Recent Posts

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91
Member Videos / Re: My week this week, my workshop videos!
« Last post by hermetic on April 05, 2025, 11:01:14 AM »
Hi folks,
A very productive week with some Rapidor sawing, welding and fabrication, fencing and workshop gets a complete ground up rejig in order to get the Holbrook lathe into its new position now that it is completed apart from the shakedown trials and any mods I need to finesse(?) its operation! The post knocker I made on Monday revolutionised Tuesdays fencing the field session but it is a bit too long for six foot posts so I will be making a smaller one next monday! it has already been christened "son of cyberman" All good fun and a very productive week!
Phil, Cool again in East Yorks!
92
Electronics & IC Programing / Re: Can I cable a GRBL Arduino to the parallel connector of my CNC controller?
« Last post by vtsteam on April 05, 2025, 10:54:52 AM »
Hi Russell. :beer:

The stepper drivers are Keling k-4030 (no longer made) and as wired in the big controller box, there is no connection to any of them on the ENA+ and ENA- inputs. In other words, no wires to those terminals.

I boght this whole unit new many years ago. This CNC mill/router worked for me in the past, so I figure, the enable signals must not be needed.

Yesterday I got impatient and removed the parallel cable from the arduino, and removed the parallel breakout board from the controller. I soldered pins to all of the disconnected lines and plugged them into the arduino directly. I tried 3 kinds of software GRBL interfaces to try to get the mill going. The only one that worked was Universal Gcode Sender (UGS). Candle and GRB Panel, also tried, did not  . Unfortunately only the X axis was operational.

I did try changing the stepper lines to the controller box and established that the stepper motors for all 3 axes worked properly when connected to the X axis driver.

So troubleshooting is now focused on wiring the two Keling k4030 drivers alternately to the X axis output of the arduino -- if both then work I'll start looking at the arduino itself -- or maybe the power supply for it. I was feeding it 5 volts, but maybe that's not enough to generate a +5V signal on its outputs. Arduinos have a wide operational voltage range, but I think they might drop the signal lower than 5V if powered by 5v. I'll try a 9V power supply.

We'll get to the bottom of this. I bet when I do, it will turn out that the parallel cable would have worked, and it was other problems that prevented it.   :bang:
93
Project Logs / Re: The Return of No. 83, a Hot Air Engine
« Last post by Country Bubba on April 05, 2025, 09:06:42 AM »
Know what you mean about the lpt problem for cnc.  I have two cncs that are run by TurboCnc. I like the program and have even developed some custom features for it.  But unfortunately, I am down to my last two computers that will run dos and have lpt and the compiler (for Pascal) won't run on this win10 piece of crap! 

Some people call it progress, but I call it planned obsolescence and a few other censored words!  :jaw:

 There is a lot to be said when you build something from the ground up and know HOW it works so most of the time you can fix it.

Have a great day

94
The Water Cooler / its time for boot sales
« Last post by krv3000 on April 05, 2025, 08:58:21 AM »
 hi all well spring has sprung and the boot sales have started once more so I went to the local one and got sum stuff got sum silver solder rods for £1 got two packet's of needle files a £1 etch put them with the rest I have  a set of ba box spanners not a full set but they £1 and a full set of britool spanners two battery packs both £1 etch right sum pics
95
The Water Cooler / workshop
« Last post by krv3000 on April 05, 2025, 08:46:14 AM »
hi all sos for the delay bin biz me pc gave up so had to get a new one  :doh: :doh: any way still not got things sorted out  right pics
96
How do I?? / Re: Can you blacken stainless steel?
« Last post by Muzzerboy on April 05, 2025, 08:34:35 AM »
There seem to be many products and videos that offer blackening of stainless steel when I google "stainless steel blackening". Did you try any?
https://www.google.com/search?q=stainless+steel+blackening&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB773GB773&oq=stainless+steel+blackening&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORiABDIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIICAcQABgWGB4yCAgIEAAYFhgeMggICRAAGBYYHtIBCDgwMTZqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
97
Electronics & IC Programing / Re: Can I cable a GRBL Arduino to the parallel connector of my CNC controller?
« Last post by RussellT on April 05, 2025, 07:44:54 AM »
Hi Steve

When you say there is no wired enable line on the controller, what do you mean?  If the stepper drivers have an enable pin as in the diagram you posted does that need to be pulled up?

If I were doing it I think the next step would be to check the outputs to your parallel port are doing what I would expect.

Good luck.

Russell
98
The Water Cooler / Re: A Farming Distraction from the Workshop
« Last post by awemawson on April 05, 2025, 07:09:55 AM »
We don't muck about Joules - have to do a 'proper job' (said in a West Country accent!)
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The Water Cooler / Re: A Farming Distraction from the Workshop
« Last post by Joules on April 05, 2025, 06:02:17 AM »
Jeez, that bleach must be strong to that to your jeans...
100
How do I?? / Re: Can you blacken stainless steel?
« Last post by Joules on April 05, 2025, 05:52:54 AM »
Soot

Heat it with heavy crude oil or really poor quality coal, won't get much blacker.
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