Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Shuttlexpress jog wheel not ramping up

« on: December 22, 2021, 04:33:56 PM »

Hello,

Longtime Mach3 user here.  On my new machine everything has been working great on a Surface tablet running Windows 10 and Mach3.  I recently added a Shuttlexpress and find with the jog wheel it does not ramp up speed when using it to jog.  In step mode the finger wheel works exactly as I want it to but the jog wheel is slow.  Looking for suggestions as it does not work like I see folks using the Shuttlexpress on youtube videos. 

Thanks,
Bob

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle DC Servo Indexing

« on: April 22, 2016, 03:11:59 PM »

Gotcha.  Thanks Hood!

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle DC Servo Indexing

« on: April 22, 2016, 02:34:40 PM »

Correct, just a little dyslexic on method names.

Thinking over this a bit I assume I'll have to add a spindle index board (which I already have leftover from a previous project.)  Not sure how the Fanuc spindle drive determines the index because there's a v-belt driven encoder (which obviously could slip) and no proximity switch that I'm aware of.  So the general idea is call SwapAxis, which will be followed by a G28, then move the spindle X steps to get oriented, cycle the toolchanger, yada yada yada, then once toolchange is finished call ResetAxisSwap.

Once the axis is swapped back I don't *think* there will be a problem with the faux axis constantly hitting its home switch as the spindle is running...?

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Spindle DC Servo Indexing

« on: April 22, 2016, 10:35:47 AM »

Thanks Hood, that is exactly what I was looking for.  I am using the parallel port so this should work.  In my toolchange script I will add the call to SwapAxis() and when finished ResetSwapAxis().

The machine has a 7.5hp Fanuc AC spindle motor.  I've had my share of fun with VFD's on other machines dealing with RFI/EMI issues so on this one I am going to now convert it over to a 4.35hp DC servo I am going to build out of a treadmill motor with an added encoder.  Losing a bit of horsepower but 4.35 hp is way more than I typically need.

I converted my lathe over to a DC treadmill motor and have been very pleased. 

5

General Mach Discussion / Spindle DC Servo Indexing

« on: April 20, 2016, 04:07:38 PM »

I'm considering changing over the spindle on my BP 412 over to a fairly large DC servo.  If I set the spindle to run via step and direction, is it possible to write a toolchange macro to index the spindle orientation for the toolchanger?  In other words, is the spindle acccessible like any other axis from a macro?  The DC servo I'm thinking about using has an index output as well as the normal incremental outputs.  But since the spindle has a serpentine-type belt drive there is always the possibility of slipping so I assume an index proximity sensor is required on the spindle itself, then count X steps past the index to orient the spindle for a toolchange.

Thanks,
Bob

6

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: March 13, 2016, 12:53:33 PM »

I've been following this thread for a few years in the hopes that I would find an Interact 412 near me (central Indiana).  One popped up on eBay last week (finally) and I got it for a very, very reasonable cost.  $600!  It was a running machine until recently.  The owner just got tired of replacing encoders and decided to part with it.  It is in very good condition, just dirty.  The only thing that appears amiss is the right saddle needs some turcite replaced but can get by with it as-is.  Needs a good pressure washing and repainting of the sheet metal components.  I trailered it home Friday and now I have to figure out how to get the dang thing off the trailer.  Gonna have to rent a big fork truck.

The plan is to gut the Heidenhain control, keep the Fanuc AC spindle drive, install 1kw AC servos, and integrate everything else with SSRs.  I don't have three phase power so I am going to acquire a 10hp Phase Perfect.  Right now my other Bridgeport running on Mach with a VFD runs perfectly on single phase, so this isn't my first rodeo but have other machines running on a rotary phase converter and I would really like to get rid of that dinosaur.

The door is kludged together at the top with a ball bearing drawer slide.  Am investigating what was there originally.

Machine, right after loading it:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/V582N8ihyvDR2Da2jPqpd5wF091t-2t_Y7yYrLX580rExrqTci5eC-RYnpkZvENgO3F22n5X2GeLKw=w1030-h772-no

Servos/drives I plan on using:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AC-servo-motor-drive-Kit-1ph-220V-80mm-4NM-1kW-2500RPM-4-4A-3M-Cable-/121691953583?hash=item1c5567d9af:g:D04AAOSwLVZVklS6

Thanks,
Bob

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fanuc OT retro

« on: September 17, 2009, 12:02:04 PM »

Hey gents, I finally got the MSD file and some better instructions from Emco-Maier but haven't had time yet to try to recommission it.  Thanks for the kind offers of help, hopefully I get it going in the next few days.

Regards,
Bob

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fanuc OT retro

« on: September 15, 2009, 04:41:03 PM »

John, if you could provide me with the MSD file that would be superb.  I have the instructions on how to set the default baud rate and other steps to set the paramters.  I looked on cnczone for the OTB parameters and couldn't find it.

Regards,
Bob

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fanuc OT retro

« on: September 15, 2009, 10:49:21 AM »

The Emcocturn 320 I bought was unpowered, and priced accordingly.  I got a good deal on it.  Since it had sat for so long unpowered, the batteries went dead and all of the default parameters were lost.  The machine needs to be "recommissioned" (the term Emco uses to input all of the Fanuc OTB's default parameters.)  When I powered it up I got a servo fault on the X and Z axis 417 and 427.

Emco has sent me a pdf on how to recommission the machine, but I have yet to receive the parameter file I have to upload to it.  They want $700 for a one year support contract if I needed any additional help but they did promise to send me the file.  Still waiting so we shall see.  Retrofit/Mach3 is plan B if this all falls through.

If I could find another identical machine I could download all of the parameters from, that would be ideal.

Tool nose radius compensation is not an issue for me, since most cam packages will do that for you.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Fanuc OT retro

« on: September 14, 2009, 02:43:34 PM »

Actually right now I am leaning on a Granite Devices VSD-XE, two new DC servos from them (so I don't have to muck with wiring or PID tuning), but am not sure what to do about the Fanuc AC servo spindle motor; perhaps retain the existing Fanuc drive and also control the 0-10V input via a PIC microcontroller.  As far as the turret, chuck and tailstock go, I'm thinking that they wouldn't be very complicated to control with a PIC.  With new servos this route would be less expensive than the DSPMC.