Maslow 4.x customization

Maslow Community
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I’d like to know about any Maslow 4.x customizations that folks have made (or even thought about :-). To get things rolling, here are some notions I’ve been playing with…

  • 1/8" collet for rotary tool bits
  • camera(s), for scanning, etc.
  • compressed air (to clear swarf)
  • electric engraving pen
  • electric iron with wood burning tip
  • ink jet(s) or pen(s), for drawing
  • laser, for cutting and/or engraving
  • on-board computer (e.g., RasPi 5)

My notion is that these could use the existing router lift or be mounted on vacant parts of the sled (e.g., “above” the router). The RasPi could collect and process sensor data, control effectors, and/or assist with control file creation. It would run some version of Linux (e.g., Nerves) and perhaps some AI code (e.g., Monty).

I’m not sure what components and/or subsystems are economically available for effectors and sensors. That said, here are a few possibilities, as proofs of concept…

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re: collet, that is one good argument for going with a spindle, an ER chuck
gives you lots of options. Wood bits tend to have very standardized shanks (as
they are designed for routers or dremels) but bits designed for machine shops
have a much wider range of sizes (as do drill bits)

hot wire cutter for foam is an interesting idea.

drawing/painting tools have the problem of getting smudged by the sled

lasers have the problem of safety

most of my thinking about modifications are in the structure itself and need
firmware updates. :slight_smile:

David LAng

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If you take a look at the sled there are various points that will accept a screw (M3 I think) so you can mount other stuff to the sled itself

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You sure can, i mounted my control board using them

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Woah! This is cool! I hadn’t seen that!

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That’s cool and potentially very handy. If there’s no mounting hole where you want it, here are some possible options:

  • Use a few holes to mount an intermediate plate; drill that to taste.
  • Fill cavities with (say) JB Weld, then drill and tap.
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Can also buy plastic standoffs and glue them in. Like the ones used for electronics

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One issue I’ve been thinking about has to do with cooling a sled-mounted RasPi 5 while keeping it free of sawdust. My current notion is to add a compressed air hose to the M4’s umbilical. This could serve a couple of needs:

  • blowing sawdust into the dust collection hose
  • giving the RasPi a positive pressure supply of cooling air

FWIW, I think it would make sense to run the air hose at relatively high volume and low pressure, making it easy to split off various outputs with lightweight (e.g., plastic) tubing, valves, etc. So, for example, there could be an off-sled regulator running off of an air compressor.

On a related note, the PiShop folks suggested the Flirc Raspberry Pi 5 Case for this project. It’s made of aluminum, so it’s quite robust. More critically, the entire case serves as a heat sink, avoiding active cooling. Here’s the vendor page.

Comments?

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