Reviving an old CNC Router – Intro

Many years ago, our school district used to have CNC class in the high school. As many school district got away from teaching technical course, some of these machine stay behind collecting dust in storage and just not being used anymore.

When we started our robotics club, we got lucky enough to put our hands on 3 of these machines.  It included the following:

  • a CNC mill,
  • a CNC lathe,
  • and a CNC router.

Because of its versatility and potential for many uses, we decided that we will rebuild our CNC router first and see if it’s worth it.

This blog is about sharing what we are doing and hoping that maybe an other team or CNC hobbyist can learn from our mistakes and get their project under way.

Ours is a Light Machine CNC Router. It has 3 axis using stepper motor and a Bosch 1617 Router.

This is what we have done so far:

Basically, the Power supply was mounted(using velcro strip) in the old control box. This allow us to use the existing bracket and screw holes right into the machine frame.

We then rewire the main switch to power the power supply unit. This in turn is connected to the G540. We tested all axis motor and found that they all work. Therefore we used the provided DB9 connector and solder the motor cable and wires into the new DB 9. We plugged in the G540 and using Mach3 were able to move each axis as they were designed.

NOTE: because the motor amperage is rated at 2.9A, we will need to put a current limiter resistor on the DB 9 connector. For more info on that read the G540 instruction manual.

To connect our Window XP parallel port to the G540, we used a DB 25 25 pin serial port cable male to male RS232 from Amazon. In retrospect, if you order one, pick a longer than 6ft cable as it limit the computer location for setup.

IMG_0103.HEIC IMG_0102.HEIC IMG_0101.HEIC IMG_0100.HEIC IMG_0099.HEIC IMG_0098.HEIC IMG_0096.HEIC IMG_0092.HEIC IMG_0091.HEIC IMG_0089.HEIC

Algonac Robotics Newsletter 8/26/2018

Premiere Night for Boomer!

We did it!   T-shirt canon made its first appearance to support our Boys Varsity Football team!

We launched towels and t-shirt at the half. Crowd was excited!

Next game on Thursday 8/30. Don’t forget to use the sign up!

Student Application

School is right around the corner and we are about to get thing started for all levels.

Application are open for FRC team members. Look like we have full roster for FTC and FLL.

If you have a friend interested in joining the High School level team, make sure they will the application using the following link.

Algonac Robotics Student Application

Fundraisers

Thank you for all the salsa orders, we raise approx $500.

Please come to the lab to pick your orders on 8/29, a remind message will be send when we open the lab with the orders.

Next fundraisers opportunities will be for water bottle as soon as school start. This will be to install water bottle filling station by the gym at both Algonquin and the high school.

Business team is collecting addresses for a sponsorship mailing. If anyone has any businesses they want to add to the list they can send the info to algonacrobotics15@gmail.com

Upcoming Events

Click links below to sign up

Thursday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 8/30/2018 

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 9/14/2018 

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 9/28/2018 

Grand Rapids FRC Girls Competition – 10/12/2018-10/13/2018 

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 10/19/2018

 

Team Specific Information

Sign up available for FRC Girls Competition in Grand Rapids. This will be an overnight trip and a weekend to remember. Please sign up as needed to ensure we have enough people going.

Meeting this Wednesday 6pm to work on T-Shirt cannon.

 

No meetings until  Thursday 9-6-18 6-8
Wednesday 8-29-18 pick up your salsa order from 6-7:30pm.

2018 Rover Ruckus Game Reveal Saturday 9-8-18 10am-2pm in the lab.

Bring in the signed membership forms and your safety glasses.

 

Monday from 6-7:30. We will be discussing the Project and working on robot build.

Please explore the project information in the Challenge Guide https://firstinspiresst01.blob.core.windows.net/fll/2019/FIRST-FLL-2018-19-ChallengeGuide-Letter.pdf

No meeting 8-29 but please pick up your salsa order.

No meeting 9-3

 

Kit has arrived !!!!   Info coming out soon!

 

Algonac Robotics Newsletter 8/19/2018

Student Application

If your name is not listed below, you need to fill in the team application, go ahead and fill that in as soon as possible. That form will provide us with the initial information needed to get everyone started properly.

Algonac Robotics Student Application

The following students already did.

Ashley, Gabby, Shelby, Daniel L.,  Katie, Lindsey, Roman, Thomas P., Trinity, Rodney, Nicholas, Michael B., Eddie, David R., Megan, Bobbie, Tabitha, James M., Thomas M., Renee D.,

New week of 8/19/- Alexander M. CJ, Devin, Nathaniel.

Training

It is very important that everyone complete the assignment in the Welcome to Algonac Robotics Classroom. This will ensure that everyone has the proper paperwork submitted, remind sign on etc… Please log in to the Google Classroom and follow the instruction there. If you need help with anything, contact Coach Seb.

Use this post to help you as needed.

How to use Google Classroom at Algonac Robotics

This is mandatory for all FTC/FRC students, no exceptions.

