For whatever reason, I cannot bring myself to finish building my lowrider 3. I cnc’ed the yz plates with a different cnc, built a massive table with 8080 aluminum extrusion to support 4x8’ sheets, put in mdf spoil boards with slats for work holding, got most of the lowrider 3 assembled (at the x belt step with wiring completed), but just can’t bring myself to put the belts on and calibrate to finish it off. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve started looking at other cncs. I don’t know if it’s laziness, if I’m scared of finishing it, even writing this post I still feel like the activation energy is so high.
Whose interested in coming to Durham, NC to finish a lowrider build?
You gotta know if it works… All that time and the upgrades. Surely you must be curious if your efforts are going to pay off?
The first mpcnc then mp3dp and lowrider were all similar where I didn’t want to kill anything by trying it wrong the first time. I only fried the board on the mp3dp, so 2 of 3 is pretty good. I wired the endstop wrong and shorted power to ground rather than signal to ground. Just take a minute to double check. Have your power cord handy, take a deep breath and do it. It will be fine. If it isn’t. It can be recovered.
I can identify with the dillemma. I have had many projects that I’ve been anticipating, and really excited about, but just not sure that everything can/will go as expected.
The LR3 is a great machine. I hope you really enjoy it once complete.
Sounds normal to me. There are so many projects that take on a life of their own. You get so invested in it, all the choices you have to make to reach your goal. Your near the end, but really you are at the beginning of your new adventure.
If you haven’t already,I would connect the controller up to the steppers and display. Seeing the thing light up might just get you fired up again.
Lots of folks get stuck at 80-90%. My LR3 sat there for a good while, then I got a chance to get in the LR4 beta, and I’ve built (But not moved) three different releases of beta including two simultaneous different variations of X gantries being completed but not moving.
Plenty of life stuff gets in the way.
Sometimes you just have to decide you’re got to just hunker down and put it the last bit together.
Ask for help here as you go, you’ll get whatever help you need and you’ll end up with a running machine.
Projects for me always stop the same way. When I start, I can see an island that looks nice. I am on the other side of a chasm on the mainland. I start making a bridge to cross over (learning about the problems and breaking things down into manageable chunks). As soon as I figure out everything needed to solve the problem, there is only work left. It is like the bridge is built and all I have to is walk over it. But I stop and find another island.
My suggestions are:
Give yourself some slack. It is ok to fail. Not every project finishes and that is part of learning. The sunk costs are paid for by the experience you have gain so far.
Do it poorly. Sometimes I get so hung up on doing things perfectly that I can’t seem to finish. Some idioms I like: “Perfect is the enemy of good” and “Productivity is nothing with Craftsmanship. Craftsmanship is nothing without Productivity”. Finishing it poorly gives you a chance to make a “rough draft” to get across the finish line and evaluate where your interests really lie.
It sounds like you want a sort of “hackathon” to get it finished. Put it on your calendar. Invite a family member or friend. Buy some beverages and order a pizza and just get something done. That sounds like a great idea.
At any rate, you’ve done good so far and I am sure you will be able to find something enjoyable in what you’ve built.
+1 that this happens with all sorts of projects. Try not to worry about all the next steps to finish the project.
When you get home from work, pick on thing you want to get done. For example, today you are going to put the belts on. That is it.
I find once I get started and spent 10 minutes putting belts on, usually I’ll want to do another small piece. Next thing you know, it’s 11:30pm and somebody is looking for you.
Or you’ll really be done after belts and that is cool too. The project is further than yesterday.
Post some pictures! The table sounds sweet. I was considering doing something similar since used extrusion is cheap on FB marketplace for some reason.
If your like me
Those mechanical aspects came naturally.
Stepping into the unknown (the interface and the terminology) really takes the wind out of your sails.
But don’t be afraid, I knew nothing about any of this before.
There is plenty of ppl to help in here or old posts to steer you.
Also yes the friend thing is a great idea. Even if it’s just to have someone else bounce ideas off.
Make it a fun thing like Jeff said. Get some pizza and drinks.
Or multitask and make it a slow cook bbq thing as well to break it up a bit.
