Hello RT:
Progress has slowed to stopped for now, although I have made some since this post, including getting pretty good with QTdesigner and QTvcp. Been trying out various layouts for a gang tool focused screen but have not settled on a final version yet.
Many life complications, not the least of which has been 27, 1400 mile driving trips in 28 months to care for my dad who died two days ago.
However, over the winter I needed to run production, and had a belt fail on the vari drive in my Hardinge attachment, so I swapped the controller onto my other Omniturn only to find the spindle tube was bent. Anyway, fixed all that and made the thousands of parts needed for my products, and took apart the Hardinge, removing the vari drive, preparing for direct drive belt installation.
There are two problems now, one is I can't decide what type of belt and pulley to run, since I need to machine the Hardinge pulley and whatever replacement pulley I choose, so that they fit together to make one that fits the spindle.
Should be easier for you with the GT, However, I'm not sure whether the GT comes with a toothed belt even if ordered without C-axis. Either way, it is a simpler spindle and should be easier to convert.
My second problem, is I live in Portland, OR., only a few miles from where the fires are burning, and the city has chosen the Covid crises to come after numerous homes in our neighborhood for vehicles, trailers, motorhomes, etc. parked improperly. Although I keep my home and property in top shape, I none the less own many old muscle cars, and my wifes 1974 BMW 2002, plus a storage container, and in Portland, you can't have vehicles or containers on your property in areas not permitted for it. On top of that, my really nice driveway that goes around my house was poured 27 years ago by the previous owner without a permit, now I have to submit a site plan, permit and pay for it as well. Had to sell a 68 Lemans, move my moms 72 Mustang into storage, and put my 64 GTO into the paint shop just to get them off my property...they are however, letting me use the driveway while I go through permitting, so I didn't have to get all my cars gone.
So my wife and I have decided to exit Portland and Multnomah county after living here since 1971. I've had enough. I can save nearly $700 per month in water and sewer costs, property, and other tax savings, just by not living in Portland and Multnomah county.
I closed my business for now, sent out resumes, and just had my first interview a couple days ago. (need a regular job to get a mortgage loan) I am still going to finish this project and will start another thread detailing the actual build and Linuxcnc implementation, but it will have to wait until we move into a house with a shop in a city/county that wants us...looking in the Hood River area in the Columbia River Gorge.
Sorry for the rant...this project will continue but it will probably be quite awhile before I have the time to concentrate on it regularly again.
Karl
