ERC TimSav - Cheap DIY CNC Foamboard Cutter

[Dudley1001]

One went to a friend, we split the cost over and built 2 at once and one was made as a laser engraver for my neighbour who does woodworking and wanted to laser engrave cutting boards. My unit is double duty used as a needle cutter and laser. I have 2 3d printers that make short work out of the printing. I also have a mpcnc and up next may be a root3 cnc. I like tinkering.

 

[chris398mx]

One went to a friend, we split the cost over and built 2 at once and one was made as a laser engraver for my neighbour who does woodworking and wanted to laser engrave cutting boards. My unit is double duty used as a needle cutter and laser. I have 2 3d printers that make short work out of the printing. I also have a mpcnc and up next may be a root3 cnc. I like tinkering.

What do you think of the performance of the Time Save. Would you recommend building one? Any big issues you have had with yours?

 

[Dudley1001]

it works pretty well but I have redesigned the cutter head on mine a couple of times. My current one is the best I have used. The main problem is side movement of the cutter as it will throw off the cuts. My cutter uses a piece of the 2020 v-rail extrusion and rollers from a 3d printer which really reduces the wander.my cutter mount

 

[Gastenpa34an]

Hi!
My version of a needle cutter. Went for two y-axis and the motor holder Matthew Gladfelter constructed (files on Facebook group "ERC Timsav...). Only cut some test bits so far but it looks promising Using a 0.5mm wire to cut with and connected it to a Raspberry pi zero w running CNCjs.

 

[pirata39]

Could someone help me correct or at least understand why sometimes this happens on certain cuts like the one attached…

 

[ScottInIowa]

I had this exact thing happen. I had to replace my servo driver on my Arduino shield. Looks like yours is just in X - mine was in Y. Try swapping with one of your spares

 

[FlamingRCAirplanes]

I had this exact thing happen. I had to replace my servo driver on my Arduino shield. Looks like yours is just in X - mine was in Y. Try swapping with one of your spares

Stepper driver?

 

[Dudley1001]

skipped steps on the stepper motor. Have you adjusted the vref volatge on your stepper drivers? Are the stepper motors cool or hot to the touch when running. If you are running the a4988 drivers, try setting them to about .8 volts to start. If the motors are not getting warm, you can take them up a bit higher and if too hot, back off the voltage. adjust stepper drivers

 

[Dudley1001]

you can also back off the speed to about 800 and also try setting $1=255 which will keep the motors powered between movements (make sure the motors don't overheat). Also check your belt tension, they should be pretty tight.

 

[ScottInIowa]

Stepper driver?

 

[Dudley1001]

see the link in my other post. It will show you how to adjust the vref voltage but you will need a voltmeter and a small screw driver.

 

[pirata39]

you can also back off the speed to about 800 and also try setting $1=255 which will keep the motors powered between movements (make sure the motors don't overheat). Also check your belt tension, they should be pretty tight.

I have the speed at 850 mm/min with 8500 rpm, What does $1=255 mean, thank you everyone who has highlighted this to me…

 

[Dudley1001]

Its a grbl setting for the machine. When you open the com port to your cutter in your Grbl Controller software, you just enter $1=255 into the command line and press enter. Then you can check the settings to make sure it was entered by typing $$ into the command line and press enter again. $1 is the setting for delay for disabling the power to the motor when not moving. 255 turns the power on to the motor when not moving, such as when the needle is being raised and lowered. The problem is that there is drag on the needle and if the motors are not engaged that drag may cause the motor to move just a little but over multiple up and down action the amount of skipped steps can grow throwing off the alignment. 3d printers generally power their motors all the time and some people with grbl cnc macines that use belts recommend that setting.

 

[skymaster]

OOPsss i made a boobooo. so im gathering the parts and i ordered the rails but i made a mistake, i ordered the T slot instead of the V slot Rails. any one used the T slot. does it make a difference??

 

[ScottInIowa]

OOPsss i made a boobooo. so im gathering the parts and i ordered the rails but i made a mistake, i ordered the T slot instead of the V slot Rails. any one used the T slot. does it make a difference??

They might work, but the rubber wheels will wear quickly, and the hole to hole location on the 3d printed parts won't be correct. You really need the V slot...

 

[AussieBison]

I have some 3 spares here if you need and I am on the northside of Edmonton. I also have a MPCNC and a Cr10s and an Adminlabs Gantry S printers. I have built 2 of the ERC Timsavs, one for a friend.

Hey maybe a long shot, but do you still have any spares for TimSav? I have the stepper combo from AliExpress (I believe it includes 4 steppers + uno board with motor drivers).
I do have motor / esc / v-wheel thingies / servo tester, but yet to find rest of the parts
any help WRT where to get the parts from etc. would be a great help.. also if you don't mind, what field do you go to?

 

[Dudley1001]

Hey maybe a long shot, but do you still have any spares for TimSav? I have the stepper combo from AliExpress (I believe it includes 4 steppers + uno board with motor drivers).
I do have motor / esc / v-wheel thingies / servo tester, but yet to find rest of the parts
any help WRT where to get the parts from etc. would be a great help.. also if you don't mind, what field do you go to?

For rails, best place is Spool3d in Calgary. I will see if I have any stepper motors that will work. Belts and stuff I was getting from Banggood but most stuff coming from China is getting stuck in Vancouver for weeks/months. Let me look through my parts bins and will see what I can coble up. I can program your uno if needed. Metric bolts I got from lowes. Do you have a 3d printer to make the other parts?

I fly at ERCS since 1985.

 

[AussieBison]

For rails, best place is Spool3d in Calgary. I will see if I have any stepper motors that will work. Belts and stuff I was getting from Banggood but most stuff coming from China is getting stuck in Vancouver for weeks/months. Let me look through my parts bins and will see what I can coble up. I can program your uno if needed. Metric bolts I got from lowes. Do you have a 3d printer to make the other parts?

I fly at ERCS since 1985.

Cool... I will probably be ok for steppers, but I will start ordering Banggood stuff (I have about 3 weeks before I am in Edmonton) . and I don't have a 3d printer in Edmonton yet.
Thanks for all the info! appreciate it...

 

[pirata39]

you can also back off the speed to about 800 and also try setting $1=255 which will keep the motors powered between movements (make sure the motors don't overheat). Also check your belt tension, they should be pretty tight.

Thanks for all your advise, my cutter is working well. My relation with this device has improved and I can cut more foam plane plans for the kids at my school where I work…

 

[Dudley1001]

Thanks for all your advise, my cutter is working well. My relation with this device has improved and I can cut more foam plane plans for the kids at my school where I work…

Glad you got it working!