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Question #: 584

Question: I'M CURIOUS IF THESE SYSTEMS WILL ENGRAVE LETTERING ACCURATELY WITHOUT BACKLASH?

Current Solution

The machines have minimal to no backlash depending on how you apply the machine. Since the cnc machines use roller chain on the x and y axes, and the roller chain is tensioned, the backlash is nearly eliminated. I say nearly because the if you control the machine in a way that there will be excessive load on the end mill, then the machine could have a tendency to spring to one side or the other because of the length of tensioned roller chain. The movement is minor and can be eliminated with the proper control of the machine.

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Other Possible Solutions to this Question

  • I HAVE NEMA 34 MOTORS BUT NEED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO YOU A KIT WITHOUT INCLUDED?

    If you are looking for the drivers to pair with NEMA 34 stepper motors, you can find the 6.0 amp drivers here:
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-stepper-driver-6!0a

    The other electronics to send the signals to the 6.0 amp drivers (the control board that operates with the control software) is subject to personal preference, but here they are listed:

    Our breakout board (works with Mach3 and LinuxCNC and requires a parallel port on your computer):
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay

    The PoKeys57CNC (works with Mach3 and Mach4):
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

    Generic USB breakout board (works with Mach3):
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board

    Additional Information:
    Do I need a driver for every motor or can I use one driver for all four motors

    Additional Information:
    Each motor needs its own driver.

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    I HAVE NEMA 34 MOTORS BUT NEED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO YOU A KIT WITHOUT INCLUDED?

  • WILL IT BE HARMFUL TO USE MY MOBILE PHONE DURING PREGNANCY? IF HARMFUL, SHOULD I DISCONTINUE USING OR MODERATELY?

    Thank you for your inquiry about the risk to your embryo by using a cellular phone during pregnancy. Sometimes it is not made clear to the public that there are different kinds of radiation. The electrical fields from a cellular phone are nothing like x ray. The energy is so low in the electrical waves of cellular phones that it does not represent a risk to the developing embryo. If you use the cellular phone conventionally by placing it to your ear, you further reduce the exposure to the embryo, which is already extremely low because of the distance of the phone from your ear to your uterus. There are no studies dealing with the risks of cellular phones on the outcome of pregnancy in humans, but numerous animal studies indicate that the exposures from the phones do not represent a risk for birth defects or miscarriage. Of course you must realize that every healthy pregnant woman begins her pregnancy with a 3% risk for birth defects and a 15% risk for miscarriage. Good luck with your pregnancy.

    Robert Brent MD, PhD, DSc(Hon)

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    WILL IT BE HARMFUL TO USE MY MOBILE PHONE DURING PREGNANCY? IF HARMFUL, SHOULD I DISCONTINUE USING OR MODERATELY?

  • HAVE PORTER CABLE 7518 ROUTER ON MY CNC AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR ER20 COLLET NUT, FOR THE CABLE, WILL FIT ROUTER.

    Yes, our porter cable collets and nuts will fit the porter cable 7518.

    Additional Information:

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    HAVE PORTER CABLE 7518 ROUTER ON MY CNC AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR ER20 COLLET NUT, FOR THE CABLE, WILL FIT ROUTER.

  • THE LEAD SCREW IS VERY HARD TO TURN. BACKLASH BUSHING SEEMS BE TOO TIGHT AND BINDING ON SCREW. DO IT NEED LUBRICATION OR DID DAMAGE NUT WHEN INSERTING SCREW?

    Yes, you can use lubrication, like 3-in-1 oil to make it a bit easier. You will need to run it up and down to break it in.

    Additional Information:

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    THE LEAD SCREW IS VERY HARD TO TURN. BACKLASH BUSHING SEEMS BE TOO TIGHT AND BINDING ON SCREW. DO IT NEED LUBRICATION OR DID DAMAGE NUT WHEN INSERTING SCREW?

  • COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN, IF IT'S TRUE, THAT HANDS-FREE CELL PHONE CAR MICROPHONES RADIATE MORE THAN ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT USED WITH THESE PHONES?

    Hands-free cell phone car microphones have been tested by the manufacturers and meet the current ANSI/IEEE (American National Standards Institute/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) standards for radiofrequency (RF) safety. These are the same standards that the Federal Communications Commission enforces under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and they place limits on the specific absorption rate (SAR) of RF energy in the body. Recent inflammatory articles in the British press were not substantiated by testing at ISO-accredited testing facilities at Motorola. Manufacturers of cell phones are required under FCC regulations to assure that their products meet the SAR limits on both hand-held and hands-free units. Further information can be obtained on the Internet at The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (FDA information) or Office of Engineering and Technology (FCC information).

