Machsupport Forum

*****VIDEOS***** => *****VIDEOS***** => Topic started by: boilerbots on March 27, 2009, 06:37:46 AM

Title: Mach3 and SmoothStepper driving my old Wells Index at 100IPM
Post by: boilerbots on March 27, 2009, 06:37:46 AM

http://www.youtube.com/v/tTDpoNrs7rI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1

This is a very old Wells Index mill that I reworked the electronics. It has the original steppers, Gecko drives running at 76V, and a SmoothStepper. I am using Mach3 right now to interpret the G-code. This short clip is that last little bit of roughing and then a quick finish pass at my max speed of 100IPM. I am cutting with a 0.625 dia Cobalt 3 flut end mill and this let me tell you it can slice this aluminum like butter. I tool path is setup to limit peak spindle horse power to about 1.3Hp, I have a 3Hp spindle but I don't like to push it.

Curt

Title: Re: Mach3 and SmoothStepper driving my old Wells Index at 100IPM
Post by: Chaoticone on March 27, 2009, 10:20:04 AM

Good for you Curt, looking good. Thats much easier than cranking a bunch of handels.  :)

Brett

Title: Re: Mach3 and SmoothStepper driving my old Wells Index at 100IPM
Post by: bret4 on January 04, 2010, 04:10:18 PM

I know its been a long time sense you posted about your index mill. Still I would like to ask if you have and pictures of the machine showing how you mounted the motors on it. Also wonder what kind of screws you are using. I have a old index of around the 1940s vintage that I may want to convert to cnc one day.

Bret

Title: Re: Mach3 and SmoothStepper driving my old Wells Index at 100IPM
Post by: boilerbots on January 05, 2010, 02:33:30 AM

My  mill is from the early 80s and was CNC from the factory. The pieces are cast and would be difficult to reproduce but if you want pictures I can post a few, I think I put somein the image section of the forum.

Let me know.