What it is about
What it can do
Progress & updates
What the machines made
Published plans and parts
Assembly instructions and software links
On-line suppliers in Europe we like & use
Repairable machines is a timelab project, located in Ghent, Belgium

 

  

UPDATES

 

SEPTEMBER 10th 2011 - VERSION 1.08:

We are currently publlishing version 1.08 of our machine.
It now features an anti-backlash system on the Y-axis, greatly improving accuracy. Our last machine achieves <0.2mm, take a look here for examples of what we made on it.

 

JUNE 10th 2011 - VERSION 1.03:

The design has been published on thingiverse: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:9182
The published plans have been updated to version 1.03 and now include plan views of the machine.

-the bottom part of the Z-block had been redesigned so the Dremel can be fixed in place with the threads on the Dremel's nose,
instead of being only fixed in place by the clamp.

We've also recently simplified the CAD.PY python script, the last version is dated 2011-05-17, see our downloads page.

 

 

JUNE 9th 2011:

Lieven is presenting the miniCNC at Malaupixel in Paris:
http://rybn.dyndns.org/malaupixel/2011/index.php/fr/rencontres/14-artisans-numeriques together with the cool guys from Maglab & Usinette from Paris

http://www.maglab.fr
http://www.usinette.org

 

 

MAY 28th 2011 - VERSION 1.02:

-added a strap to fix the power supply in place
-extended the belt tensioners in block B to run through both front and back panel of this block, reinforcing the block.
-removed superfluous holes from block A
-tighened the dimensions of the clamp on block Z
-extended the bottom panels of block E up to the front end of the block.

 


APRIL 10th 2011:

On April 15th we will be presenting/demonstrating the miniCNC at timelab. You're welcome from 20h00 - click here for the poster and details.

 

MARCH 14 2011:

We've published our miniCNC Series1.
You can find more information on the miniCNC and all documentation at http://www.repairablemachines.com

 

 

 

       

You can find images of our presentation at Pixelache, Helsinki on Flickr.

    

       
 

JANUARI 27th: Milling a contour into a 4mm sheet of plywood.
We're trying out CAD.PY, in search of a more novice-friendly control software.

CAD.PY allows you to import a black and white bitmap, and mill away everything in black. I like it.
Hard to get it properly set up though, and little reference on it online; A good help is http://www.fablab.nl/articles/2008/09/24/installeren-van-cad-py


 

 

 

 


  

 

MAY 5th 2011: Added documentation on the software we use. See our documentation page

MARCH 31 2011: On April 15th we will be presenting/demonstrating the miniCNC at timelab. You're welcome from 20h00 - click here for the poster and details.


MARCH 14 2011: You can find images of our presentation at Pixelache, Helsinki on Flickr.

JANUARI 27th 2011: We're starting work on the documentation for the miniCNC, with the help of intern Merel.


OCTOBER 10th 2010: The latest prototype can be seen in the exhibition in Kortrijk "Yes, we're Open" from  the 8th to 25th of October.

     

 

       
 

JANUARI 2011:

We got most of the kinks out of the machine and proceeded to our first real milling test. Quite happy with it, though we needed some superglue to fix the Y-motor to its gear. We need a redesign of that gear wheel and some better mechanical connection. Otherwise it's coming together quite well.

This one is still powered with an old PC power supply, I went shopping for a smaller form-factor 3A power supply which will fit inside the back X-box.

 

TO DO LIST:
-make the design a bit larger, so we can achieve the originally intended milling surface
-redesign the Y-motor gear attachment
-integrate a small form-factor power supply
-try alternate stepper drivers instead of the Makerbot industries package

MODIFICATIONS SINCE LAST UPDATE:

-the double x-axis rods are now connected via a belt and are driven by a single, more powerful motor.
-the Y-motor is now linked up via gear wheels (see below)
-the steel U-frames have been abandoned for now in favor of an open ground plate. This has the advantage that both X- and Y-motors and linkage are accessible without disassembling the machine. Though I really liked the look of the heavy steel frame, this accessibility makes a huge difference in ease-of-maintenance and upgradeability.
-Z-block and Y-block have been modified so they can be removed from the machine without disassembling the entire machine.
-replaced the large, sturdy bearings on the Z-block with the same smaller, more tight-fitting ones we used on the Y-blocks.

     

 

DECEMBER 2010:

Redesigned the Y-block. Because we wanted to keep the height of the machine minimal, the Y-motor had very little space to connect to the M8-rod. (image on the left) The motor is now moved to the side and connected via lasercut gearwheels. This has the added advantage that a gear reduction can be put in later. Really like this solution.

We tried printing the gear. It would be less brittle than the acrylic lasercut one, and easier to attach to the motor, but it tends to bend by heat deformation. Waiting fo our heated build platform on the Makerbot before we try that again

 

    

 

 

 

     

 

OCTOBER 10th 2010:

The latest prototype can be seen in the exhibition in Kortrijk "Yes, we're Open" from  the 8th to 25th of October.
www.innovationfestival-kortrijk.be

We replaced the small Dremel-extension thingy with a full-sized Dremel, as the little thing had too much backlash.
We also ordered a small 12V rotary tool from Proxxon. This could then potentially run on the same power supply as the electronics, eliminating the need for a second power cord for the Dremel.

   

 

 

 

 

     

 

SEPTEMBER 2010:

Designed & printed the motor couplings & axis endstops on our Makerbots.

 

    

 

     

 

SEPTEMBER 2010:

We've assembled an alpha-version of the miniCNC. We now also have spare parts, so we can stop cannibalising previous prototypes when working on a new one. We also added a 'base station' for easy mounting of smaller objects for milling.

 

    

ISSUES & PROBLEMS:

-we can't replace the z-axis or the z-motor without disassembling the entire machine. The next version should have a z-assembly that can be disassembled:opened up.

-the double X-screws are giving us headaches. When one motor loses steps, the Y-bridge gets skewed. We're currently running the 2 motors on 1 stepper driver. Everybody agrees this is a bad idea. We want to keep the 2 motors, but add a belt between the 2 screws.

-the electronics are Makerbot stepper drivers & motherboard. They're now simple placed on the side, but we intend to integrate them in the space between the 2 X-motors. They do take up much space though; the Pololu stepper drivers are much smaller.

 

 

 

 

     

AUGUST 2010: Some picture of the lasercut Z-block