Cantareus » Technology http://cantareus.com Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:29:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Z-Axis for CNC Machine http://cantareus.com/2010/02/z-axis-for-cnc-machine/ http://cantareus.com/2010/02/z-axis-for-cnc-machine/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:40:36 +0000 Cantareus http://cantareus.com/?p=144 I’m in the process of making a CNC machine out of aluminium. The finished machine should be able to work with a 400×400x60mm volume, I’m making it small because aluminium is very flexible and I not sure if I’ll be making anything much bigger than that. I’ve almost finished the z-axis mechanism. It uses a DC motor and will have an optical encoder mounted to the thread. The optical encoders I’ll be using are from printers and generate  about 7200 counts per revolution which should give it more accuracy than stepper motors would.

Here’s a video of what I’ve got so far:

The movable part slides up and down a pair of stainless steel rods. There’s a bit of slack, but that might go away when I tighten everything up properly.

The X and Y axes will use skate bearings on aluminium angle.

]]> http://cantareus.com/2010/02/z-axis-for-cnc-machine/feed/ 1 Te Apiti Windfarm http://cantareus.com/2008/09/te-apiti-windfarm/ http://cantareus.com/2008/09/te-apiti-windfarm/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 05:32:57 +0000 Cantareus http://cantareus.wordpress.com/?p=12 Today I cycled out past Ashhurst to see some wind turbines up close. I tell you I’m very glad to be back. I haven’t cycled that far since I’ve been in Palmy. It’s over 40km return. I still feel stuffed!

The farm consists of 55 1.65MW turbines. They don’t make a lot of noise and the noise they do make is quite pleasant. I suppose they might make a lot more noise in high winds. I liked standing underneath them watching the blades spin past. I did take a small video but the sound didn’t come out properly because of the wind.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/3LpHNGsjWFQ]

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