Vivid CNC Router

This equipment requires training. Either it's tricky to use, or it's someone's personal equipment, or it's easy to make expensive mistakes with.

This machine is not presently in service. When it's up and running, a training course will be provided.

Overview

Homemade CNC router donated by Vivid Aerial R/C. It is made largely with parts from Avid CNC, the name similarity seems to be a coincidence.

It is driven by LinuxCNC and a Gecko G540. It has a high frequency water cooled spindle that runs off 220V 3-phase (generated by a VFD), and the 220V powering the VFD is from a 110V to 220V step up transformer.

The machine needs repairs!!! Talk to Maverick Edwards or Forest Darling if interested:

the water cooled spindle isn't currently able to be water cooled as the inlet/outlet ports are missing
the stepper motors (or their cables?) seem to be overheating

Specifications

TODO:

maximum cutting area
maximum feedrate
usable spindle RPM range
maximum tool shank diameter
electrical power requirements
overall machine size/weight

Software

The machine is currently set up with LinuxCNC, a powerful (but not always user-friendly) open source alternative to Artsoft Mach3.

TODO: determine steps per inch for Z axis leadscrew

Axis	Microsteps per revolution	Motor Gear Teeth	Driven Gear Teeth	Pinion Teeth	Pinion/Ballscrew Lead	Steps per inch
X	2000	20	60	20	5/32"	1920
Y	2000	20	60	20	5/32"	1920
Z	2000

TODO: create a table documenting the calculated steps per unit (mm or inch), maximum velocities/acceleration, axis bounds (soft limits), homing speed/direction, etc.

Replacement Parts

Controller

Technically the controller is LinuxCNC, but the hardware side of things is a Gecko G540. The G540 typically connects to the parallel port on a PC running LinuxCNC or Mach3 generating step/direction pulse-trains that ultimately drive the stepper motors.

The G540 has on-board stepper motor drives, an analog spindle speed output as well as some relay outputs for forward/reverse, limit switch inputs, and an optional watchdog timer that shuts everything off when communication times out (the controller is configured to generate a square wave on a specific pin to prevent the timeout).

Gecko G540 4-Axis Stepper Motor Drives - CNC Wiki

G540 Multi Axis Digital Stepper Drive | Geckodrive

Stepper Motors

motor sticker

OEMOTOR
57BYGH433-06BS
LOT NO: 201304

57BYGH43306BS specifications

57BYGH43306BS torque curve

Above links taken from: 380 oz-in NEMA 23 Stepper Motor, 1/4" Shaft - CRP100-00-01 | Avid CNC | CNC Router Parts

TODO: determine if all axes use the same type of motor

Spindle

Spindle markings:

HY
GFZ-80-1.5  Ø80x188
220V    1.5Kw   5A
400Hz    24000rpm

Probably uses ER-16 or ER-11 collets (this needs to be verified).

Both of the water inlet/outlet compression fittings have been broken. The spindle has M8-1.25 threads for them. One was replaced with a spare, but another spare needs to be acquired.

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