I am adding a new page to the blog called Bill’s Projects. I am a maker and like to make a lot of different stuff and share my experiences with others. I post things to many different forums all around the internet and because of this it might be difficult for folks to find info on some of the projects I have made. Bill’s Projects page will give me a chance to share my projects with you all in one place. Whenever possible I will include a link to the forum where my longer threads can be found.
UPDATING A LASER CUTTER
Written By: Bill Griggs
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Oct•
12•11
I am updating a laser cutter to state of the art. I was given a very old laser cutter from a friend who’s shop was updating to a new machine. The laser cutter is an LMI LaserGraver II which is about 20 years old. The machine still works but like most old machines it is much slower than state of the art machines. Back when they made this machine, most laser cutters functioned like giant dot matrix printer and only printer (cut) one horizontal line at a time. Printing this way (is called Raster printing) was a very slow wasteful method. Many new Laser cutters will Read More Here
My old laser cutter needs a facelift.
Sieg Minimill X2 Belt drive upgrade kit – An easy-to-install alternative to the noisy, fragile gears on the mini mill.
Written By: Bill Griggs
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Oct•
07•11
Sieg Minimill X2 Belt Drive upgrade kit
One of my many hobbies is metal working using a Sieg X2 Minimill. The Minimill is a great little milling machine but it has one major drawback, plastic drive gears that break at the most inopportune moment. When the plastic gears strip the Minimill is only useful for an anchor till it’s fixed. It usually take a week to get a replacement gear because no one carries it stock locally. Well Sterling Steele has come up with an answer, the Belt drive drive conversion kit. I got my kit from The Little machine shop for about $145. You can also get a kit direct from the manufacturer at Sterling Steele.
There are several other advantages to having a belt drive motor for the Minimill instead of a gear set up. One benefit is that the mill runs much quieter with the belt drive. You don’t hear the gears meshing and grinding against each other. Another advantage is that it is easier to replace a broken belt then it is to replace a broken gear. To replace a broken gear you (more…)
ShapeOko being tested with Makerslide – Open source Linear Bearing System
Written By: Bill Griggs
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Oct•
05•11
ShapeOko, a low cost desktop CNC machine is now being tested with Makerslide and open source linear bearing system. The ShapeOko CNC Router is unique because it is made from Laser Cut plywood parts. It was successfully funded in July on Kickstarter.com, a crowd funding website. The project received nearly 8 times more than it’s initial goal for funding. During the course of development the designer, Edward Ford has been flexing his brain muscles and coming up with many variations of the original project. Ford’s goal is to produce an easily replicated system of parts which will allow the builders freedom to customize the project to their liking.
ShapeOko CNC Router Table.
One project that is already well on it”s way to becoming a reality is a Makerslide Version of the Shapeoko CNC Router table. The designer (more…)
