Thermocol/EPS Casting

ankur · December 04, 2009, 06:43:08 PM

actually AFTER thinking a lot i found that it is not so simple

ankur · December 12, 2009, 04:19:16 PM

Can a robot be made for this purpose?
I mean to say something like a line follower robo with a cutter attached andis used to cut thermocol/foam but drawing/printing/sticking printed lines which can be interpreted by the robo and when we place it it starts moving on that line ultimately giving clean cut

Is it possible?
Hows the idea?

ankur · December 12, 2009, 04:28:14 PM

A simple printer of any type can't just be converted into a cnc
since printer , as per i know the cartridge section continualy move horizontally so just attaching a cutter is not enough or u'll be ending in a piece of material in infinite parts lol

ankur · December 12, 2009, 04:35:51 PM

This is what i think what needs to be done if we want to create a cnc from a inkjet/dot matrix printer:-

we need threee type of people for making a inkjet/dot matrix printer into a cnc machine

1-a gr8 electric person
2- a gr8 mechanical person
3-a extremely gr8 programmer and coder/recoder
all these 3 type of people need to wrk together

first we will take out the needed parts

then will use the old elecs some new and coded to make a system that input will be given from the computer to print on a very large size will use the same things of this region to ensure easy data transfer

then the game begins
the code as sent normally to the cartridge to print will be the same to move it in the same order horzontally but the input given to the carridge will be changed and a servo will be placed connected to the cutting tool which will push the wire only when it has to cut[i.e. black ink has to flow down]
the above assembly will be static and the rollers which are used in a printer to push the paper forward will be placed at the bottom with height adjustment option the set it accor to the thickness of the material and will be modified with better motors to push it forward it being at the same place
the input will be in format of simple st./curved lines very thin so we will get gr8 results

thats all

howz the idea

ankur · December 16, 2009, 03:28:10 PM

also the modified printer[cnc] should work vertically not horizontally so the thing[the plan we give it to make] is cut easilly
to make it more easier i would tell it to suppose that we are making some pattern on a peice of paper
our hand first draws a single line till the end and then goes to the starting point of the second line to draw it
if we go horizontally it is not possible
we want the printer to also function in a similar manner
it will cut one line/curve then go back for the next

U CAN understand the working of a ordinary printer in these pages
http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-Does-a-Printer-Work-~-The-printing-process-~-Types-of-Printers/
http://www.tech2u.com.au/training/tech2u/introcomp/images/printer02.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_printer

ankur · December 16, 2009, 03:31:08 PM

more links
http://www.eioba.com/a17657/how_does_your_printer_work
http://computershopper.com/feature/how-it-works-inkjet-printer
http://scien.stanford.edu/class/psych221/projects/06/justinsp/laservsinkjet.html
http://www.imaging.org/ist/resources/tutorials/inkjet_printer.cfm

ankur · December 16, 2009, 03:33:17 PM

if u don't have the time to read then just go through the pics u'll understand what i wannna say

SORAV · December 16, 2009, 08:59:53 PM

As far as i am concerned i think the whole electronic setup will not cost more than 4000rs and to me i dont think there is any need of any old printers when the new things are present and available at the pretty cheep rates.to me these are all the things that we need.

1.Four Axis Isolated Stepper Motor Interface using Parallel Port Rs2000
2.four stepper motors each costing RS 400=RS 1600
3.some of the aluminium channels let it be Rs 500
AND A FREE INTERFACING SOFTWARE ONE LIKE GMFC PRO OR SOME THING OF THE SAME TYPE.

but since i am a new one to this, so i may be wrong too so i would like the forum members to give there valuable comments.

ankur · December 16, 2009, 10:43:40 PM

i think u r correct to some limit but i don't understand how will they lead to the cutting of the material

ankur · December 18, 2009, 04:03:06 PM

i went to a local computer store today and found the rates of old used printer
here are they:-
old working dmp/inkjet:-1000 rs
old non worrking dmp/inkjet:-500 rs
old working laser printer:-2500 rs

Tanmay.mathur · December 16, 2015, 10:33:40 PM

Might be a wrong question here . What are those liquids which on mixing they expand into foam . And where the could be get in india ?
So that i could mould complex plane structures.

K K Iyer · December 16, 2015, 11:47:45 PM

@tanmay.mathur,
You would have build the mould first

Ahmedt brought this from Saudi Arabia, not tried yet...

sundaram · December 17, 2015, 12:57:21 AM

EPP and EPS casting is a pretty simple process of expanding the required granules between inside the casting mould with application of controlled heat.

You just need to design required casting mould for mass production. Any of the electronic item packing mould casting setup can be converted to RC model casting setup with required casting mould.

sanjayrai55 · December 17, 2015, 09:42:41 AM

In 2D it can be done simply using a marking CO2 laser. A 30 W CO2 laser can comfortably cut 50 mm foam at high speeds (in excess of 100 mm/sec)

3D .....hmm. Can't control the laser's depth with the needed precision

Tanmay.mathur · December 21, 2015, 09:20:45 PM

I need the expanding chemical which could be bought in India without burning pockets