DIY Arduino Automated Metal Bending Machine -- Episode 458

i kinda miss plying with tmc drivers...maybe a new project with stepper motors is on order...

well you could stack the geraboxes but it comes wiht a catch, while you multiply the output force you also multiply the slack in the gearing and friction which leads to false triggering of the load measurmeent.

a bit of binding due to friction would be interpreted as getting to the end.

If you decide to gear up, you may need to find a different load measurment solution to get the right clamping force, or in case you find amotor solution that is strong enough for abender, a load cell as mentioned by Paul before would be the way to go.

Awesome project!

Could you just stack the 5:1 gearboxes?

I've recently been watching some people online using 3D printed parts for press breaks. I also thought about cutting squares from pop cans and 3D printing positive / negative dies and pressing letters into them. Could be a cool project.

There are other load cells available with much higher load sensing ratings, just do a search for load cells on the element14 site, and refine search by the load rating, to find the load cell that fits your requirements, pretty simple if you know where to look.

Connection of a load cell is much like the connection of a PT100 thermistor, similar connection methods plus you need an ADC pin.

Glad to pass on this information, once you learn how to utilise load cells you'd be surprised how useful they are in these kinds of applications.

thanks for sharing .  Looks like I could incorporate it into the stock holder, but for actual bending I need a different solution as the forces will have to go up to several hundred kilos.

Yes some piezos are fragile but piezo based measuring devices encompass a large range of measuring items here is the link of a load cell you could look at utilising which provides according to the data sheet provides approximately 45kg of force measure.

https://au.element14.com/te-connectivity/fx1901-0001-0100-l/compression-load-cell-20mv-v-45/dp/3397811?st=load%20cell you would design this into the actual clamp to measure the force applied to the clamp.

I hope this helps

Regards

Paul

thanks, I figured the code is pretty much the most important segment as ists not that streightforward t oget the reading needed.

Nice build.  I really appreciate the code explanation.  I loved the English Wheel.  That was awesome!

I'm a bit worried that thepiezo might get damaged from the forces aplied to it. I worked with piezos before to build pickups for acoustic guitars and they were pretty fragile.

Its good to learn how to use them as that knowledge would come in handy later on.  But when I am referring to a load cell, I'm considering you could use a piezo based load sensor that is built in to the bending mechanism it self, similar to the precision piezo sensor used in 3d printers to utilise the nozzle as the actual probe.

Using a piezo electric sensor is also more accurate in reading the amount of torque applied, but on the flip side is much harder to implement.