In-Depth CNC Conversion Electronics Overview

I converted my milling machine over to CNC back in late 2009.  For most of the time since then, I’ve avoided the project of properly finishing up…

CNC Electronics Enclosure Work Commences…

Santa’s workshop was busy today.  I finally got some motivation and time to continue work that I started a year ago, but really, has been a nagging…

10lbs of Junk in a 5lb Box?

I’ve been slowly working to model the components that go into the CNC milling machine electronics package, and fitting them into an off-the-shelf rack mount enclosure.  I…

Epic Hardware Hacking Weekend

It turned out to be quite an epic weekend of building boards and getting things up and running.  It’s good to be back in the groove with…

Machine Breakout

I populated the machine breakout PCB this morning.  This board will actually be installed inside of the CNC milling machine, and the various homing and index sensors…

Population: Tire

I got my final batch of boards from Laen in the mail today.  I had three designs in this batch, so I was pretty anxiously awaiting delivery….

Final PCB for the CNC Done (for now…)

Finished my fourth board in as many weeks, finishing off the bare minimum of boards I need to get the CNC mill back up and running. This…

CNC Breakout Board Done

My latest board is designed, laid out, and hopefully safely in the hands of Laen over at Dorkbot PDX. This is the main “breakout” board for the…

Another PCB Sent to Fab

I’ve completed the design and layout for another PC board, all part of the CNC milling machine electronics cleanup project.  This one is a nicer version of…

Shaking off the Rust

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve done a PC board layout.  Like, probably on the order of ten years.  I think I may have done…

USB Pendant Hacking

I’ve been knee-deep in USB and LCD hacking, playing around some concepts for a control pendant for my CNC mill.  It was a good excuse to exercise…

Groove Ho(l)mes

After more work than I anticipated making the Y homing sensor mounting block and making a bracket and sensor setup for the Z axis, tearing down half…

Three Cheers for Flat-Rate Postage Boxes

My linear power supply arrived today, and it’s big and heavy as I expected.  After poring over data sheets and doing more research and fretting and calculating,…

Stepper Motors

The stepper motors have arrived! I went with the same brand that ProMiCA used in their kit, but the higher torque version. Still need to order my…