Kitebuilder Online

Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 7:14 am Post subject:

CNC = Computer Numeric Contol

the idea is to draw the art for a kite in your computer using a vector based drawing program, i.e. Adobe Illustrator, and then have the computer do the sewing of the kites...

My idea is sometinging like a train of 300 kites that every stitch matchs on EVERY kite...within the limits of the machine, say plus or minus one tenthousath of an inch or better depending on how much you spend on the bearings... and how slow you want it to sew as the more accurate the motion control is, the more time the machine takes to get the job done.

more attention to detail than any human could ever acheive...

Or doing piece work for G-Kites... or some such stuff if you have to make the machine pay for itself...

Or speed... it would be sewing while I am back cutting.

But the price is stoping me right now.

just a neat idea...

if someone out there has some linear bearings and long rods and strong stepper motors that are just collecting dust......
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

CJQ · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 7:28 am Post subject: ElectronicsDidnt get a chance

Hi smarties , didnt get a chance yet . Had to put it onto the middle burner right now the double star project got bumped onto the front burner for a while . I will keep you informed of my progress . Oh by the way I put a scope on the power source at the motor and its choppy. looks like a half wave (some what). But thats why I have hum and chatter at the beginning of stiching. I think that modern technology was applied and it is cheaper to use the scr than a v.r. foot controler . Oh well.
Will let you know .

Regards CLIFF

smarties · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 430 Location: Dieppe, NB, Canada

Cliff,
You have your own scope? What's your background in electronics? I don't know much people that I can talk electronics and they don't think that I'm from another planet. Very Happy

For your motor, usually there is a metal plate saying the voltage and power of the motor.

Smarties Razz

Doug LaRock · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Yakima, Washington

Cliff

I just finished a simular project . I bought an industrial sewing machine and did not like the motor clutch drive. A friend who works for one of my customers gave me a surplus 3/4 hp dc motor and drive modual The difficult part was adapting a 5k pot to work off of afoot petal. I built a linkage that works but since then some one suggested a foot petal for an electric guitar might be easy to adapte. The down side to this drive is it does not have a brake and it coasts a bit but I think I can get use to that. You might check out www.grainger.com for dc motors and www.galco.com for dc drives. My friend thought the drive moduals were about $75. Don't know if this helps any . Good luck with your project.

Dennist3 · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 5:52 am Post subject:

LOL...smarties...there are quite a few people that can talk "trons" around here myself and harold are both Fire Controlman....
come talk trons any time with us......

Dennis

CJQ · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 7:50 am Post subject: D.C. Motor

HI Doug L. Thanks for the tip I have a WW Granger here in town . I will check them out.
Oh by the way If you want to stop the coasting of your motor when you remove your foot of the gas ,you can add a dynamic brake circuit . Its pretty simple circuitry. Add a D.P.D.T. switch to the foot controler the N.O. contacts close on foot press and open on foot release . The N.C. back contacts close on foot release. the back contacts get wired so they short the motor leads . What happens is the motor when coasting acts like a generator producing a current flow. If you introduce a short circuit or shunt the output the motor will stop abruptly. The most difficult task will be to mount the switch. the switch should be a snap action micro switch. With a current capacity to match the motor load .Hope this long disertation is understandable, if not send me a PM

Regards

CLIFF

Doug LaRock · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Yakima, Washington

Thanks Cliff

I had thought about something simular to what you suggested. I hadn't thought about using a DPDT switch to isolate the drive from the braking resistor. Good idea! My little bit of electical experiance is from long long ago Well I guess I'll have to mount another bracket on my petal linkage.and incorporate this .

Doug

knotronda · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 3:43 pm Post subject:

I was going to suggest looking at what is on a Delta Chop Saw. My husband has one and it automatically stops the blade when the power button is released. I don't know if this type of motor and involved controls would work in your application but it was fun to toss in my comments.

knot(tier)ronda