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    COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN, IF IT'S TRUE, THAT HANDS-FREE CELL PHONE CAR MICROPHONES RADIATE MORE THAN ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT USED WITH THESE PHONES?

  • HOW DO ADDRESS THE DANGER OF THESE CNC MACHINES

    These machines are inherently dangerous. Before the machine moves, the machine should be clear of any person by a dimension of at the distance of a persons reach plus a few more feet. This is the policies we institute in our shop and what is recommend to all of our customers. Treat these machines as you would treat any major power tool in the shop.

    With that said, you can certainly add some protective parts, but still keep folks away even with those installed. I would use the gantry side to do all of the mounting of the protective parts. Consider using sheet metal that you can bend and make a simple installation right on the gantry side.

    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:

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    HOW DO ADDRESS THE DANGER OF THESE CNC MACHINES

  • I JUST BOUGHT THE 3 AXIS W/HEAVY GANTRY, WILL MACH 4 RUN WELL WITH THIS, AND HOW LARGE CAN GO CUT AREA

    Yes Mach3 is a great program. Our 3 axis is 6'X12'X3'using all BYCNC components (incl. redsprout)

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    I JUST BOUGHT THE 3 AXIS W/HEAVY GANTRY, WILL MACH 4 RUN WELL WITH THIS, AND HOW LARGE CAN GO CUT AREA

  • THESE MACHINES ARE DANGEROUS, WHAT DO DO?

    These machines are inherently dangerous. Before the machine moves, the machine should be clear of any person by a dimension of at the distance of a persons reach plus a few more feet. This is the policies we institute in our shop and what is recommend to all of our customers. Treat these machines as you would treat any major power tool in the shop.

    With that said, you can certainly add some protective parts, but still keep folks away even with those installed. I would use the gantry side to do all of the mounting of the protective parts. Consider using sheet metal that you can bend and make a simple installation right on the gantry side.

    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:

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    THESE MACHINES ARE DANGEROUS, WHAT DO DO?

  • WHICH OF OUR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WILL NEED 2 DOSES INFLUENZA VACCINE FOR THE 2011–12 VACCINATION SEASON?

    ACIP's influenza recommendations for children age 6 months through 8 years have changed for the 2011–12 season. According to the new algorithm, certain children need 2 doses of influenza vaccine this influenza season, separated by at least 4 weeks. Here is a summary:

    • Children age 6 months through 8 years who did not receive AT LEAST 1 dose of the 2010–11 vaccine should receive 2 doses, separated by at least 4 weeks, REGARDLESS of their previous influenza vaccination history.
    • Children age 6 months through 8 years whose influenza vaccination status from the previous season is not known should also receive 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart.
    • Children age 6 months through 8 years who received 1 dose of seasonal influenza vaccine during the 2010–11 season need ONLY 1 dose this season. This is because the vaccine strains are the same this season as last season.

    You may find this Immunization Action Coalition handout helpful: www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3093.pdf.

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    WHICH OF OUR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WILL NEED 2 DOSES INFLUENZA VACCINE FOR THE 2011–12 VACCINATION SEASON?

  • MOTOR GOING TWO DIRECTION WHEN JUST PUSH UP. IT WILL GO DOWN AND THEN GOES AGAIN UP WITH THE SAME BUTTON.

    Try slowing your feedrate down and increasing spindle RPMs. End-mills will leave a poor finish if you go too fast. Make sure your cutting depth isn't too much. Maybe the endmill or cutter is blunt? Could it be the feed direction of the cutter? Some materials need to be fed in a certain direction.

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    MOTOR GOING TWO DIRECTION WHEN JUST PUSH UP. IT WILL GO DOWN AND THEN GOES AGAIN UP WITH THE SAME BUTTON.

  • WHAT ARE THE BEST FOODS THAT WILL HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT?

    Lettuce, or any vegetable. Also drink a cup of water before meals, it'll make you feel fuller.

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    WHAT ARE THE BEST FOODS THAT WILL HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT?

  • DOES THE RADIATION ONLY EXIST WHEN I'M ACTUALLY MAKING A CALL, OR JUST ANY TIME PHONE ON?

