Making Gears in the Home Shop - Automatically Part 3

In part 3 of our series on automating the gear making process, we take a look at some improvements to the software, show how the electronics is being repackaged and how the individual gear designs are worked up with a spread sheet.
Link for Clearpath Motors: www.teknic.com...
Harmonic Analyzer: • Albert Michelson's Har...
Gear formulas and definitions: www.gizmology.n...

[@kenshelhamer9816]

Thank you Paul for sharing your thorough efforts in developing this project.

[@maxrunout2989]

Thanks for stopping by. I hope it is helpful to you.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

A great series of videos. I am of course eager to see the end result.

[@maxrunout2989]

Thanks, Harold. I am getting closer. Hope to make my first gear in the nexr video.

[@DataMatrix47]

It's good to see that people (like you) are choosing components designed in Bulgaria, I was thinking that the world is going all chinesium clones these days. Very nice series and well explained, I'm enjoying watching so far.

[@maxrunout2989]

I try to get the best parts for the job wherever the come from. Thanks for the kind words.

[@wesleycains6111]

good to see them gear cutters at work i should have my rotary table set as my a axis soon i like the way you used the center and a dog on the table i will use that for mounting square and round stock i will subscribe to your channel you dont need no scripts u got the logic many thanks wes

[@maxrunout2989]

Thanks, Wes. I hope to get busy cutting some more gears soon. Let me know how your cutting works out.

[@FredMiller]

Great video Paul! You have made some great progress. I am jealous that you have such a knack for programming. Very exciting project. I am looking forward to the following segments. Good luck. Regards- Fred

[@maxrunout2989]

Thanks, Fred. The programming isn't too bad with the "basic" compiler I'm using. If you ever did any basic programming with the early personal computers, the jump to micro-controllers isn't hard.

[@pedroguaman4472]

Can we make helicoidal gear whit this proyect

[@plnmech]

I like what you are doing but I am curious about why you seem to be be reinventing the wheel. Instead of writing a new program to make these gears wouldn't you be able to use Mach 3 or 4 or EMC 2 programs to do the same job? Is it just the challenge to be able to do it?

[@maxrunout2989]

Hello, John. I guess it's just my lack of experience with traditional CNC programs. I have never programmed in g-code but I have written lots of microcontroller applications. So the learning curve would be steeper for me with traditional CNC. Also, this application was pretty simple, and the Clearpath motors make it even more so. Thanks for the comment.

[@martysmith2422]

After seeing you dominate this project I have every confidence that learning G code will be a breeze to you. Are you an engineer by chance?

[@maxrunout2989]

Yes, I am a retired EE. Worked on wireless communications for many years. That's why I am so interested in the harmonic analyzer.

[@corykutchera9153]

Paul are you an engineer? The spreadsheet sounds interesting. Did you have to consult with many people? I can see some really good applications for this... Thanks! gEEk (Cory)

[@maxrunout2989]

I am a retired Electrical engineer and have specialized in wireless communications. I have used spreadsheets for many years to do repetitive calculations. Whenever you have to do the same calculations on many different data they are the way to go.

[@plnmech]

Paul, I noticed on your push buttons there is a resistor connected to each switch. Are these switches LED lighted and is the resister for current limiting to the LEDs If so can you provide part numbers and supplier information? Thanks again. John

[@maxrunout2989]

Hi, John. No, those resistors are just "pull downs" on the inputs to the processor board. The switches are non-illuminated types, Digikey part number EG1932-ND for the black ones. If you send me an e-mail at [e-mail] I will send you a jpeg file with the schematic of the switch wiring.