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Post by clockmaker on Feb 15, 2020 3:08:10 GMT
Just finished assembling the Mega V 19-in with the MDF bed. Went together fairly well using the videos (watched them about five times before starting), but others might find the following useful. The M4 x 14-mm machine screws for the motor mounts and mounting the motors are a bit short due to the spacers so I replaced with 16-mm. I'm guessing those spacers were not part of he original design. I also used longer screws for the drag chains so I could include flat washers. The screws used to fasten the aluminum extrusions to the MDF bed are also a bit short, but instead of getting longer screws I replaced the split washers with serrated washers. That made it much easier to slide the t-nuts into the extrusions. If you have the homing kit, slide in the t-nuts on the gantry and left hand Y rail before installing the end plates. The video says they are drop in t-nuts, but they are not. I had to disassemble most of the machine to install the gantry t-nut. Pay attention to the wiring of the homing switches. I thought it would have made more sense to combine the X and Z axis wires and keep the Y axis separate, but for some reason the Z is separate and the X and Y are combined. Maybe so it is easier for accommodate both the 19-in and 35-in models. I recommend adding a serrated washer to the bolts that hold the homing switch angle brackets. Without the washer the angle bracket is too easy to rotate which would cause the homing switch to not engage consistently. Also, be careful about pulling on the homing switch wires, the end clips slip off easily. The video does not mention, but shows using zip ties to hold the wires in place. Adding the zip ties before treading the wires will reduce the chance of pulling wires out of the end clips.
I have not powered up the control box yet because I cannot find any guidance. There is a QUICKSTART guide on the site, but it is does not appear to be written for the Mega V. If anyone has start up guidance, please share.
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Post by Bruce on Feb 15, 2020 3:48:32 GMT
Congrats on your Mega V build. Plug everything in and turn on the box (pop out the E-switch). Plug in the USB cable between the control box and the laptop. You want to install the ARDUINO 1.8.12 Software (IDE) to setup the communication between the Mega V control box and the laptop. You can follow the quickstart guide from here.
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Post by btreichel on Feb 15, 2020 18:07:06 GMT
Congrats on your Mega V build. Plug everything in and turn on the box (pop out the E-switch). Plug in the USB cable between the control box and the laptop. You want to install the ARDUINO 1.8.12 Software (IDE) to setup the communication between the Mega V control box and the laptop. You can follow the quickstart guide from here. Interesting, (haven't read the quickstart) to me that implies that the code on the board is written in sketch. However, have to update from 1.8.5
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Post by Derek the Admin on Feb 15, 2020 18:18:56 GMT
Most of the time the drivers will load automatically and you don't need to do that. Occasionally though it might be needed to install the IDE.
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Post by btreichel on Feb 15, 2020 19:17:21 GMT
Most of the time the drivers will load automatically and you don't need to do that. Occasionally though it might be needed to install the IDE. OK, happy (but sort sad that I didn't get to see the insides) about that.
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Post by btreichel on Feb 15, 2020 19:25:10 GMT
Just looked at the quick start guide, I was hoping to use my old win 7 laptop and leave it in the basement. Now I'm wondering about t he requirements for vectric. I was thinking about putting an ssd in it, I might have to update to win 10 also. I have vectric on my win 10 laptop upstairs.
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Post by btreichel on Feb 15, 2020 20:51:21 GMT
Nope, no problems with vectric or the latest version of the arduino ide on win 7.
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Post by clockmaker on Feb 17, 2020 15:28:00 GMT
Congrats on your Mega V build. Plug everything in and turn on the box (pop out the E-switch). Plug in the USB cable between the control box and the laptop. You want to install the ARDUINO 1.8.12 Software (IDE) to setup the communication between the Mega V control box and the laptop. You can follow the quickstart guide from here. Interesting, (haven't read the quickstart) to me that implies that the code on the board is written in sketch. However, have to update from 1.8.5 It’s alive!! Thx much for the guidance. Now to start playing.
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kyron
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by kyron on Feb 17, 2020 15:39:00 GMT
I'm very new to this and I wonder if I am missing something. I have received and built the 35x35 Mega V. I downloaded UGS and plugged in the USB. After a few false starts I am able to jog the machine around and get it to run a few simple gcode files with just a marker attached. Why do we need the Arduino IDE?
Also, I can echo several of the things that clockmaker mentions.
* The T-nuts for the homing switches are not drop-in and it's a real pain to do the disassembly required to get them in the track * The screws used to fasten the aluminum extrusions to the MDF bed were frustratingly short. Once the t-nut is engaged with the threads you have very little leeway in screwing it further while still leaving enough room for the extrusion to slide on * I also had an issue with the spacers under the X and Y motors. In both cases, when everything was tightened to final torque the gantry could not move. I even tried doing the opposite of the procedure in the assembly video (pulling the track away from the motor-gear while tightening it down) and it still pinched too tightly. I've been able to resolve by using two slightly shorter spacers on the two inside legs to tilt the motor assembly every so slightly away from the track.
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Post by btreichel on Feb 17, 2020 20:35:34 GMT
BTW, for the t-nuts, bench grinder, and use the same angle thats on the sides, take both down to about 1/2 of the original side tab size. Of course, be conservative, grind check, ...
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Post by thannemann on Feb 17, 2020 20:51:41 GMT
Is there an option to upgrade the bed to a T slot later? Are the rest of the parts the same?
Same with the size? Can you go from a 19" to a 35" with an upgrade kit?
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Post by thannemann on Feb 17, 2020 21:03:53 GMT
Also I see everyone using UGS, would this work with CNCjs? I'd like to use a headless option with a raspberry pi.
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Post by Bruce on Feb 18, 2020 2:22:48 GMT
I'm very new to this and I wonder if I am missing something. I have received and built the 35x35 Mega V. I downloaded UGS and plugged in the USB. After a few false starts I am able to jog the machine around and get it to run a few simple gcode files with just a marker attached. Why do we need the Arduino IDE? Also, I can echo several of the things that clockmaker mentions. * The T-nuts for the homing switches are not drop-in and it's a real pain to do the disassembly required to get them in the track * The screws used to fasten the aluminum extrusions to the MDF bed were frustratingly short. Once the t-nut is engaged with the threads you have very little leeway in screwing it further while still leaving enough room for the extrusion to slide on * I also had an issue with the spacers under the X and Y motors. In both cases, when everything was tightened to final torque the gantry could not move. I even tried doing the opposite of the procedure in the assembly video (pulling the track away from the motor-gear while tightening it down) and it still pinched too tightly. I've been able to resolve by using two slightly shorter spacers on the two inside legs to tilt the motor assembly every so slightly away from the track. You don't need the Arduino IDE other than to install the drivers, if you are having issues getting the USB serial connection working between the computer and Mega V control.
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PaulieG
New Member
Posts: 1
Machine: None yet
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Post by PaulieG on Feb 20, 2020 21:32:01 GMT
Howdy all! I am pleased and excited by all the cool projects and generous advice flowing through this forum. I am just about to place an order for Mega V XL of my own to join the fun.
A quick question: Does the Mega V have a provision for adding a second router mount for increased stability as the Power Route does? If not, would modifying the out of the box Z axis mount to accommodate a second mount be of any utility?
Many thanks in advance, and eager to get going!
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Post by Derek the Admin on Feb 21, 2020 3:59:04 GMT
Hey,
To answer your question: it does not have provision for the second mount. You could add it, but I would take some modification of the Z as you suspected. It would require drilling, as you as suspected. There is a lead screw nut on the back of the Z plate though that you have to work around.
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