When my second CNC milling machine arrives (YOOCNC3020 in addition to my 6040),

3D Printing
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1

When my second CNC milling machine arrives (YOOCNC3020 in addition to my 6040),
I’m planning to scrap my Thing-O-Matic and make the CNC mill and 3D print.
Option 1:
Use the existing main board, extruder control board, power supply, extruderstepper driver board and send STEP+DIR to X,Y,Z stepper drivers of the CNC.
Need to switch between step+dir from Makerbot-board and CNC board.
Option 2:
Modify the firmware of the extruder control board to receive temperature via serial port and have MACH3 control X,Y,Z,A(extruder) and temperature.
Need to switch A-Axis cable and do some post-processing of the G-Code.
Firmware-Modification and G-Code postprocessing seems to already exist but for a very old version 2.2 as opposed to 3.5 of the board.

Did anyone here do something similar already?

2

At least save the steppers for silly projects. Maybe the linear rod. The rest is trash.

3

Don’t worry, I’ll save the

  • steppers and
  • stepper driver boards and
  • pulleys and
  • bearings.
  • The interface-kit and
  • existing alternative extruders
    will also be fun.

Then I can:

  • 4 axis CNC mill (5 axis on my large one)
  • 3D print
  • pneumatically extrude a syringe
  • plot with a pen/acid-pen (Unicorn)
  • plot with a tangential knife (current project)
    all with just one device in a sturdy, wooden and soundproofed stage transport case on wheels.
4

…extruding solder paste for SMD PCBs from a syringe could be fun.

5

I’ve often thought of that. Extrude solder paste, program it for a specific board, also have a rotating head with a vacuum needle, and pick/place components. Order bunches of boards from OSHPark and off you go to custom production.

6

Pick and Place is difficult because you have to check the orientation of parts and grab many different parts.

Aligning parts then is easy, just bump it against a 90° angle and it will end up parallel to the board on your vacuum needle.

Programming that is more work then it saves.