Big report #1

Last time I worked more on the software part, but and the electronic part survived their changes. First, a big change - I decided to go directly to work with SD card and refuse permanent connection to a PC. This makes the machine completely autonomous. Also gone a huge delay between commands, and the program runs smoothly, quickly and without pause.

Already implemented:

• Switch manual control / automatic mode . Manual control means control of all axes by the joystick and two buttons. After switching to the automatic mode , the current position of the axes is considered original .
• Choosing a running program (20 different programs can be stored in the memory of the machine and executed on request )
• Correct work with curves. It was necessary to use curves programs. Now when generating program , all the curves are converted into many small straights.

Remains to implement:

• The possibility of recording new programs in memory controller through the connection with the computer. Now I have to manually copy the data on the SD card. 
• Correct algorithm linear movement

If we talk about the electronic part, now started the development of the second version of the controller board. It will have a slot for SD memory cards and corrected any errors.

Regarding the mechanics no changes. But now I completed the control panel and began to arrange all the components into place.

For this, I took a piece of old plexiglass, sawed holes desired shape and processed all sandpaper. To attach the screen and joystick I fixed using super glue M3 screws in the right places. 

After that, I taped the thread that it has not got paint

Good degrease the surface by alcohol

Surface covered with a thin layer of primer.

And then covered with 2 layers of gloss black paint

Then I removed the tape

and strengthened the screws using epoxy glue.

Installed all the controls on the places and connected to the controller

Next I installed the control panel into place and now you can admire the result;)

Controls:

Red button - turning on and off the entire device

Switch - mode selection: manual control / automatic operation

Two buttons to control the axis Z (height of instrument)

Joystick for axes X, Y and button (not yet decided what)

Problem has been discovered with reading file names and it was decided to use standard and fixed filenames (SLOT #). For convenience, the list indicates the number of lines in each file.

Control panel mounted on the hinges and can be set at an angle (has a lock).