Joseph Gamble
07-26-2013, 3:26 PM
I am working out the build of a chuck type rotary attachment for my epilog. I have some concerns about others' similar setups that I've seen here on sawmill creek and similar places.
1.) I have seen previous attempts at such a rotary system that seem to have failed
- was their build unreliable?
- did they not have a full understanding of stepper control?
- were the physical constraints in the system un-solvable?
2.) I see that Epilog offers a chuck type rotary system, but it seems it is only for their fancy YAG laser system
The rotary attachment that I plan to build in the next two or three weeks will have the following features:
· 3" 3-Jaw self centering chuck
· chuck will be made of lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum
· chuck jaws will be offered in various standard configurations, but will be made from relatively soft Delrin plastic so you can hold glass and other scratchable / breakable materials
· custom jaws could be built - for laser marking projects that require custom tooling to hold
· Custom motor controller which allows modern motor control techniques (the motor won't overheat like the epilog setup)
· A tailstock on a linear ball bearing slide might come into the project after I get it up and running
A rotary attachment such as this will allow for repeatable clamping of parts that are to be engraved or cut. For example: lens rings, other expensive parts which must be completely repeatably engraved.
I will have a fully functional example within the next two to three weeks. I'll post pictures, videos, and details about the rotary setup asap.
Some background on me: I'm an engineer who owns a CNC machine shop. I have the metal fabrication and engineering capability to produce a useful rotary setup that will be modern and reliable. I use my epilog to mark parts regularly, but the rotary setup is awful; mechanically, and electronically.
Let me know if you have comments, or maybe a list of features that you would expect to see on the chuck type rotary setup.
1.) I have seen previous attempts at such a rotary system that seem to have failed
- was their build unreliable?
- did they not have a full understanding of stepper control?
- were the physical constraints in the system un-solvable?
2.) I see that Epilog offers a chuck type rotary system, but it seems it is only for their fancy YAG laser system
The rotary attachment that I plan to build in the next two or three weeks will have the following features:
· 3" 3-Jaw self centering chuck
· chuck will be made of lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum
· chuck jaws will be offered in various standard configurations, but will be made from relatively soft Delrin plastic so you can hold glass and other scratchable / breakable materials
· custom jaws could be built - for laser marking projects that require custom tooling to hold
· Custom motor controller which allows modern motor control techniques (the motor won't overheat like the epilog setup)
· A tailstock on a linear ball bearing slide might come into the project after I get it up and running
A rotary attachment such as this will allow for repeatable clamping of parts that are to be engraved or cut. For example: lens rings, other expensive parts which must be completely repeatably engraved.
I will have a fully functional example within the next two to three weeks. I'll post pictures, videos, and details about the rotary setup asap.
Some background on me: I'm an engineer who owns a CNC machine shop. I have the metal fabrication and engineering capability to produce a useful rotary setup that will be modern and reliable. I use my epilog to mark parts regularly, but the rotary setup is awful; mechanically, and electronically.
Let me know if you have comments, or maybe a list of features that you would expect to see on the chuck type rotary setup.