Pendulum Clocks
Last updated on
Sunday, February 20, 2022 06:20:17 AM
Mountain US Time Zone
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AutoCAD, Plastic Mill Table Cover, Path Tracing Tool
CNC parts fabrication for
Brian Law's Clock #19.
The plans includes .dxf files.
The workflow
uses: AutoCAD to isolate the single part to
be made (from the
.dxf page of parts), mirror
the
part if needed to get
climb vs.
conventional cuts,
offset the cutter radius on the
correct sides, remove original
outlines, run
AutoCAD to GCode (AC2GC)
VBA macro with
the correct parameters to generate the gcode, test run by
tracing on paper, then plastic or metal cutting for the final part.
[archived]
AutoCAD
Original
AutoCAD
.dxf polylines
having joined segments (pedit).
For a 1mm diameter end mill,
0.5mm mill radius offsets drawn.
Original traces erased then mirrored to
yield offset tool path &
climb cutting.
AutoCAD to GCode (AC2GC) VBA macro screen.
G21 commands Mach3 run in metric.
Mach3 tool paths offset 0.5 mm
radius.
Plastic Mill Table Cover
For tracing tool paths on larger (A4) pieces of
paper
I made a clear, 1/8" thick acrylic top for the mill table.
Click on linked thumbnails
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Path Tracing Tool
Ink path tracing tool. I wanted the pen tip to
remain rigid as it moved through a 4mm range
so I made a second ink
tracer using 5/16" OD &
1/4" ID brass tubing. The steel end plugs
are 1/4" OD with 2.5mm
holes. The plugs are
pressed in. The hole in the top plug is to aid
its removal. The pen cartridge tip was selected
for its uniform diameter instead of a taper.
A finer
point & an improved design.
See
original path tracing
tool.
The steel plug's length is less than 2mm.
An AutoCAD .dxf file having end
mill radius offset paths &
mirrored.
Back-plate layout. Paper tracing
helps me check the gcode &
fixtures.
CNC milling of part using a 1mm,
2-flute, carbide end mill at
5665 RPM.
Here, climb cutting has the
end mill traveling clockwise.
Part cut completely through but
the double-sided tape is
still intact.
Finished 10T gear & its blank.
A few assorted parts for the clock. Left to right:
one-way &
standard 4mm ID bearings, 1mm
SS cable, M6-1 threaded rod, 4mm steel rod,
4 & 8mm reamers, & some CNC-cut
gears.
The one-way bearings act in place of
a ratchet for winding the weight.
One-way bearing.
Click on linked thumbnails
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Lazy Susan DIY Heavy Duty Ball Bearing.
6" (140mm),8" (200mm), 10" (250mm),
12" (300mm), 14" (350mm), 16" (400mm),
18" (448mm), 20" (490mm) sizes.
See
Gears Section
Click on linked thumbnails #ad
AutoCAD,
Plastic Mill Table Cover,
Path Tracing Tool
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