[GrizHFMinimill] Re: Question about my "smart" power feed project

The power feed I'm working on is a "gateway" mod :) I have a few thinghs in progress. One of them is the DRO with G-Code interpreter. I don't even know what I was smoking when I conjured that idea, but after talking to a few friends it looked that there was at least some interest in the concept. I know a copuple of older guys with small mills that don't want to learn CAD/CAM software etc. but do some intricate model work. The idea behind the DRO is for someone to create hole patterns, etc. and then share the program with others (i.e. I will likely be the guy writing the programs). The DRO looks like a solid year's prject (especially the G-code interpreter part), so the powerfeed is a stop-gap measure.
At that time I was thinking about making a simple power feed, but one evening, when drilling 30 holes, exactly .750 apart I got an idea to make a power feed that can "record macros". The reason I'm using a microcontroller that looks like total overkill is to leave me some room for expansion.

Regards
Yuriy

P.S. I'm pretty sure there are easier ways to do a lot of stuff I do, but where is the fun in that :)))

--- In GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com, "bbass408" <bbass408@...> wrote:
>
> This sounds interesting and you're so far along your way that I doubt you'd be willing to take a turn. I'm wondering if some simpler solution using a limit switch with a movable stop might satisfy your needs. A real home return is incredibly valuable so I'm sure you've got grander ideas in store for your project than just the "stop here" feature.
>
> --- In GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com, "Yuriy K" <ycroosh@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello,I'm working on a "smart" power feed for my mini mill. The skinny
> > is: I wanted a stepper-driven power feed that can be set to a "home"
> > position and then stop once it reaches it. With parts from eBay and
> > Mouser my cost is roughly $90-$100 (plus some aluminum for the
> > enclosure); Arduino will add $20-$35. The newest version (two revs newer
> > than the one on the blog) displays feed rate in inches/minute and five
> > color leds indicate relative distance to the home position. More
> > gruesome details are posted on my blog here:
> > http://www.yuriystoys.com/2012/01/mini-mill-power-feed.html <Hello,
> > I'm working on a > . I started building the project with MSP430
> > microcontroller using a custom board I designed for myself (a basic
> > breakout for MSP430F2132). It looks like there is no readily available
> > equivalent... I have a spare Arduino Pro Mini and Nano boards, so if it
> > there is any interest in the project, I will stick with Arduino to make
> > it more accessible.
> > Your feedback is greatly appreciatedThank youYuriy
> >
>

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