    Whenever they are turned on, cell phones communicate at infrequent intervals with a nearby base station even when they are not being used for a call. This is necessary to tell the system where the user is in case a call should come in. Thus, even while they are inactive, the phones are a source of (very low) radiofrequency energy exposure to the user. Hands-free kits reduce exposure to a user by removing the phone from the vicinity of the head. There is no identifiable health benefit in using the kits, but there is no detriment either, and using them may increase a user's peace of mind. Contrary to a widely publicized report by a British magazine last year, the kits are effective in reducing exposure. (This is not necessarily true of other devices that can be bought to be used with phones.) In your case, the cell phone and hands-free kit are clearly an important link to the outside world and I would not hesitate in using them. There may be comfort issues with having the earpiece in place for a long time, but radiofrequency radiation exposure should not be a concern at all. The hands-free kits will reduce exposure below that which you would receive if the phone were kept close to your head. Kenneth R. Foster Professor, Department of Bioengineering

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    DOES THE RADIATION ONLY EXIST WHEN I'M ACTUALLY MAKING A CALL, OR JUST ANY TIME PHONE ON?

  • I AM USING A XYLOTEX 3 AXIS BOARD AND WANT TO ADD ANOTHER MOTOR SLAVED THE X-AXIS. WILL DRIVE CW230 WORK?

    If the pins from the terminal block on the side of the board are outputs, or at least 2 of them are outputs, then you can connect our modular driver to the board (example: cw230). If they are all inputs, then you would not be able to connect an external driver.

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    I AM USING A XYLOTEX 3 AXIS BOARD AND WANT TO ADD ANOTHER MOTOR SLAVED THE X-AXIS. WILL DRIVE CW230 WORK?

  • WILL THE LASER ENGRAVER WORK ON NON-ANODIZED ALUMINUM

    no, it will only work on anodized aluminum

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    WILL THE LASER ENGRAVER WORK ON NON-ANODIZED ALUMINUM

  • ARE THERE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT CAN BE PURCHASED PROTECT CELLULAR OR PORTABLE TELEPHONE USERS FROM RADIATION? IF SO, WHERE THESE FOUND?

    There are a number of opportunistic gadgets on the market to allegedly protect the user from hazards of cellular phones. You can search the Internet to find the latest, ranging from antenna shields to whole-body shielding materials. Most experts believe that these devices take advantage of customers' misunderstanding and unfounded fears to sell products with no real value. First of all, cell phones that operate within the guidelines established by national and international safety panels have never been shown to pose a health risk to the user (see answers to other questions on cell phone safety on this website). Secondly, placing any kind of shield over the antenna of a cell phone will in most cases cause it to increase its RF output as it attempts to compensate for signal loss in the shield and maintain a quality phone call. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published an advisory on cell phones several years ago that said if you are concerned about risks of using a cell phone, then simply use it less. That is still good advice today. Gary Zeman, ScD, CHP Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:

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    ARE THERE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT CAN BE PURCHASED PROTECT CELLULAR OR PORTABLE TELEPHONE USERS FROM RADIATION? IF SO, WHERE THESE FOUND?

  • WILL CELL PHONES SPARK A FIRE AT THE GAS STATION?

    I can't think of any reason that it would be dangerous. However, I checked with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. The Chairman of the Association sent the following memo on 18 June 1999, to the Associations' Board of Directors and others:
    "You may have received inquiries about wireless phones causing fires or explosions at gas stations. In particular, you may have been asked about an alleged explosion at a gas station in Indonesia. We have been unable to verify any such occurrence in Indonesia or anywhere else. Moreover, in our discussions with Shell Oil they have stated they have attempted to verify these reports and also have not been able to document any such occurrence."
    Nonetheless, in an abundance of caution, some manufacturers have included language in the owner's manuals for their products that recommends wireless phone users turn off their phones while at refueling points (gas stations). In addition, we have received information that Exxon will begin issuing warning signs at all domestic gas stations advising drivers to turn off all wireless communications devices when entering Exxon gas stations.

    While wireless phone owners should always consult their owner's manual for information on the use of the phone, we are not aware of any incident that would justify these concerns."

    Gen Roessler, Editor
    HPS website

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    WILL CELL PHONES SPARK A FIRE AT THE GAS STATION?

  • WE HAVE PORTER CABLE 892, WILL YOUR COLLETS FIT?
  • LIMIT SWITCHES FOR AXIS. THE PRINT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WIRE LIMITS EITHER N.O. OR N.C. SO IF THIS IS CORRECT I WOULD NEED TO TELL BOARD IN SOFTWARE HOW LOOK AT THESE LIMITS, I'M GOING GET AN INPUT LOOSE DEPEND ON IT.

