Guys Don't know if this will help or not, but thought i would offer the info. I have done a lot of work on IT ISP'ing for the educational sector. The way we worked with Open Source and made sure that everyone had access no matter what they were using was to use Twiki (same as yourselves) for documenting. When folk wanted an off line copy we used a desktop with a CUPS PDF printer configured anby aka47 - General
Demented sir I can't get as far as trying to attach the file because the "Attach a file ..." link that lives next door to the "Smileys ..." link is'nt there to click on. I am not familiar with the Forum software you are using but would hazard a guess that something needs changing in either the permissions or settings. Maybe when the new areas were created they come "Out of the box" in no fileby aka47 - General
Hullo Help I don't know if this is on purpose (sensible move to preserve disk space) or by accident but the file attach option appears to me missing from the ability to post to the new motors section. I just tried to attach a spreadsheet and filed miserably. If this is intentional sorry. aka47by aka47 - General
Just for fun I had a rummage around on't t'internet and found a nice cheap (particularly if bought in quantity motor and gearbox combo. The company is MFA/Como they do stuff mostly for modelers (Model shops are a great source of random mechanics and drive bits if you can avoid trying to explain what you want them for) I also found an alternative to lead screws for the transmission part of theby aka47 - Mechanics
Dumb ass question time, (Sorry) I have a tig welding machine with hf start. I have studied the specs for plasma cutters and tig machines and they look so similar (Apart from the torch) notable exceptions are the initial open circuit voltage looks to be lower on a tig machine. Is it possible to swap the tig torch for a plasma cutter torch, couple up a compressed air feed and use the tig machineby aka47 - RepLab Working Group
OK Just to start the ball rolling, My wish list for toolheads. (I not assuming that what ever is currently on the Darwin will be in this one so will list it too) --Start List-- 1. Dremmel and/or dremmel type drill head 2. Syringe Dispenser adjustable for different syringe sizes (Cheap so you could have several to hand. 3. Vacuum pick & place (although could be an adapted syringe thing)by aka47 - Mechanics
OK Sorry guys I have gotta intrude. Micro stepping does not add precision Micro stepping does not add accuracy Micro Stepping does add resolution in a system where there is no method to adequately determine whether the added resolution is either accurate or precise. For Engineering definitions of accuracy and precision check out.. Under varying load conditions (and yes the load on a Z axisby aka47 - Mechanics
I think that there is a quantity of useful information collected in this thread. Would it possibly be better placed being moved into somewhere suitable in the Wiki ?? I.E. quicker and easier to find with a link back to this thread so folk can follow the thinking if they want. I am thinking of the summary and possibly adding a comparative table taking into account the strengths etc of the currby aka47 - Mechanics
Umm I also forgot to mention most importantly that double sided boards are a pain in the rump if not near impossible for the average kitchen table, once a blue flood artiste. (I am not counting myself out of this category, I have yet to successfully register Double sided prints on my kitchen table) aka47by aka47 - Mechanics
That sounds sensible to me.. There is a school of thought that suggests PCB's should have the minimum (permissible for the application, allowing for DRC, inter track Capacitance and Inductance) of copper removed. 1. It means you get more boards out per liter of etching solution and is therefore more cost effective and less polluting. 2. It gives a higher degree of heat sinking on board. more cby aka47 - Mechanics
PS I don't think/feel that progressing work along this front should get in the way of the folk who are wonderfully/thankfully doing precast parts for mail order. The two are pretty much complementary, folk with more cash but less time (Those currently with a job, in a prosperous country) are unlikely to have enough time/necessity for the kitchen table approach to boot strapping. Necessity hopeby aka47 - Mechanics
Print - Fold - tape - Insert pins - Fill If waxed paper were used it could release better if you wanted to remove it afterwards. It might be necessary in this case though to scale the blocks up a touch before conversion so they are right size after the form is removed. Or would a fraction of a mm difference on the outer edges of some items make any difference ?? I guess if the fill side wasby aka47 - Mechanics
And available in the UK (and therefore Germany I guess) I got my Tig welder from these folk (but have'nt had chance to use it yet though) Cheers aka47by aka47 - Mechanics
The welding aluminium stuff using a blowtorch is There is someone in the UK sells it as well, the site above is in the states. It was very popular at the land rover shows as land rovers have aluminium bodys aka47by aka47 - Mechanics
Paper version is kewl. Doesn't pepakura require you to pay license before you can actually print a design ?? That was the impression I got from skimming their web site. Anyways the results are extremely promising. If this was done in thin aluminum you wouldn't need the glue tabs as the corners could all be soldered and would be water tight then. Ummmm You would have to choose a side to leave oby aka47 - Mechanics
