Messages

7231

General Mach Discussion / advice please

« on: February 12, 2011, 02:18:38 AM »

Hi DMF,

Welcome to the forum.

From experience, I suggest that an old PC (WinXP) with a parallel port but not having on-board graphics, which is dedicated to just running the machine with Mach3, may be more suitable.
Your laptop/netbook etc could then be used to run your CAD/CAM and create the GCode (I use a USB memory stick to transfer the GCode from my laptop to PC).
CAD/CAM software is really a matter of chioce but there are plenty, perhaps function limited 'try before you buy' to help you choose. No one software does it all so you will end up with a few different types depending on what you are planning on making with your machine.

There is a wealth of knowledge here on this forum and a wealth of members only too willing to help if you need assistance.

Good fortune with your project.

Tweakie.

7232

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bosch Collet

« on: February 10, 2011, 02:24:30 AM »

http://www.precisebits.com/products/equipment/bosch_colt_collets_nuts.asp

Tweakie.

7233

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wiring Limit & Home Switch

« on: February 09, 2011, 12:16:18 PM »

You can use your limit switch as a home switch because when set-up the axis will only home in the one direction.

Tweakie.

(In answer to your earlier question re soft limits - the axis would home to the 0.25" position because that is the figure Rich specified in his setup).

7234

FAQs / Re: Having trouble getting set up

« on: February 09, 2011, 11:12:17 AM »

Hi CW,

A lot of people have converted the X3 to CNC but it is quite an involved task. The standard leadscrews and thrust washers have quite a bit of backlash, an awful lot on the quill (Z axis) and many have replaced the leadscrews with ballscrews and proper thrust bearings adding considerably to the conversion cost.
If you have not already purchased the X3 then there may be better options such as the purchase of a little used, ex-educational machine such as a Denford, Boxford, Emco etc which are already CNC'd (eBay always seems to have on or two, bench top, ex-college machines listed). You would still have to replace the control electronics with more modern (microstepping) units such as Gecko's or similar but I think you would end up with a much better machine.
I have the X2 mill which is a wonderful little machine for manually milling most of the parts I need to make but I know it would cost at least double its purchase price to convert to CNC and even then it may not be truly suitable.
Your list of parts seems pretty complete although LazyCam comes with Mach3 and you may need belt and pulley or flexi couplings to connect the motors to the screws. (for a small machine like this, stepper motors would be a cheaper option than servo's). Also there would be some machining of parts required so some ally plate would be useful to budget for.

Just my thoughts.

Tweakie.

7235

General Mach Discussion / Re: Wiring Limit & Home Switch

« on: February 09, 2011, 08:14:48 AM »

Assuming that I will use the same numbers as above, when I hit the button “Ref All Home” will the Z axis move to -2.25” or 0.25” ?

And why?

That Sir is an absolutely brilliant question of which I have no idea of the answer without actually trying it. I am concerned about the Z= minus 2.5 part though, is that correct ?

Tweakie.

7236

General Mach Discussion / Re: EMCO PC Mill and Turn 55 - Conversion

« on: February 09, 2011, 02:27:30 AM »

The price of the 3 phase stepper drivers you have found is extremely reasonable and you would need one for each 3 phase stepper motor plus one breakout board to connect them to the computer LPT port. (the breakout board shown in the eBay photo looks like it is directly mains powered so I would avoid this particular one). The existing Power Supply Unit would almost certainly be OK. The existing spindle speed controller would need investigation as to its drive requirements and another small circuit board may be necessary to switch a relay or convert the Mach PWM signal to the appropriate drive voltage.

This would not be a project for the faint hearted as some electrical knowledge is required to hook everything up and test everything but it can be done and looking at the research you have already done you are meticulous enough to succeed.

Tweakie.

7237

General Mach Discussion / Re: EMCO PC Mill and Turn 55 - Conversion

« on: February 08, 2011, 11:05:18 AM »

Probably best to actually count the wires coming out of the stepper motor.

Tweakie.

7238

FAQs / Re: Cutting Acryclic

« on: February 08, 2011, 07:14:08 AM »

Just one more point to note is that you actually have acrylic and not polycarbonate. 

Tweakie.

7239

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Our 2440 x 1220mm CnC Router Builds

« on: February 08, 2011, 06:45:11 AM »

That's novel Tony - Space Invaders on a touch screen. 

Seriously though, very nice work.

Tweakie.

7240

General Mach Discussion / Re: EMCO PC Mill and Turn 55 - Conversion

« on: February 08, 2011, 02:45:11 AM »

It is probably a matter of opinion here but my approach, providing the machine is already driven using bipolar stepper motors, would be to replace the existing controller with a cheap, Chinese, multi axis board similar to one I used here for an old Boxford mill http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/14.htm (In your case there would be no need to remove the machine from it's cabinet etc). Many parts such as the PSU, spindle speed controller etc will be reusable.
This then makes the machine 100% compatible with Mach3 operation. There is quite a lot of work involved but it is not an expensive option but check that the stepper motors can be operated in bipolar mode (that they have 4, 6 or 8 wires). If the motors are 5 wire unipolar steppers or servo/encoder types then there would be much more expense involved and it may not be an economic project to complete on a budget.

Tweakie.