Hemp's Tools

This message was edited 10 times. Last update was at 13/07/2014 23:58:42

CNC'd RF45 Milling Machine

RongFu RF45 Square Column Mill Drill, Modified with Microkinetics's CNC conversion kit.

Machine Type: Mill drill combination
Table Length (Inch): 32-1/4
Table Width (Inch): 9-1/2
Longitudinal Travel (Inch): 21-5/8
Cross Travel (Inch): 7-1/2
Horsepower: 1-1/2
Voltage: 220/110 Pre-wired 220V
Phase: 1
Manual Z Travel: 5
CNC Z Travel: 3 1/2

Flood Coolant: 50 gallon fish tank with one baffle, one main pump and one timer'd internal circulation pump.

Enclosure: 4' x 6' x 8', constructed out of 4 x 6 (columns) and 2 x 12 (beams), and acrylic (door).

The enclosure not only allows flood coolant, it also for safety. One time, I did not bolt down the 4lbs solid aluminum stock tight enough and it flew right at my face at high speed and got blocked by the acrylic door. If it weren't because of the door, I would have been hurt real badly. If you are going to go CNC, I highly recommend that you build an enclosure!!!

This is a 2.5D milling machine. The MicroKinetics controller is USB-based. It contains a DSP processor on the controller board, and requires the MicroKinetics MasterMill software to drive it. To generate the required GCode from MasterCam, I had to write a custom Post for it, because Mastermill is not fully RS274 compliant.

Capable of milling all kind of metal, including stainless steel.

A lot more tools to come!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 23/07/2014 20:03:22

Mini Lathe

Little Machine Shop Mini Lathe

Threads without a thread chaser. Too bad, have to change the gears for different thread size.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 23/07/2014 20:01:43

TIG Welder

Miller Dynasty 280DX with water cooler

Great TIG welder! Welds aluminum up to 3/8" thick.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 23/07/2014 19:59:54

Plasma Cutter

HyperTherm Plasma Cutter

Cuts 1/2 inch of any metal! Need to CNC it.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 23/07/2014 19:59:09

Laser Cutter/Engraver

FullSpectrum 40W CO2 Laser Cutter (4th gen.)

The PTFE ring cutter!

I use it quite a lot for cutting templates and engraving panels.

Digital Storage Oscilloscope

Agilent DSO3102A Digital Storage Oscilloscope

Dual channel, 100Mhz bandwidth.

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 08/10/2014 15:38:31

Logic Analyzer

Saleae Logic 16 Logic Analyzer

A newer one is in preorder, the new Logic Pro 16. This one can do analog signals too, like an oscilloscope! Sure, it can't replace an oscilloscope, but for measuring the output of a POT? More than enough!

A good logic analyzer is an invaluable tool in embedded programming! For instance, when I was writing the TM stick code, I had to set up the SSC module to generate precisely the correct number of clock pulses by configuring the on die SSC module. But the document of the MCU is not easy to understand, and is kind of confusing. Hook up the Saleae Logic 16 and observe the result of the changes I made in code. Another example is communicating with sensors via SPI bus, like the MLX90363 Hall Sensor. Hook that analyzer up, and observe live traffic on wire! It even decodes the SPI protocol for me. Hey, I run my Atmel Studio on a Win7 VM under a Mac. I then have the Logic software run on the Mac instead of the Win7 VM. The software even runs on Linux!

Furthermore, 14 years ago when I was working in Texas as a software developer, I tried to get a logic analyzer for my "adventure" into embedded programming for Cougar.... The cheapest logic analyzer I could find cost about $7K, and that was for an 8 channel one! Logic 16 is a 16 channel logic analyzer for $299! To be honest with you, when I saw that logic 8 for $149 a couple of years ago, I was very skeptical. But, it WORKS!!! Sure, it's an entry level logic analyzer, but it works perfectly for joystick embedded MCUs. These things don't run very fast. Particularly, most of the time we are using it to sniff sensors, which are even slower.

Get a new Saleae Logic Pro if you are serious about embedded programming!

[Update]
I gave away my old Logic 16 to a friend and just received my new Saleae Logic Pro 16. The Logic 16 is digital only, no analog, but the Logic Pro 16 is also capable of reading analog signals, which is very handy for doing ADC works to verify that the analog signals are coming in right, see the 2nd attached picture of this post. This does not replace my 100MHz bandwidth dual channel digital storage oscilloscope, but it's much better than putting up a voltmeter or the XMega-based tiny scope. This new Pro 16 captures 125Ms/s. That's 125 million samples per second, i.e. in the 80 ns range! Plenty good for embedded processor work. I mean, even my fastest MCU the SAM4S runs at only 120MHz. Pro 16 is barely enough to capture the native CPU clock of it!

