Messages

4371

General Mach Discussion / Re: High speed spindle recommendations

« on: August 14, 2010, 09:06:18 AM »

Hood,
Looks like a good choice and would recommend you get both hand pieces ( collet and drill ).
The drill chuck on mine was just as good as the Jacobs collet ( about .002"  runout at the jaws ) but it had a rough /bad / tight feel when tightening a the cutting bits in it.

Here is a link to a few holders i made for the hand peices. This way i can easily mount  them on the lathe , mill , and engraving machine.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12484.msg88231.html#msg88231

RICH

4372

FAQs / Re: mach3turn spindle sensing problem

« on: August 14, 2010, 08:22:23 AM »

Bill,
Post your xml for both the mill and the lathe that your are using.

Then we can try on our side to see if we can duplicate the problem or narrow down the possibilities.

I don't remember everything associated with improper rpm readings off the top of my head...... and i am still
using Mach 3.042.33. There were a few folks who had rpm reading problems in TURN after that rev and need to see exactly the problem and
solution ( it was PC related, but later revisons of Mach addressed the problem).
You realy need to get the rpm  reading by Mach right or you will never do threading on the lathe.

RICH

4373

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Cylinder Heads

« on: August 14, 2010, 08:05:06 AM »

I'll take the one with the 2 carbs and blower.....make sure it works before sending it to me....

You must  admit that with CNC making another becomes a lot less time consuming. You may want to consider selling the gcode to make one.
Keep posting pic's as i can only write and can't read....

RICH

4374

General Mach Discussion / Re: High speed spindle recommendations

« on: August 13, 2010, 07:54:10 PM »

Thanks for the links Bob.
I would try the Harbor Freight one. For engraving work your only doing very light cuts so HP is not a problem , any way even if it is not a true 1/4 HP. At least the motor dosen't work as hard as my Dumore and that one isn't cheap. I just flood the area with fluid, slow feedrates and let the cutter make slush....

I will add that before purchasing mine, i called them and asked if they had other handpieces and when they looked they found that you could order one with collet or chuck and i got both.

To fix the play you just lightly heat the end of the handpiece to loosen the epoxy / locktight / crazy glue and screw the end off. Then you shim
the play out by adding spacers. You test the handpiece by running it and if the bearings get hot reduce the spacer. I would guess that i have .0005" of end play. You need to reduce it or your engraving will look like crap or you'll break those nice graving cutters.

RICH

4375

General Mach Discussion / Re: For Wizard Loving Lathe Users

« on: August 13, 2010, 06:27:48 PM »

Phil made a modified screen that i use and would recommend it.

RICH

4376

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Cylinder Heads

« on: August 13, 2010, 06:25:39 PM »

Great going, one for yourself and i guess your making the other one for me........

RICH

4377

General Mach Discussion / Re: High speed spindle recommendations

« on: August 13, 2010, 06:21:37 PM »

Oops that's  18,000 rpm. I just looked and Grizzly dosn't have that model listed, but if you search under Flexible Shaft Grinders you will see one which looks like mine / has a handle with a small drill chuck. If you tweak the handle by taking out the end play it works quite well. I replaced the chuck
( which wasn't bad at all ) with one from Albretch and also Jacobs.

I wouldn't spend the money for Foredom ( say $300+ or Dumore say $700 ) or some other brand when $100 one works just as well!

RICH

4378

General Mach Discussion / Re: High speed spindle recommendations

« on: August 13, 2010, 06:00:57 PM »

small high speed spindle that would be suitable for attaching to my mills quill. Only for engraving so doesn't have to be that powerful and small size and reasonable cost would be a big advantage. Looking for around 20,000 rpm and variable speed is not needed.

HOOD,
I have a few air driven and electric motor driven ones for engraving.
Probably the best bang for the buck was the Flexible Shaft Grinder from "Grizzly model WA300" since  it was 1/4 HP and 1800 rpm.
 I bought the associated handpieces also ( one uses a collet and other has a small chuck ). After a simple modification they were better than a lot of the expensive handpieces. Just make a holder for the handpieces and a holding plate for the quill and your good to go at very reasonable cost.
They work fine for engraving and small milling and also as a pecking drill when using a foot controlled pedal to vary the speed.

I prefer the electric ones to the air ones, still noisy but not as bad as the air ones.

If you want more info,like how to modify the handpieces, just ask.

RICH

4379

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Modifying lathe wizards

« on: August 13, 2010, 06:35:31 AM »

Peter,
Can't help much in respect to a turret operation. Hopefully Hood will chime in as he has experience with turret use / quicks associated with it.
Relative to reversing the arc's and affect on the axis movements, you can have a look at page 9 in "Mach3 Turn - Arc Motion" which you can find in Members Docs. That was done a long time ago and you won't find much info on intended use.


RICH

4380

VB and the development of wizards / Re: Modifying lathe wizards

« on: August 12, 2010, 08:03:20 PM »

What happens if you go to CONFIG> PORTS & PINS> TURN OPTION and check Reversed Arc's in Front Tool Post?
RICH