lot of air, more than enough to keep the board cool. I actually don't think over heating was the problem anymore. Last night I found that one of the set screws on my Y axis motors was completely gone. After closer inspection I found that the last set screw had almost worked its way completely out and was off the flat part of the motor shaft. Once corrected the machine is a lot more stable.

Another question on a different topic for anyone using LinuxCNC. I'm starting to realize the limitations of grbl controller software. I also don't like the fact that if I tell it to stop it just keeps on going its marry way until it empties out a buffer (bad design imo). I'm looking into LinuxCNC but it seems to go that route I would need a parallel port which I do not have on my host computer. I see they sell these USB to parallel port adapters:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...04004&ef_id=UsLpjwAABDjZxO83:20140401122923:s ​

has anyone used one of these successfully with LinuxCNC or Mach3? I was thinking of purchasing one to play around with LinuxCNC. It seems like a more feature complete CNC software than grbl controller.

@Ceiling Cat, I don't know what you mean with 'host computer'. Is it a dedicated computer for the machine? That's what I did. I bought on Ebay an old Dell computer for about $60. It has a parallel port. Problem solve for me. I feed it with a USB Thumb Drive.

Also, I've said it before, I change all my set screws to socket head screws. They are much easier to tighten since they use a bigger Allen Key.

By host computer, I have a mini http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173029 driving my machine currently. I like it because it fits in the palm of my hand and can mount directly to the machine in a little tiny control box I'm building to contain all electronics + power supply. I just remote into it from wireless network and do whatever I want. I can use my phone as a control interface with RDP, but this box does not have a parallel port or serial port, nor does it have room for an expansion card. USB is my only option so it looks like I could be stuck here unless I create a driver for LinuxCNC using HAL and a new controller board to match it. Mach4 looks to be supporting some sort of Motion Device Driver model so looks like we could possibly get a plugin for grbl shield + Mach4 with a little work.

My other option would be to take out my mini and put it on the back of a TV for xbmc somewhere and use either my RaspberryPI or BeagleBone Black for the brains of my Routy machine. Anyone done anything with the PI or BeagleBone married to either LinuxCNC or Mach3?

That's too bad about mach4. Which is better smooth stepper or UC100? I didn't think it was possible to use USB connection with Mach3. How do you set that up?

First of all thanks for developing a great DIY system and providing some great designs to start with.
I am a complete newbie to CNC but I have allot of experience making stuff and can use all types of metalworking machines, hand tools etc. I have extensive electronics skills and 35 years experience with computers.
Right I have a few questions! I want a machine to drill in thin 1.5mm aluminum extrusions and 4mm aluminum rectangular stock. drill sizes are 3.25mm, 4mm and 5 mm. Also 5mm holes in 3mm plexiglass. It would be nice to be able to mill alu as well.
1) Will this machine do this - I am planning on using the Kress 850 or 1050 spindles.
2) What accuracy can I get from this machine - I need 0.1mm or better
3) Is it worthwhile (or will it cause problems) to upgrade all the motors to Nema 32? Budget isnt really a problem.
4) Where can I get a mounting kit for the Kress spindles?

I am sorry for all the questions but I work 80+ hours a week and dont have much time to try and work this out, I need to find the answers from people who know what they are talking about and dont want to make any expensive mistakes, like building this and finding out it wont do what I need! Thanks allot!

richard

Sorry, point 3) should be "upgrade all the motors to Nema 23"!

1) Yes it can do it!
2) The accuracy depends on how well, or not well, you are calibrating the machine. So it's totally up to you.
3) Definitely worth it. Also, if you ever want to upgrade your machine to a bigger one you will not have to buy new steppers.

How did you guys go about securing the spoil board?
finishing up the build, seems a bit loose?
cheers
mevo

Just screw it down with a few screws.

this is gonna sound like im being difficult here, maybe im just dumb..
no laughing
here goes..
screw it to what? im outta tnuts an dont know how else id get screws into the extrusion.
if this is just me being stupid feel free to point it out.
always wanted people to think i was special....

Just curious but has anyone tried cutting thin gauge sheet metal with routy? (sheet metal made from steel).

hey, all
having a lil problem, wondering if anyone can help.
my x axis has horizontal play in the y direction, it wiggles, even with both eccentric's tightened all the way(the eccentric's for this axis are one each side on the bottom with one normal and 2 normals each side on top right?
how solid should i expect to get it?
just now negative Y cuts are great, but positive seems to just skip around on top
any help would be much appreciated
mevo

evo, is the play in the gantry or is it in the outside plates?

it appears to be the 2 plates connecting the wheels to the gantry, id suspect bad eccentrics but there is 100% no up down movment and eccentrics are fully tightened
thank you for getting bk to me so quickly

Mightyevo...I am new here and definitely no expert, but I believe all of your eccentrics should be on the same side and all wheels on the side with the eccentrics should have one. So you should have 3 on one side with eccentrics and 3 on the other without. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

no problem, here a few from different angles and how its effecting flattening the bed... snot pretty
let me know if any more angles would be better
thanks for the help
mevo