Control Console
i really need to work on the Mesa 7i73 based control console, as it has some important functions on it, as well as future needs. thinking a 18" X 20" sloped console, built from wood, should be plenty. the front needs at least 2.5" - 3" of inside height, for the buttons and switches i have. the top panel can be a piece of 3/8" multi-ply underlayment. should be stiff enough, i think.
then it is only a matter of cutting in holes for the LCD display, encoders, switches, and buttons. and routing the wires in such a way that the opening and closing of the console will not pinch a wire.
one option, is if the back of the console is tall enough, i can mount the 7i73 on the back, with the breakout boards. then i can just make the bottom as a removable panel for access. probably 3/4" plywood, as i hope to mount the console on a movable pedestal. the pedestal could even be just an office-chair base, with fresh new wheels on it, and a post mounted to the console.
ATC Changer
i have re-worked the tool-changer script to go back to a linear rack, rather than a carousel. i think it will be easier, and cheaper.
i could possibly make a double tier rack, with the upper rack further forward, and offset so the tools will be between the lower tools, to prevent obstruction when sliding out. will have to be short-wide tools on bottom, and narrow-long tools on top, if there is even room to do it. will take some calculating and figuring... i could spread the tools a bit wider and crowed the upper deck down as low as possible. but i will have to build a mock-up rack with a few forks on it, and buy some tool-holders. i need at least 3 in-rack to test.
this will push my work area further up the machine, though. so it will restrict the size work i can do. if i am making mainly signs, it may not be a big issue, unless somebody wants a huge sign. i will just have to establish what the max size material will fit, and what the max size work area on that material is. i can draw some marks on my spoil-board to identify the limits. and the limits for my laser will be different than my router, because the laser is a side-offset. this will also offset my router center-of-work vs center-of-material. on the spoil-board, i could route a small groove that identifies the router work area. and then burn with the laser, the limits of my laser work area.
the changer will need some inductive proximity sensors to tell the machine if there is a tool there, or not. these will need to be as close to the ISO-30 ring as possible, so may have to come up from under, at an angle, to fall into the cut-out in the back of the forks. lower deck could angle down, and upper could angle up.
i had considered the idea of sliding the two decks in and out, but i don't think it would save anything as the tools sliding out need to clear the material and spoil-board. so the lower deck would have the tools nearly just above the metal table.
i just thought too, a second deck would really be a PITA to make stiff and work well... perhaps i will return the somewhat old idea of tools 1 to x are in the rack, and tools y to infinity are manual change from a numbered tool organizer rack. this will also require maintaining the LinuxCNC tool DB with accurate numbers for tool length, and diameter. it may be worth it to stamp or engrave tool pocket numbers into the tool-holders, though it could change balance.
Vacuum Shoe
i need the shoe to only move enough to allow tool changes. (the other reason a two-tier rack would not work) the part around the spindle nose could be mostly just brush. the shoe could be angle-aluminum, two pieces, parallel, and to the sides of the spindle. short brush on top, just to sorta seal around spindle nose. long brush on the back end to just clear spindle nose and catch flying dust behind spindle nose, and long brush down to keep the aluminum off the material. on the front, the shoe would have a sort of scoop to collect dust and feed it to a vacuum hose connector. 4" hose would be best. the design would then allow the shoe to move up and down for tool changes, as well as slide right out and off for maintenance. would use the air piston i have to actuate the shoe. the lower limit of the shoe/brush would be about 3/4" to 1" lower than the bottom of the collet. the brush would be a little too high when piercing the material, but would be fine for deep cuts, without the brush being in the way of the cut. i will just need a dust collector with a lot of vacuum to pull in the dust.
shoe will be in upper position when laser-mode is active.
Laser Shoe
no brush is needed. the shoe just sits on and sucks the fumes up, as well as visually blocking the laser. would suck through a small diameter hose, like a CPAP/BIPAP hose that could be bundled to the side of the dust vacuum hose, and suspended from above. fume extraction does not need powerful suction, but does need strong filters (carbon and HEPA). a good shoe may negate the need for laser ==> eye protection.
Tool Length Sensor
will be mounted direct to aluminum table, and be beside tool rack. will need one rack space, but is mandatory to be installed, for ATC to function correctly. i still need to attach a NPN to PNP changer to the signal.
Spoil-board
must be firmly mounted at the four corners, and counter-bored to get the fasteners lower than the surface to prevent cutting into them. can mount with washers so thin remaining wood with be a little stronger. perhaps 1/4" remaining, should get the screw tops low enough. maybe i could make a G-code macro that i simply mark the hole center, and align it up, letting the machine make a nice pocket.
material attachment to spoil-board will be through simple screws down into spoil-board. no need for T-track, even though i have the hardware kit. i could route T-tracks into the spoil-board, if i need jigs. mostly just edge cam clamping, or screwing right through the material. i could saw a bevel on the material, outside the finish size, and use the bevel for firmer clamping. that way there are no clamps in the way of the machine and tools.
Tramming
i still need to make sure the spindle is as close to perpindicular to the material as possible. the mount may be less than ideal, but i think i have room to tram. i will need a tramming gauge, and a bare table top. then i just need to rotate the spindle until left/right verticle, and either shim the top or bottom until forward/back vertical. then lock it down, and maybe use safety wire or something to prevent it from moving. either that, or setup a scheduale to check and correct the vertical.