In order to attend any events, all FTC/FRC students will have to complete the Algonac Robotics 4 initial Classrooms. This is new, but it will also provide the foundation you need for our club to be successful and operate safely.

Fundraisers

We are also starting our first fundraisers right away.

This is very important for all to participate as total earned will be added against each students goals.

Order are due in by 8/22. Orders will be  delivered on 8/29.

Chuck and Dave’s Salsa and Dip Description

Chuck and Dave’s Order Form

Next fundraisers opportunities will be for water bottle as soon as school start.

Upcoming Events

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 8/24/2018 – Sign Up Here

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 8/30/2018 – Sign Up Coming Soon!

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 9/14/2018 – Sign Up Coming Soon!

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 9/28/2018 – Sign Up Coming Soon!

Grand Rapids FRC Girls Competition – 10/12/2018-10/13/2018 – Sign Up Coming Soon!

Friday Night Light T-Shirt Canon – 10/19/2018 – Sign Up Coming Soon!

 

Team Specific Information

This week focus is on making sure the T-Shirt canon is calibrated and ready for our first football game this coming Friday.

On Wednesday, we will take it to the football stadium and shoot some t-shirt to practice and understand where they will land in the crowd. If you plan on attending this Friday, then be at the meeting on Wednesday.

It is now official, we will be at the Grand Rapids Girls Competition on 10/12-13. We need to make sure the bot is ready and that the team is able to support.

 

This week’s schedule Tuesday & Thursday 6-8.

Please bring back the signed forms from membership handbook.

Bring safety glasses if you have yours from last season.

Salsa orders due Tuesday at meeting or Wednesday drop off at lab.

 

This will be our fourth week into this competition season.

Please remember attendance is not optional (Please ask for a copy of the FLL Team Policies if needed)

I want to see the team work hard together and be proud of their accomplishments.

Having the full commitment of the team given the 3 month sprint to competition is key to the team’s success.

If you missed any of the first meetings please follow this link.

http://www.algonacrobotics.com/fll-23866-23868/

-In the Challenge Guide we have already covered Robot Rules and Missions.
-watch the welcome to the season videos.
-look for sources with information relevant to the project. The team has narrowed focus a bit to air, spacesuits, food, water, and first aide/social/mental well-being. We will narrow this more this week.

Hope to see everyone tomorrow.

We need to work on the robot and talk about the project rules. Salsa orders are due at Wednesday’s meeting.

 

No update

 

Algonac Robotics Newsletter 8/12/2018

Welcome to our Algonac Robotics 2018-2019 season!

This year is going to be epic again!

Great stuff in the way and we are looking forward to expand our team with our very first FLL Jr as a pilot starting this fall.

Student Application

If your name is not listed below, you need to fill in the team application, go ahead and fill that in as soon as possible. That form will provide us with the initial information needed to get everyone started properly.

Algonac Robotics Student Application

The following students already did.

Ashley, Gabby, Shelby, Daniel L.,  Katie, Lindsey, Roman, Thomas P., Trinity, Rodney, Nicholas, Michael B., Eddie, David R., Megan, Bobbie, Tabitha, James M., Thomas M., Renee D.

Training

This year, we are kicking off our training curriculum using Google Classroom. If you have a smartphone, go ahead and download the app. Make sure you start the “Welcome to Algonac Robotics” classroom training as soon as possible. This will ensure that all the proper paperwork, forms and other important information is communicated. When you are done with a task in the classroom, submit as completed to get proper credits. More information will be sent shortly on the remaining 3 classrooms.

Use this link to get you started:

How to use Google Classroom at Algonac Robotics

This is mandatory for all FTC/FRC students, no exceptions.

In order to attend any events, all FTC/FRC students will have to complete the Algonac Robotics 4 initial Classrooms. This is new, but it will also provide the foundation you need for our club to be successful and operate safely.

Fundraisers

We are also starting our first fundraisers right away.

This is very important for all to participate as total earned will be added against each students goals.

Order are due in by 8/22. Orders will be  delivered on 8/29.

Chuck and Dave’s Salsa and Dip Description

Chuck and Dave’s Order Form

Next fundraisers opportunities will be for water bottle as soon as school start.

Team Specific Information

Lead Coach will be Coach Seb.

Team will meet on Wednesday 6-9pm during the FTC season. First meeting on 8/15/2018.

 

Lead Coach will be Coach Jared.

Team will meet on Tuesdays and Thursday 6-9pm during the FTC season. First meeting on 8/14/2018.

Some Friday and Saturdays will be added as necessary.

Team will switch to 1 day a week during the FRC season.

 

Lead Coach will be Coach Lisa.

Team will meet on Monday and Wednesday 6-730pm.

Please note, team is now officially meeting at Pointe Tremble in the Robotics Lab!

 

Thank you to Ms Janice Pasko to step in as a coach and coordinate this new team addition for 2nd and 3rd graders.

Team will meet on Wednesday 6-730pm during the fall season.

First meeting date will be announced shortly.

