Per Mr. Parallax's Request - New Machine Photos

idbruce

Hello Everyone

Several years ago, I was content writing programs in Visual C++ and MFC, but then I discovered the BASIC Stamp and stepper motors. My life has not been the same since then, and I very rarely open Visual Studio anymore

Just a note for beginners:
Do more with those stepper motors than just watching them spin!

Here are a few photos of my new programmable label dispenser. This item will become part of my permanent product line, however one change will have to be made. It currently contains an OEM BASIC Stamp, which will be replaced in all future models by the Propeller chip. The width of the label will always remain constant, but any new length label can be programmed into the machine through the DB9.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

For those who are unfamiliar with these kinds of label dispensers, here's how it works:

The label is dispensed by pulling the backing over a sharp edge, which separates the label from the backing, and stops feeding just short of complete separation. That way, the operator can remove the label without it falling off. Typically a footswitch triggers the next cycle, but some dispensers can detect when the label has been removed and dispense the next one automatically.

Bruce, did you include a sensor to detect the gap between labels in order to avoid creep in the feed distance?

-Phil

idbruce

@Phil - No I did not include a sensor for that, but that is a very good idea. For this particular machine, a user presses the black button when they want a label, it then feeds approximately half way through the label and allows the user 10 seconds to remove it, before advancing to the next label. I don't have the steps finely tuned yet, but in future models, I believe I will use a reflective object sensor to removing the tuning aspect, as you so appropriately hinted. Wish I would have thought of that.

Bruce

Peter Jakacki

Bruce,

It just so happens that I have done something similar in one of my projects. Can I suggest that the sensor is either fed into an ADC or that you PWM the LED and filter the output of the sensor so that your sensor can be controlled in software to distinguish the difference between the label or the tape automatically.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

My Eltron (now Zebra) label printer uses a transmissive sensor to detect the gap, since the backing is almost always somewhat translucent; and the labels themselves, opaque.

-Phil

idbruce

And this machine is a "Self-Adhesive Hang Tab Dispenser". What is a Hang Tab? A hang tab is those little plastic things attached to various products that let the products be hung from a hook for store merchandising display purposes. There are no current plans to make this a part of my product line, but that may change. Of course the OSB board would have to be swapped out for aluminum sheet. Additionally, I am currently in the process of making a cover for the power supply.

Please note that one item of particular interest is a G251 Gecko Drive stepper driver mounted as a daughter board of the Propeller Proto Board using the VGA mounting holes.

Machines like this one, only a little better built, retail from $500 - $800

Bruce

EDIT: This machine is also externally programmable through a DB9 connector
EDIT: Another item worth mentioning is that the Propeller Proto Board is being powered from the 5V logic supply from the main power supply in the enclosure. This feed is going directly to the 5V rail on the Proto Board, which feeds the 3.3V required by the Propeller chip.

ElectricAye

Nice looking machines!
I like the fact you have at least one of them decorating your living room. :-)

idbruce

@Peter - Yes, I will keep that in mind.

@Phil - What is the difference between a transmissive sensor and a reflective object sensor?

frank freedman

Are these labels preprinted or does the machine do that on the fly?

Frank

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

A transmissive sensor places the emitter on one side of the label+backing; the detector, on the other. The IR must pass through the backing to be detected. Since the backing is almost always somewhat translucent, there will be a high contrast between "label" and "no label". The Eltron printers allow one to specify the threshold point, however, in case some backings are more optically dense than others. I've never had to make any adjustments to mine, though.

-Phil

idbruce

@frank freedman- Both machines would need preprinting. However, I did see that someone has an old inkjet kit available for other printing

idbruce

@Phil - Sounds like it is just a slotted opto-switch. In my case, the labels are transluscent, but for most other users, I imagine the labels would be opaque. More decisions.... LOL Now you got me thinking.

idbruce

I just performed a search on the "Eltron" "Zebra" label printers that Phil mentioned and those things look pretty sweet. I want one!

Tubular

"That Bruce is a trouble maker, but he sure makes nice stuff"
(isn't that what you wanted us to say, from your HV thread?)

Nice job. Good to see some metalwork here

I'm concerned about the metal strap holding the wall wart in place - it just doesn't seem to be far enough away from those (presumably 110v AC) pins. It could be just the angle of the photos, but that kind of jumped out at me... the heat from the box / wall wart would cause that AL strap to expand more than the plastic, permitting that angle about the single screw pivot to extend further, and then in a worst case scenario - could it touch those pins? What if the strap was put on backwards (180 degrees spun about), could it touch then?

I may be worrying unnecessarily. All the best with it.

idbruce

@Tubular - Don't worry, be happy! The metal strap holding the modified wall wart has approximately zero clearance to rotate. Additionally the screws that hold that strap in place have threadlocker on them. Thanks for the nice comment.

@ElectricAye - And I also thank you for you comments

@Everyone else, new photos to be posted shortly!

idbruce

Here is a project that has been momentarily put on the back burner. It is a hot wire foam cutter. This project will eventually become part of my permanent product line after I redesign the power supply and controller. It is my intention to box up the pieces and sell them as kits on eBay. The kit will also include a rip fence and be powered by a Propeller chip.

Bruce

idbruce

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my past work and machines.....

Here is a link to my wire bending and packaging CNC machines
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?129612-My-Current-Prop-Based-CNC-Photos

And here is a link to an incomplete 3 axis CNC machine
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?129621-Another-Propeller-Based-CNC-Machine-In-The-Works-Photos

And although posted elesewhere, somewhere in the forum, there are a few pics posted below of my UV exposure box for making PCBs.

All of the projects shown or linked to on this page have a Parallax uC or uCs embedded within them with the exception of the hot wire foam cutter, which will eventually have a Parallax product to maintain control.

Hope you all like my projects. Cheers.

Bruce

idbruce

I almost forgot this one, and although this really does not classify as a machine, it certainly deserves an honorable mention. This is my field programmer, which uses JonnyMac''s PropellerLoader object. I use this handy little device to reprogram most of my machinery. Works like a charm!

Bruce

idbruce

As for my future projects that I will add to my permanent product line and that will include Parallax uCs, well here is the list:

1. A miniature 3 axis PCB drilling machine. (Approximately 4 X 4 workspace area)
2. A miniature and double sided UV exposure box for exposing 4 X 4 PCBs

Ravenkallen

I have a very similar machine at my work. It works almost exactly like Phil described... There is a little photo-transistor that detects the edge of the tag, which is a different color than the rest of the tag. Ours has to print the tag on the fly though. There is a RS-232 connector and a PS/2 connector, so i can tell that it is pretty old, but It's a really cool machine, when it is working(Once every blue moon it seems:))... Anyways, nice work. I love seeing Props in commercial applications:)

idbruce

@Ravenkallen - I still can't believe that I did not think of that while designing and building those two dispensers. However, I have put a lot of thought into since last night. I don't have any designs modified just yet, but I am definitely putting thought into the subject.

Anyhow, thanks for the comment.

Bruce