ELECTRONIC PRODUCTION
Tools
CNC design - Software and hardware
Used to define cutting operations, tool parameters, and generate G-code for machining.
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|---|---|---|
| Machine Model | Roland MDX-40A | Roland MDX-20 |
| Working Area | ~305 × 305 × 105 mm | ~203 × 152 × 60 mm |
| Axes | 3-axis (X, Y, Z) | 3-axis (X, Y, Z) |
| Spindle Speed | Up to ~15,000 RPM | Up to ~6,500 RPM |
| Materials | Wax, wood, plastic, soft metals | Wax, wood, plastic |
| Typical Use | Molds, prototypes, PCBs | Small prototypes, PCBs |
| Control | Modela Player / Mods | Mods |
Workflow
We searched for the materials and components needed for our board previously designed in KiCad.
The material thickness was measured to ensure it met the dimensions of the designed traces. In this case, a V-bit was used for the trace milling and a flat end mill was used for cutting the board.
Before starting it’s important to install the drivers for the Roland machines. In our case, we used Windows for communication. However, if you use Linux, you can avoid these steps.
We used MODS to generate the toolpaths and send the machining instructions to the Roland milling machine, allowing us to process the design files and convert them into commands that the machine can interpret.
Mods generates an RML file, which is then sent through VPanel to the Roland MDX-40A.
In this photo you can see Rodrigo glad because the file worked correctly
In this case, the tool was changed to an end mill to cut the board, removing material around the contour of the design to separate the final piece from the stock.
After the cutting process, the surface-mount (SMD) soldering of the components was carried out, including resistors, capacitors, the microcontroller, LEDs, and connectors.
During the process, some issues in solder quality were observed such as excess solder and small accumulations but with patience and practice. All electrical connections were properly completed.
With the workflow established, additional boards were fabricated to validate and test the programming of the microcontrollers.
Issues and Errors
Test #1
During the milling process with the Roland MDX-20, issues were encountered when sending files from MODS, as the machine executed incorrect toolpats or generated erratic lines. Although communication with the machine was established, it was not possible to achieve correct file transmission using Windows; different programs, configurations, and drivers were tested.
Test #2
Fab Lab repositories and documentation were reviewed, where similar cases were identified related to communication settings (WebSocket vs WebSocket Python Serial), flow control, and the use of DB25 cables versus Serial-USB adapters. These sources suggest that the erratic behavior may be caused by inconsistencies in port configuration or communication interfaces, rather than errors in the design or generated files.
For this reason, the process was not successfully completed under this setup and alternative solutions such as using Linux or a different machine were considered to ensure proper operation.