As I have posted in the Modifications section, I have created the option to reorient the router so that it is pointed along the Y axis of the machine. This enables many operations that were not possible with the standard orientation, such as milling various sections of objects that do not fit on the standard bed (board ends, large sheets, etc.). In order to implement this work I have developed a method to edit the gcode files to rotate the axes, and that works well.
However, a more elegant way to change the axis of cutting would be to have some option to do it in Gsender. Specifically, it would be good to send the Z-axis signals to the Y motors and vice versa. Also one needs to change the direction of the X-axis (because one goes from a right-hand coordinate system to a left-hand one if the router is pointed toward the front of the table). One can’t just swap connectors because Z and Y have different number of motors. I guess the option could either be placed in the Gsender software or in the firmware of the controller.
While editing the gcode is easy and works well, a problem arises because the touch plate will not work in the new coordinate system, making it necessary to use less precise methods. For that reason and to make life easier to those who do not want to edit gcode, a software fix is very desirable. I think this optional modification of the LongMill makes it much more versatile and will be wanted by a significant part of the community, substantially increasing the appeal of Sienci products.
Thanks for your consideration.
Very cool idea @phmjo! Certainly unique amongst the CNC setups I’ve seen, at least in the Hobby section. I like your concept since I’d not thought much about the instance of doing joinery on project longer than the height of the table, so swapping to this orientation makes sense - though I’m not sure the number of people running into the same situation with the length constraints.
Regarding your idea it sounds more to me like a change for the Firmware rather than the sender, though doing it through the sender may also be doable. We’ll add it to the list to explore at some point, though it’ll likely be lower down since we’re prioritizing working on the new gSender version right now as well as have some other feature requests that have come from other vocal users
For reference to anyone interested, this is the thread mentioned:
Thanks for your reply.
I don’t think the applications made possible for the new router orientation just involve long boards. In a standard system, when one wants to mill something in the XY plane the maximum thickness of the object is about 12 cm. People get around that limit by either opening a hole in the table or shortening the bed. However, I think the vast majority of the tables out there do not have this modification (90%?) if the pictures online are any indication. That means one is not able to do inlays or proper box or dovetail joints for objects thicker or longer than 12 cm. I originally thought of this project because I want to build larger boxes with nice joinery on the edges. With CNC, very exotic patterns will be possible that would be nearly impossible by hand. It would also be nice to be able to do inlays on the face of a box after it is completed. And I didn’t want to put a large hole in my table. I think there are many others in similar situations that are simply not doing various things because of the restraints of the system.
In comparison to rebuilding a table, rotating the router is very simple—simply buy another router mount and fasten it to the old one. Eventually, I would hope Sienci would have a 90 degree mount for sale. Then with a switch for the axis system in either gSender or the firmware (accessed through gSender I guess), new, exclusive capabilities would be available for all of your current and potential users.
Right now I have a system that works well by editing the gcode. The main thing I cannot do myself is to get the touch plate to work in the rotated axis system. Any suggestions about that would be helpful.
Hey phmjo,
I am just out of bed looking at your post and I am in love with the novel way you have made your joinery setup. It’s waaay out of the box and that intriges me, even though I have no direct use for this setup myself.
So, just out of bed, I might be confused, misty and missing any coherent thought process, but it seems your problem is with having to switch an axis with a single drive to an axis with two, correct?
Might it be possible to utilise the A-axis output, and have that, somehow, move the entire project along the y axis, posing as the z?
I know somehow is a word that does a lot of lifting here but I feel there is an opening to, in theory, switch from one setup to the other using what is already available.
Anyway, just some raw random -before coffee- thoughts, that are prolly useless.
At least know I admire your way of improving your mill and work process by lifting it above and beyond it’s intended limits. It’s inspiring.
Thanks for your suggestion.
I don’t have a rotary attachment so I am not very familiar with the A-axis and wouldn’t know how to connect it up. In my setup the Y-axis is the new Z-axis and that needs to be run with two steppers. I don’t know where the signals to those two motors divide, but I am guessing that is in the firmware and would therefore need a modification there.
Actually, I don’t much need a fix in the software except to be able to use the touch plate (although it would be nice). Editing the gcode works well and I have automated the procedure so it is just a matter of one click of a macro in a text editer (I would be happy to post how to set up the editing procedure if anyone is interested).