Messages

1

Forum suggestions and report forum problems. / posting not showing up

« on: April 15, 2011, 07:32:30 PM »

I posted a CNC lathe for sale in the bargin basement section & the post didn't show up & now when I go to try to load it again I get the message that the file name of my pictures already exists so my stuff is there somewhere. I can't find the post elsewhere. The posting was for a spectralight/Shirlins CNC lathe for sale.

Thanks,
dchutchins

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: steppers or software

« on: February 04, 2011, 06:28:37 PM »

No, I tried the shirline mode once before & it produced some straing things, but I did change a few other things since then. I'll try the shirline mode again.

Thanks,
Dave

3

General Mach Discussion / steppers or software

« on: February 04, 2011, 05:07:11 PM »

I just got done building my new controller box for my spectralight/Sherline lathe & got most of the Mach3 setup. In manual mode, I set jog to incramental of .010 & when running the axis back & forth with an indicator. I get iratic readings, meaning the step are not consistant every time. I have set the backlash. I am starting to think one of my steppers is bad (X-Axis) & maybe the z axis is going. It gives me between .009 - .011 for each step in iether direction. These are the original round steppers.

Or....Am I missing something in the software?

Anyone else experience this themselves?

Dave

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Light Machines lathe

« on: December 21, 2010, 06:46:24 PM »

Well, I purchased a 2 axis controller/driver set from XYdrive Automation & in the meantime I placed the Spectralight controller on e-bay. A couple of days after placing the old controller on e-bay someone sent me a message that they have created a diagram for an addapter cable that allows me to hook the old spectralight controller to the PC parallel ports. I mad the addapter & connected everything. I soon relized the there is a crap load of cinfiguration settings in MACH3 turn of which I haven't a clue about. Is there somewhere I can look for an instruction manual so I can stop being clueless?
What would be cool is if there were someone in Northern Delaware that could come by & see if I have this thing configured right or if I have everything all messed up.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Light Machines lathe

« on: December 04, 2010, 07:39:01 PM »

pictures - second 4

In all reality, this controller would be good for someone who already has the PC card but the controller box is bad. I think I would rather keep it whole & sell it to someone who needs it & just purchase the GEKO system. The first person who offers me $350 or more gets it. I just need to figure out what the replacement would be in my case.

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Light Machines lathe

« on: December 04, 2010, 07:34:34 PM »

pictures - first 4

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Light Machines lathe

« on: December 03, 2010, 11:09:03 PM »

I have 9 pictures of the controller box but I don't know how to list them on here. It appears that it is just a transformer, a breidge rectifier, a large circuit board, an input from computer (from propriatary PC board), machine outputs (one for lathe, one for mill, one for spindle & one for robot) & a bunch of external fuse holders. If someone can give me an e-mail address to send them to, I'll e-mail the pictures. The pictures are all about 2mb each. I think considering I paid around $350 for this box, i'd be better off selling it to someone who has the PC card but a dead controller & just purchase the GEKO system. There's a guy listing them (Geko) on e-bay that has the whole 9 yards in one package for around $400. I tried to build a new PC to run this thing. I got it all togeather & can't get it to work. With as much as I hate computers, I don't know why I started into a computer centric project.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Light Machines lathe

« on: December 02, 2010, 01:23:50 PM »

I now have the lathe in question in my custody. I have looked at the motors & this is what I have:
Superior electric slo-syn. syncronous/stepping motor. Type M062-CF-401E. hold 125 oz in. steps 200 per rev. 4.75 VDC 1.7A. spec A215922. Cont. Duty. 65degree rise. Class B insulation. Impedence protected.
http://mcsupplyco.com/uploads/productlayouts/ProductDetailDisplay.asp?DirectLink=true&ProductID=1202
There are 4 wires connected to the plugs & 8 pins on the plug. From the way the motors are mounted, starting at the top of the plug I have gray, skip a pin, red w/blk stripe, skip a pin, yellow, skip pin, green & next pin is blicked off as a locator.

Luckily the plug on the end of the motor is a standard punchdown type molex plug so I can rewire the machine & still reuse the motor plugs. This machine is definately built on a Sherline platform.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Light Machines lathe

« on: November 24, 2010, 06:39:51 PM »

Hey, even G.I.G.O at this point would be very helpfull. This is definitely a learning experience. My wife is already pissed that I bought the Spectralight (light Machines) controler box & won't be using it. Maybe someone at cabin fever has been looking for one. It cost me $350 - ouch. It wouldn't be a bad deal if I could find the PC card cheap. It looks like Gecko & Mach3 is the only way to go now.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Light Machines lathe

« on: November 23, 2010, 06:55:58 PM »

Sounds like I am going to be talking to a lot of people at Cabin Fever this time around.