CNC Router Shop Made

[jjr2001]

I wanted to make startup a bit faster when setting up my CNC machine so I found this pendant on the bay and oh what a difference a pendant makes.
I upgraded to Linuxcnc v 2.7.0 and after setting up to run my cnc I added the config changes to run the pendant.

Now instead of having to make multiple trips to the control side of my machine I can quickly move all axis to the zero point and then easily home it and touch off the Z-axis. I can now control the speed of traverse, which axis to move, or even move all of them to zero with one click of a button.
The panic button is right on the pendant also. I have not implemented all of the buttons available but I have what I need.

Very nice upgrade. I ordered the HB04 wired unit USB not wireless. I like the direct connect and the cable does not cause me any difficulty.
The rf version for the USB port is available in the WHB04 model.

You will have some digging to do into Liniuxcnc to set it up. It takes a bit of time to get it running.

Here are a few screen shots:

[pfredX1]

MPG pendants are nice. The way I have my machine setup now the keyboard is right there. So jogging with it is not too bad for me. I made a remote box with the power switch in it too. So it is kind of my E stop. It is my on and off button really. I've never had an emergency, yet.

[lowracer]

Here is the link to part 1 Combing HDPE for a Slingshot Frame - Part One - with Randy Knapp

[pfredX1]

Randy is the God of HDPE melting.

[jjr2001]

I still need to try melting some Folgers coffee cans and see if I can make some RED.
Really neat way to recycle.

Cheers, JR

[pfredX1]

I still need to try melting some Folgers coffee cans and see if I can make some RED.
Really neat way to recycle.

Cheers, JR

Colored HDPE is different than uncolored HDPE is. The binder that holds the color to the material is what makes it different. Colored HDPE is a little softer and not quite as slippery. For some reason colored HDPE runs a bit more freely molten too. So it is favored by a lot of melters. I will say this, melting plastic that has stored an aromatic material tends to have a bit of an imparted smell to it (don't melt scented liquid detergent bottles or you will regret it). By itself HDPE is a bit sickly sweet in odor which goes up to acrid if you overheat it. You have to tune the temperature you melt at by doing small test melts. Generally you ramp up the heat until you burn the plastic, then back off a bit from there. Burnt HDPE "tans". Then eventually it looks like burnt sugar when you really cook the life out of it. In an oven convection allows you to run hotter. HDPE never gets really runny. But the hotter you can get it without tanning the surface the more relative flow you can get. Which helps with consolidation. You get less air pockets. Dialing in the process is a balancing act. Melting HDPE is border line mad scientist's stuff, so have fun.

[jjr2001]

Thanks pfred, great info on melting hdpe. I did not know any of that. Now I know what to watch for.

Cheers, JR

[pfredX1]

Thanks pfred, great info on melting hdpe. I did not know any of that. Now I know what to watch for.

Cheers, JR

You'd know soon enough. Well maybe not about convection oven magic. I started out with a plain toaster oven myself. I burnt plenty of plastic buns in that oven too. Melting HDPE is a trial and error process until you get your method figured out. Everyone seems to have their own style. There's a lot in the process that you can vary. Everything from what you melt in, to what you melt. The next time I melt I should take a series of photos and post an article up on Instructables.

Here's a couple pictures I do have

The box that I melt in: http://i.imgur.com/RpqLjJq.jpg

Some blocks I made: http://i.imgur.com/MogRQ2i.jpg

Some uncolored HDPE (translucent milk and water jugs - that's all I melt now) blocks: http://i.imgur.com/boPwUiN.jpg

Same blocks milled square: http://i.imgur.com/K4lNH7B.jpg

The mess that milling them square makes: http://i.imgur.com/Mqsy43E.jpg

Using a piece of HDPE in a project - it is a nice board holder: https://i.imgur.com/BWiLc5Z.jpg

That is in this box now: https://i.imgur.com/Q9GTcWh.jpg

A router clamp made out of HDPE - not 100% done with it yet: https://i.imgur.com/Y6WSMdL.jpg

[Pa1963]

Could you melt it on a metal sheet, copper maybe, drilled full of holes, then let it drop into a bucket of water, to create plastic beads?