 

STEM Camp 2018

Shelby Woods, a team member of the Algonac Robotics FRC team, organized the team’s first STEM camp.  Day one was all about team names, getting to know each other, and BRIDGES!  We learned about different types of bridges.  Each camper then got to build a marshmallow bridge and test its strength with pennies.  This was day one of  the three day camp, and we can’t wait to see what our campers will learn next!

FLL Mentor Camp 2018

Algonac Robotics FRC Members attended our first, two day FLL (FIRST LEGO League) Mentor Camp this week to prepare for the upcoming INTO ORBIT challenge.  This will be the FLL Iron Rats third year as a team and we are looking forward to having our FRC team members mentor our team.  During the camp we built a simple robot, learned some coding basics, and discussed FLL in general.  We also talked through what the Mentors roll would be.  FLL teams compete with an autonomous LEGO robot of their own creation, to complete a series of missions for competition.  They are also challenged to come up with an innovative solution to a real world problem and present it not only to the judges during competition but also those who might benefit from their solution before competition.  They are also tasked with learning and using the FIRST Core Values as a team and out in their communities.  Having experienced mentors this season will be a big help for the team to be able to learn and grow so much more!

Algonac Robotics T-Shirt Cannon is now a reality!

One one of off season project was to build a t-shirt / stress ball / candy launcher so we can create some excitement about the club in our community. Our original plan was to build it for the fall football game.

Deerbrook Builders and Cortis Bros are sponsoring events on Wednesday night and they ask if we could help. The goal is to create some positive energy in our community and they though a t-shirt canon would be a great way to build some excitement with the younger crowd.

As a result, we put some minds together and build our first prototype. Here some of the highlights of this project.

  • We consulted with Breathing Air company located in Columbus. OH and they donated the high price regulator and safety valve required to operate this robot safely.
  • Island Machine and Engineering totally kick butt on this and help design and build the barrel and holding brackets.
  • Brackett Auto donated a pretty hefty hose and a few accessories/tools to ensure proper airflow.
  • Kloeffler Industries welded the barrel fitting.
  • Clay Township Fire Department is also helping with the compressed air bottle and refill when needed.

Great job to all involved, football game and school events are going to be a blast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Algonac Robotics Newsletter 10/21/2017

Algonac Robotics FLL, FTC & FRC Team!

It’s official, mark your calendars our competition dates for the 2017-2018 competitions are as follows:

FLL IronRats #23866

 

TBD
  • Event Information can be found here
  • Team RSVP can be found here

 

FTC RoboRats #9819

11/4/2017  Canton
11/18/2017  Marysville
Potential Advancements Below
12/15/2017  Michigan State FTC Championship – Battle Creek
TBD  North Super Regional Iowa
04/25/2018 First World Championships – Detroit

 

FRC Full Metal Muskrats #5860

 

03/08/2018 Waterford
04/05/2018 Marysville
Potential Advancements Below
04/11/2018 Michigan State Championships – Saginaw Valley State University
04/25/2018 First World Championships – Detroit

 

Algonac Robotics Newsletter 8/29/2017

Team Members,
I will be picking up the salsa order on Thursday afternoon at Buddies Food and it will be ready for pick up in the lab on Thursday from 5pm tp 6pm.
If you have an order, please make arrangement to pick up before the meeting. Same goes if you can be there because of the football game, otherwise, contact me to make arrangements. We want to make sure that it stay cold.
This was a last minute trial and we still raised $546. Thank you for everyone that participated.
We also received a $2000.00 sponsorship from Esys Automation.
Coach Nicole is keeping track for each students so we can all attain our goal as a team!
Business Sponsorship brochure is also ready for prime time. If you know someone in a local (or far away!!!!) business that would be interested in supporting our team, make sure you grab a brochure and talk to them about our team. The sponsorship levels are defined on the brochure and it explained what we do at a high level. If they have more questions, feel free to direct anyone to our web site and / or have them contact one of the coach listed on the brochure.
All future communication for the 2017-2018 season will be via remind. This is the only easy tool to use that allow you to choose between email or text. It is very convenient for all of us.
If you plan on attending both seasons, sign up for both!
For all FRC students, we will ask that you join our Slack Group. Click here for more information on Slack.
FTC Students are not required but we encouraged you to join if you feel that you could benefits from it. The channels are there to be use, all official blog from FIRST get automatically added to our channel and this is where we will have all internal communications between team members and/or coaches during the seasons. Parents that have the proper iChat form approved are also encourage to join and participate as needed. The vision is that we brainstorm and exchange ideas on the proper slack channels so everyone can benefits and provide inputs.
Lastly, our FLL team got quite a challenge this year! the Hydro Dynamics game promise to be a lot of fun. If you are in the FRC team and would like to help the FLL team, please contact the coaches and we will connect you with them. Good luck IronRats!  To view the missions, click here. 
See you on Thursday night, 6-9pm.
Coach Seb

With Google+ plugin by Geoff Janes and Thorsten Hake