First Part: Arduino Prototyping Board with video!

I decided to make my first part! I recently got an Arduino Uno to start playing with and eventual use to make something cool! Anyway, I wanted a simple prototyping platform so I used GCAM to generated some gcode to cut a piece of cutting board that I could mount the Arduino on and a small prototyping board. I actually managed to cut the part with no problems on my first try! Check it out.

Precision! Kinda.

So now that I got the Dremel cutting things, I decided to test the accuracy of my machine by cutting 1in squares and circles.  I ended up cutting six circles and seven squares. The squares are surprisingly square and the circles are not quite perfect circles, but they are close. So the end result for my accuracy test:

Squares: 0.9818 +/- 0.01729 in
Circles:  0.9720 +/- 0.02246 in

 

I might be able to compensate somewhat with software. I can guarantee that my 1/8" end mill is cutting slightly larger then 1/8", resulting in slightly smaller squares and circles.

I used GCAM to create the G-Code for the test.

Time to make some real parts!

It's Dremel Time! (& Video)

So I mounted my Dremel 4000 to my Z-axis with some U bolts and miscellaneous pieces of aluminum extrusion. It is actually pretty ridged.

I am currently in the process of moving so it might take a while before I get up and running at my new apartment.