OK Scissor Jack Ta da See attached PDF for idea its simple in a picture form but complex to explain, So I drew it. Inkscape is pretty good for quick pictures. Another way to lift the table up and down without a stepper at each corner. Umm unless you can get steppers with planetary gearboxes this one may benefit from being a servo. A little movement in the x plane on the lead screw makes foby aka47 - Mechanics
Scissor Jack Scissor Jack Hmmm There's an idea.....by aka47 - Mechanics
Hmm Thin Aluminium now that's an idea, if thin enough you could cut it out with ordinary steel scissors or tin ships. Then bend up the bits by hand or with the aid of some simple small vice technology. There is some soldering alloy stuff about somewhere for soldering bits of aluminum together. I remember seeing it demo'd at a couple of land rover shows I went to. So a soldering iron plus tin sby aka47 - Mechanics
Just for fun.... Ultimate repstrap... A set of pdf drawings that can be cut out of acetate sheet and folded/stuck to make outline reprap parts (ie empty 3d models, a bit like card board but better) complete with holes etc for puting pins through just as if you were molding them. Then either Mold them with molding compound (acetate stays on as permanent in situ formwork) or fill with polymorpby aka47 - Mechanics
Something I was reminded of whilst surfing for plotter pens (drawing pen style) as these are designed to handle being dragged across the surface of paper without fine contro of down force. Vinyl cutter pens for plotters, a friend of mine uses them for doing stick on signs etc for cars and other things. Here's what Wikipedia had to say about the process. Here's a couple of hacks for bodging aby aka47 - Mechanics
If your in the states I found these folk who do the syringes (manual and air) and dispensing needles. Min quantities apply. But individual prices are so ridiculously cheap it almost begs someone to buy some useful sizes and sell them on in hobbyist quantities. In the UK I have found a number of company's that do the Techon range notably RS and Farnels do them too but don't seem to stock all tby aka47 - Mechanics
Hullo Viktor Yup that too.. In have tried this method with very mixed results. Adding more steps into the process creates more things to go wrong with the attendant expense. (Time and Money) I must admit to have been at this sort of thing for a long time and have tried more methods of PCB Prototyping and production than I care to think about. (Including twice size layout on light box and colorby aka47 - Mechanics
OK to summarize the freewheeling thinking process so far. First most importantly thanks to everyone for input. Assumptions 1. The objectives and methods that follow are aimed at a working machine. 2. To get to a working machine even if only a strap version strip board construction will be the entry level for the initial electronic bits. (you've got to have boots to strap) 3. Having achieved aby aka47 - Mechanics
Guys I found this useful PDF on the Delta Line web site whilst doing a bit of background reading on linear stepper actuators etc. Thought you might want to preserve a copy if they decide to change their minds. It's sort of a condensed how to size your motor in terms of force type thing. and select their link to their technical doc's It is rather confusingly called "Tin Can & DLA" akby aka47 - Mechanics
Viktor Are Globco's needles sharp or blunt ie is the end cut at an angle or perpendicular. Angled or sharp needles are likely to be upset when drawing in the wrong direction. (Like the nib on a writing pen). These are the standard types for medical work as they are generally used to puncture people with. Blunt or cross cut needles should be fine providing the pen to workpiece distance is correby aka47 - Mechanics
Looks to be almost exactly something useful, ie pneumatically operated dispensing syringe with a range of needles and the needles appear to have a locking mechanism that should prevent the needle being blown off if it gets either clogged or the feedstock is a touch on the over viscous side. Hmmmm options for drive A larger syringe used as an air pump coupled to a stepper or servo drive, withby aka47 - Mechanics
Viktor I am in the UK so am technically in the Eu Zone. (Although many here seem to think we are attached to America, 5x state and all that) So purchasing/shipping should not be a problem Unfortunately like many English speakers my German is savagely worse then the worst English any German uses (for German substitute most other eu languages). Yes its dire and inexcusable I know. Is there any cby aka47 - Mechanics
Been mooching around t'internet. Hypodermic tubing the stuff the needles is made from and therefore the needles seems to be sized in standard wire gauge (SWG or Gauge). What we realy need is a sensible conversion chart for a given manufacturers needle sizes (ie nominal Internal Diameter). Some folk appear to turn out syringe needles that are blunt too. (Pharmacy filler needles) which would'ntby aka47 - Mechanics
The fab&home folk seem to have got a workable solution for the syringe dispenser. if coupled with needles (cut off and deburred) used as fine nibs pretty fine dispensing of etch resist ink should be possible. Not to mention solder paste. A syringe fitted with a rubber tip and operated in reverse is potentialy a vacuum pick and place tool for surface mounted components. Just going off to seby aka47 - Mechanics
Funnily enough after I had posted the above I found your page on the wiki which seemed to suggest pretty much what I had posted. Sorry Yup I agree getting a machine up and running even if limited is a good place to start. I pretty much have all of the PIC development stuff plus a bunch of electronic test gear (It is what I do) being out of work at the moment though is somewhat limiting my expeby aka47 - Mechanics