Messages

231

General Mach Discussion / Re: My First Mill and first CNC upgrade

« on: February 12, 2009, 04:20:33 PM »

Andy,
   I have been seriously considering one of those machines,they have excellent travel,and
are more sophisticated than the rf45 types available from:
http://www.engineerstoolroom.co.uk

The only objections I have to it is that it has a MT3 taper which is not really the best for milling,R8
would have been better.Plus he has put the cost up by £200 since the last batch,which takes it over my budget!
 As to stepper/servo's do a bit more research before you commit I have built a few systems now and I find
that the advantages of servo's far outweigh there (small) price differance.
Whatever you do you will need a Z axis motor of twice the size of the X&Y because of drilling etc.
  Where abouts in the UK are you based?
      Tony

232

General Mach Discussion / Re: step-analog board,CNT 803

« on: January 10, 2009, 12:24:26 PM »

Hood,
   chers thats very informative.
Resolvers is another ofthose things I have heard mention but I dont know what they are and how they
interface with encoders? Can you advise on any books or websites I could read?
  cheers
       Tony

233

General Mach Discussion / Re: step-analog board,CNT 803

« on: January 10, 2009, 04:26:32 AM »

Chip,
  thanks for that,can you elaborate on the index pulse?
I am still a bit fuzzy with resolvers,etc. as I have only dealt with simple gecko 340 systems.


cheers
   Tony

234

General Mach Discussion / step-analog board,CNT 803

« on: January 08, 2009, 05:34:50 AM »

Hi,
  What is the curant state of play with available step-analog conveters?
I have found these,but they are quite expensive:

http://www.vigproducts.com/html/an2step.htm

 Also while Im here does anybody have any information on the Ctek CNT Controller?
I cant get any information out of the manufacturers regarding the servo drives.
I am thinking of retro fitting to Mach3
   Hope someone can help
   Tony

235

General Mach Discussion / Re: cat 5

« on: December 22, 2008, 04:21:16 AM »

Vince,
 I too am on my 5th servo conversion!,I have generally used twisted pair shielded data cable for a&B
But I supose its not data,so maybe the best would be individual/single coax like audio link up cable?
plus its cheap and readily available.
    Tony

236

General Mach Discussion / Re: cat 5

« on: December 21, 2008, 04:54:57 PM »

Vince,
   should the other twist be earth/zero volts? I've used two core twisted shielded data cable
a&b together and never had a problem.
   Tony

237

General Mach Discussion / cat 5

« on: December 20, 2008, 12:26:38 PM »

Hi,
  would cat5 network cable be ok for the wiring to the encoders on a servo system?
     Tony

238

General Mach Discussion / Re: RF-45 conversion

« on: October 07, 2008, 11:08:03 AM »

Ray,
  it seems mostly not working or under construction.
Thanks for the reply all the same.

239

General Mach Discussion / RF-45 conversion

« on: October 07, 2008, 05:38:48 AM »

Guys,
  has anybody out there converted a RF-45 to cnc?
I am considering one of these as they seem to be the perfect size
for a garage,plus they have a massive dovetail coloum.
I have done a number of mach/servo conversions and upgrades so really
I am looking for the suitability and Ideas about the machine itself,
particualy in the area where the head ataches to the coloum,as this looks a little
on the small size(length of dovetail)for the overhang of the head.
I am thinking of purchasing the ISO 30 version,incase I decide to build a toolchanger,
 with the 3phase motor to run off a 240volt VFD inverter,I'm in the UK.
Cheers
   Tony

240

General Mach Discussion / Re: mastercam posts

« on: August 17, 2008, 12:13:23 PM »

KTM,
  I haven't looked there for a while, the second post is quite an old one and throws up errors when its updated to mastercamX.
The first one is quite good its based on a novalab,it updates well and works but it doesn't give a G28 before a toolchange,
you also need to put mach3 into incremental IJ mode or it throws up errors.
   It doe's however have instructions on how to enable G28 but it might as well be written in Chinese as I'm a toolmaker!
I only have an evaluation copy of X (no posting)so I usually have do go to my friends to use his full copy If I could get a post that worked
I could probably just email him the mcx file and get him to post it.
  If anyone could enable the G28 for me that would be grand!