    BYCNC Response:
    This is correct. You will need to use a method appropriate for the software you are using. Also remember that NC switches are typically wired in series, while NO switches are normally wired in parallel.

    User Response:
    I am using the cnc planet software for your USB board. Are the limit configurations in this software?

    BYCNC Response:
    Yes, Planet CNC software is compatible with the use of limit switches. Configuration information will depend on your specific application. You can view Planet CNC's information here: http://www.planet-cnc.com/files/CNCUSBController.pdf

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    LIMIT SWITCHES FOR AXIS. THE PRINT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WIRE LIMITS EITHER N.O. OR N.C. SO IF THIS IS CORRECT I WOULD NEED TO TELL BOARD IN SOFTWARE HOW LOOK AT THESE LIMITS, I'M GOING GET AN INPUT LOOSE DEPEND ON IT.

  • WILL THE USB BREAKOUT BOARD WORK WITH MACH3?

    Sure, the USB interface has a place for 4 axes of limit switches.

    Each axis can have two limit switches: one for the ++ (positive) end and one for the -- (negative) end. The positive end would be the limit switch at the end of the machine that, say the machine has a 4'x8' area, reaches a bit after the 8 foot mark. The negative end would be the limit switch behind the 0 foot location behind the origin. If the origin is in the middle, the negative would be at a little more than the -4 foot end and the positive would be at a bit more than the +4 foot end. Note that you can have more than one switch on each pin where the NC is connected in serial fashion and the NO is connected in parallel fashion (this can be seen on the diagram in the multiple limits switch section). The software configurations for the limits switches are under File -> Settings -> Limit.

    A typical limit switch has three connections on it. These connections consist of COM (common), NC (normally closed) and NO (normally open). The COM would generally go to GND and the NC or the NO would go to the pin. If the NC is used, then the the switch is constantly connected until the switch is pushed (engaged) then the connection from the pin to gnd is broken (open). Use the settings in software to set whether in NC or NO configuration.

    Let me know if this information was helpful (or not) by adding information to this question. Thanks.

    User response:
    Thank you very much for this helpful information. I'm still a little fuzzy on how the 6 limit switches physically connect to each other and to the USB breakout board. You've stated one switch (home) goes to positive and another switch (limit) goes to negative. Are all the GND prongs from all 6 switches connected to each other and going to GND on the breakout board, or no? And the NC prongs, how exactly are they connected to each other? And to the board? There has to be a diagram somewhere shows this visually, no? I don't know how to wire the switches in series or in parallel. I have already physically installed all the switches on the machine and ran the wires to where the board is. Now I just need to know where to plug these wires into the board. Also, taking into consideration that I'm using the Planet CNC software, the only settings I have pertaining to limit switches is "Enable/Disable" for each axis, and the actual limit for each axis. Nothing about NC or NO. Is that only in Mach3?
    Thank you.

    buildyourcnc response:
    On the USB interface, the COM on the switch connects to GND and the NC or NO connects to the input pin (i.e. x++, y--, etc.)

    Limit switch configuration is rather difficult to understand, especially with series and parallel. You can think of series as a single wire going from GND to the axis letter input terminal (i.e. X++ or X--). If the wire is broken, then the circuit is open (or the switch is engaged in a normally closed scenario). Normally closed is like an actual wire, and when engaged, the switch "opens" (breaks the wire). This is why we recommend in some systems that you can put many switches in series on a single pin. When one of the switches is engaged (breaking the connection) then the entire circuit of switches is broken and the machine stops.

    In a parallel scenario, the state of the circuit is always broken until the one of the switches is engaged and the circuit is then closed or connected. The topology looks like a ladder. All the switches connect to both sides of the ladder and the switches are like the runs of the ladder (the horizontal bars that the feet are placed while climbing). Imagine all of the switches broken in this scenario (normally open). It would be like the ladder could be split in two, but if one of the ladder runs (switches) is closed by engaging it, then that run would connect both sides of the ladder and the two sides of the ladder would have a connection.

    There is a diagram on the USB page of the various limit switch configurations. If you need more information (visual and/or otherwise), please let us know and we will immediately add that information to benefit everyone.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    WILL THE USB BREAKOUT BOARD WORK WITH MACH3?

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