Although the old Logic 16 I gave away is not as capable of this new Pro 16, it is still a tremendous good tool for doing controller works. Actually, I would say it's essential. Without it, you are half blind, particularly when you are doing SPI, I2C, or PWM works on the controllers. With the old Logic 16, it could already capture switch bounces! That's hugely useful!

It's not that I the old one I gave away is useless to me. It was a key tool for Hempstick development. It's just that I get a bigger and better one, so what to do with the older one? Spread the love. Give it to somebody who has a use of it.

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 22/09/2014 12:59:15

SLA 3D Printer

FullSpectrum 3D Pegasus Touch 405nm Laser Photosensitive Stereolithography Printer

Build Area

up to 7”x7”x9” (177x177x228mm)

Processor

Built in 1GHz Linux computer with 512mB memory and 4.3” Touchscreen LCD

Interfaces

Ethernet, USB, WiFi (requires optional USB dongle)
On Board Software

Built in on-board Internet Connected 3D Printer App Store (no computer required)
Desktop Software

Tightly integrated multi-touch capable desktop software with automatic slicing and automatic breakaway support generation with manual editing support for Windows PC (Mac coming soon)
Print Speed

Up to 3000mm/sec (>10x faster than most FDM, up to 6x faster than other SLA)
Focused Laser Spot Size

~80 microns
XY Positioning Resolution

16bit precision, ~3 micron
Z Motor Resolution

~5 micron (typical layer thickness 25-100 micron)

Although it's possible to print at 0.025mm layers. It's generally not needed. Printing a knob at 0.1mm layer resolution already produced very good details and resolution good enough as the plug for molding process after a bit of fine sanding and it took about 45 minutes. Not only it's not necessary to print at finer resolution, it's extremely time consuming printing at 0.025mm resolution. Look at knob1 on Hempstick site's 3D model pages to see what the quality is when printed at 0.1mm.

You... you have all this?

We need to talk!

komemiute wrote: You... you have all this?

We need to talk!

All these and more...

Wow, just wow...

I'll be writing you. A lot.

We think a like, all nice tools. How is the SLA printer what do you see it used for in building sims as the liquid is so expensive?
I've been trying to find a way to build a F15 sim without it taking ten years and major WamPum. My latest idea is to take the Taz5 printer with a print area of 11x10x9in and slice the interior of the cockpit up into blocks printing each one and making them interlock just like a big leggo puzzle. The area would be from the seat to just forward of the hud. The seat would connect to the side consoles which would connect to the center console. Each one supporting the other. Nice polycarbonate with laser etching nothing cheezy but nothing gold plated either.Thoughts?

bismond wrote:We think a like, all nice tools. How is the SLA printer what do you see it used for in building sims as the liquid is so expensive?
I've been trying to find a way to build a F15 sim without it taking ten years and major WamPum. My latest idea is to take the Taz5 printer with a print area of 11x10x9in and slice the interior of the cockpit up into blocks printing each one and making them interlock just like a big leggo puzzle. The area would be from the seat to just forward of the hud. The seat would connect to the side consoles which would connect to the center console. Each one supporting the other. Nice polycarbonate with laser etching nothing cheezy but nothing gold plated either.Thoughts?

The SLA printer is sort of in Beta.... A bit troublesome. For instance, after several beautiful prints, it started to peel off mid print. The adhesive they used on older laser tube tend to out gas and fog up the lens reducing tge power. Also, the PDMS layer is very troublesome....it fogs up after a couple of prints so you have to redo tge PDMS layer. I just paid $200 to get new laser from them and am still waiting for the SuperVat to be shipped to me -- no PDMS layer and will not fog up,

In general, SLA is too expensive to do mass production, but they are very good for prototyoes and mold/plug. I printed a couple of knobs from my F16 3D models, they are so good that after some light sanding and painting, you can't tell that they are not authentic parts.

Printing the whole pit block by block? Only if your printer would last that long!

Also, no laser Polycabonate! Out gas is toxic and may catch fire.... And it turns black! Acrylic is good though, just mild headache and stinks up the house if you don't vent the gas right.