Super great video Mike!! You really streamlined the controller bits, that will make that part of my build super easy!! Thanks so much for all the hard work you have put into the new board! Also, super big thanks for sending my beautiful new Arc Generator! I was a little worried after investing that much money that it would get to me in good shape but you did such a great packing job it is absolutely perfect! I am super impressed with the quality of parts and superb design! 👍👍👍
Congratulations to a working system! You spent a lot of effort. Nothing against all your work, I could see how and why you came to this solution, but there are some decisions taken on the way which could perhaps been taken different, leading to an easier and less expensive design. But of course it‘s easy to say that afterwards and without testing the other possibilities. The wire drive system is perhaps the most challenging part of a wire EDM. My thoughts were: - use a magnetic powder clutch for the wire tension and save one servo - use a normal DC motor with speed control for pulling the wire and save the second servo (as the wire feed rate is not that critical) - use a dancing roller mechanism to smoothen out the tension fluctuations and save the tension sensors and the closed loop circuit I know that many older wire EDM wire drives work fine with these three components only, this is why I know it is at least a proven design. But of course I don‘t know if this would also work in your setup. These are my thoughts, but again, I anyhow like what you did. I hope you can accept it as a positive critical feedback.
Are ClearPath motors still necessary? Wouldn't low-cost motors be fine now with closed-loop control? In part 11 you looked into using closed-loop tension control with a strain gauge and *inexpensive* motors. In part 12 you decided to use ClearPath motors to control tension and keep the project moving. The ClearPath motors didn't do a good job of tension control by themselves, so we're back with closed-loop control. Are you planning on releasing a board with tension monitoring to control inexpensive motors?
This solution was designed for clearpath, but will work with cheap chinese clearpath clones too. The only thing you need is servos that can be speed controlled and take in PWM as a setpoint. Many have that. The cheap motors I used a couple of videos ago, were not capable of the performance needed. They would have overheated over time and were not fast enough at high torques.
Great to hear! I'm glad you ended up using the closed-loop control in the end. I'm always impressed by the amount of progress made with each new video!
I for one am also using the ClearPath solution for all motors. Having the motors on many of my machines and think they are absolutely at the top of their class!! Having talked and worked with design engineers at Teknic on many projects I think the ClearPath will work better than anything else available for the noisy environment of EDM. The MAGIC is in the design!
Nice work. It would be nice if you could release the PC software as source on Github. This is to ensure custom user experience for special purpose machines can be built.
Found my way to these videos from Werner’s build. Working my way through the initial build series plus the redesigned mk2 and enjoying the design evolution process, your attention to detail is top drawer :) I may have missed it but is the wire break alarm now read from the strain gauge? If so is there a separate wire threading setting? I’ve already started work on some initial drawings for my own build based on the BX17 and C-arc controller and will be a future customer for sure.
Hi John, thanks for your interest! I'm working on a new video which will cover all the features of the new C-arc controller in great detail. One of those features is wire break detection with the load cell indeed. No more separate switch required like my MK1 had. Im also really busy with the final work to release the C-arc controller to the BaxEDM webshop. Writing manuals and such. Should be done within a few weeks from now.
Super great video Mike!! You really streamlined the controller bits, that will make that part of my build super easy!! Thanks so much for all the hard work you have put into the new board! Also, super big thanks for sending my beautiful new Arc Generator! I was a little worried after investing that much money that it would get to me in good shape but you did such a great packing job it is absolutely perfect! I am super impressed with the quality of parts and superb design! 👍👍👍
Congratulations to a working system! You spent a lot of effort. Nothing against all your work, I could see how and why you came to this solution, but there are some decisions taken on the way which could perhaps been taken different, leading to an easier and less expensive design. But of course it‘s easy to say that afterwards and without testing the other possibilities.
The wire drive system is perhaps the most challenging part of a wire EDM.
My thoughts were:
- use a magnetic powder clutch for the wire tension and save one servo
- use a normal DC motor with speed control for pulling the wire and save the second servo (as the wire feed rate is not that critical)
- use a dancing roller mechanism to smoothen out the tension fluctuations and save the tension sensors and the closed loop circuit
I know that many older wire EDM wire drives work fine with these three components only, this is why I know it is at least a proven design.
But of course I don‘t know if this would also work in your setup.
These are my thoughts, but again, I anyhow like what you did.
I hope you can accept it as a positive critical feedback.
Amazing design. I have enjoyed following the series.
that is really nice Mike you get things done fast . you are becoming an inspiration to me. Thanks for all the hard work. ron
I liked it a lot, with several purchase options and with the option of economical servo motors can be used, very good work!, congratulations! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Very nice! This is excellent design work. You should be proud of this accomplishment.
Brilliant!
Thanks for sharing.
Lovely design.
Nice work Mike, here on RUclips we are happy with a man like you!. TOP
WELL DONE, LOOKS NICE.
Hhhhhamazing work. 🏆💪🧮⚙️
Beauty!
Are ClearPath motors still necessary? Wouldn't low-cost motors be fine now with closed-loop control?
In part 11 you looked into using closed-loop tension control with a strain gauge and *inexpensive* motors. In part 12 you decided to use ClearPath motors to control tension and keep the project moving. The ClearPath motors didn't do a good job of tension control by themselves, so we're back with closed-loop control. Are you planning on releasing a board with tension monitoring to control inexpensive motors?
This solution was designed for clearpath, but will work with cheap chinese clearpath clones too. The only thing you need is servos that can be speed controlled and take in PWM as a setpoint. Many have that. The cheap motors I used a couple of videos ago, were not capable of the performance needed. They would have overheated over time and were not fast enough at high torques.
Great to hear! I'm glad you ended up using the closed-loop control in the end. I'm always impressed by the amount of progress made with each new video!
I for one am also using the ClearPath solution for all motors. Having the motors on many of my machines and think they are absolutely at the top of their class!! Having talked and worked with design engineers at Teknic on many projects I think the ClearPath will work better than anything else available for the noisy environment of EDM. The MAGIC is in the design!
Job well done!
Dude this looks amazing.
HARİKA
Thanks again!
Nice work. It would be nice if you could release the PC software as source on Github. This is to ensure custom user experience for special purpose machines can be built.
There's something a bit ToT about the hands on the weld table....
Great to see another update 👍
Good one! Yeah, I was totally LOL when I saw his first use of the hands. Love This Old Tony!!
Found my way to these videos from Werner’s build.
Working my way through the initial build series plus the redesigned mk2 and enjoying the design evolution process, your attention to detail is top drawer :)
I may have missed it but is the wire break alarm now read from the strain gauge? If so is there a separate wire threading setting?
I’ve already started work on some initial drawings for my own build based on the BX17 and C-arc controller and will be a future customer for sure.
Hi John, thanks for your interest! I'm working on a new video which will cover all the features of the new C-arc controller in great detail. One of those features is wire break detection with the load cell indeed. No more separate switch required like my MK1 had. Im also really busy with the final work to release the C-arc controller to the BaxEDM webshop. Writing manuals and such. Should be done within a few weeks from now.
Share schematic c-arc controller? Thank you very much.
Hi, do you make machines for sell? Contact me if you are interested on that.
Like your content but watching your hands is a joke.