Sponsored By
Efika 5200B Project
Low Cost Industrial Automation Control Systemsin category Hardware
proposed by John_Galt on 8th February 2006 (accepted on 11th February 2006)
Project Summary
These systems would include such features as:- Multi-axis, microstepping CNC machine control.
- Network accessibility to let users upload cnc programs.
- Persistant storage of unlimited* numbers of cnc programs for making different items. (*until you run out of disk space)
- Simple touch screen menu system to select from a menu of stored cnc programs.
- On-screen 3D display of the part being made.
- Automatic logging of cnc programs run, as well as all maintenance related information, to help you keep the machine in tip-top shape.
These systems would not be limited to controling cnc machining tools though. They would also be especially useful for reliable and accurate high-speed placement of even the most miniscule smt components, as well as drilling and routing pcb\'s.
Furthermore they would share a common intercommunication protocol, to allow multiple systems to be networked together to form a smart asembly line.
These systems would provide a low cost high quality solution that scales smoothly and economically from the lone inventor who makes his own prototypes to protect his inventions, all the way to a full scale production line once he\'s ready to go to market.
Project Blog Entries
Today, I started assembling all of the reference materials I've gathered so far. I also want to come up with a rough list of all the hardware and software components that I'll need to design and build. And finally, make a to do list.
Tommorrow, I'll review all the reference materials, the component list, and the to do list to make sure I haven't overlooked anything.