Roland MDX-15, 3D Mill

The Manuals only covers the start of using this resource. Training needs to be completed before access is granted.

Summary of methods

The Roland MDX-15, give your ideas shape. Easy-to-use and compatible with many popular 2D/3D CAD software programs (autocad, solidworks, eagle). There are 3 ways to use this mill:

 1) The use the scanner head to scan objects -> DXF file

 2)  Create 3D objects from a STL (or DXF) -> object ( molds for lost wax, lost foam)

 3) Create 2D objects from any document using the print driver ( circuit boards ).

 Specs

Getting connected

A USB to DB25 cable system is provided.

The RTS/CTS lines MUST be used, when setting up a new serial port.  Enable the Hardware handshake for the port used.

The roland uses a USB to serial 9 Pin and this cable ( Belkin F2L044-06 ) for the roland MDX-xx series: 

Install the Drivers

Install the correct drivers for the OS here http://support.rolanddga.com/_layouts/rolanddga/productdetail.aspx?pm=mdx-20

The print driver needs to be configured to the COM port. Note the COM port can change if the USB adaptor is plug into another port. VERIFY the COM port has hardware flow control each time. If the flow control is not enabled bad things will happen.

Print run

There are 2 ways to send to the roland:

 1)  Generate a file with CAM (Fusion360 and others), then use Dropout to send it, or

 2)  use roland's "modela player" all in one CAM / printrun 

Print cancel

press the view button to pause the MDX-15 action.

run the cancel print file deleteprintjob.cmd as admin  ( copy deleteprintjob.txt to a local file deleteprintjob.cmd )

press the up and down button at the same time. The LED will flash as the print buffer is being delete. (see MDX-cancel job. pdf below)

press the view button to return to normal operation.

CAM

Fusion360 has a post processor for RML1 (roland's version of Gcode).

Click the link for "search for posts in online lib" in fusion's CAM setup.

Use the latest Roland RML post. Change the MDX15 or 20 to Yes.

Make sure the units are milameters.  

http://cam.autodesk.com/posts/post.php?name=roland%20rml