Messages

141

General Mach Discussion / Automatic tool changer with mach

« on: July 12, 2009, 03:01:26 PM »

Hi I am a complete beginner with Mach and I am used to running Fanuc controlled machine centres.
A friend has just bought a Bridgeport 412 VMC with a 12 pot rotary tool changer.
I noticed that it uses a Fanuc Macro B program to operate the tool changer. I'm pretty sure that relays can be operated from a  macro B program to work air solenoids etc.

My question is how does  Mach 3  work a tool changer and are there any limitations or can any type of tool changer be used.

John.

142

Galil / Re: Which servo amplifiers?

« on: July 12, 2009, 06:33:10 AM »

Hi ckirchen sounds like an interesting project you have going!

I have the same servo set up on my Bridgeport BPC 320H machines.
What type of VMC do you have..?

Have you thought of sticking with the Fanuc DC drives..they are very cheap to buy on Ebay these days and the Fanuc manuals are very in depth on how to set them up.
I've found them to be very reliable...

On the Fanuc system (I presume you have 6MB??) the encoders attach to a frequency to velocity circuit on the motherboard to give speed and position.

I'm fairly new to Mach..how will you set up the encoders, i'm asking as I have a Galil DMC 1880 that I would like to set up with Mach3 and the Fanuc yellow cap dc brush motors.

John.

143

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 5 Axis Mill (Trunion type), with Arm ATC, and Pallet changer control.

« on: June 30, 2009, 04:09:22 PM »

Hi Scott here is a link to the Hermle range of trunnion machines with some PDf manuals as well!

http://www.hermle.de/index.php5?146

It's not very in depth but i'm thinking you might get some help from the importer in your country..they are usually keen to help on these type of projects especially if they can benefit in any way..

Re the backlash issue, i'm thinking a good belt or gear set up would have almost zero backlash..i'm not sure if any can be dialed out on mach3!

John.
   

144

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 5 Axis Mill (Trunion type), with Arm ATC, and Pallet changer control.

« on: June 29, 2009, 01:28:53 PM »

Have you thought of doing direct drive rotary tables..might be a cheaper way if you have to make your own..
The motor can be attached direct to the table face plate or a gear or pulley system can be used..
The Hermle trunion machines have this system now..they have gear drive on the tilt and a direct drive torque motor on the turn.

John

145

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My Balding Beaver

« on: March 02, 2009, 02:55:36 AM »

Your welcome RC thought it would add some interest to the thread I'm hoping to do a Galil /Mach3 conversion on my Beaver VC35.. just need to do some more reading on the forums yet before I get  started!!

John.

146

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My Balding Beaver

« on: March 01, 2009, 12:57:20 PM »

Hi Overloaded just noticed that NC25 is on US Ebay. Looks better than I first thought.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270319314231&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:Watchlink:middle:us

Here is some information for any body who might be interested.

Machine size 1.8m wide x 1.9m long. 

It will either have a KTK or contraves DC spindle drive.

The Beaver uses a Specher+Schull  Sestep 400 micro processor  (large black box) in the side cabinet for all the I/O commands. The ladders are burnt onto eproms in the control and sort out all the I/O for the tool changer, coolant etc .

The Specher+Schull sestep 400 replaces the  Fanuc PC model B  which is normally plugged into the Fanuc motherboard.
The fanuc 6m system software is on the Fanuc rom board which is plugged into the motherboard.

All the Fanuc boards are in the back cabinet on the Beaver including the power supply for the screen and pendant.

The tool changer arm has a bank of air solenoids on board to control the claw and retractable arm. The arm rotation and up and down movement is all air operated.

Tools can be loaded at the carosel  (left hand side) or at the spindle and are Cat 40 taper .
Standard is 18 tools with an option of 36 tools.

The Beaver VC15 uses Cat 45 taper.

Check this link to see a tool change cycle  on this Beaver VC15!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfR4C3ySLMw

John.

147

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 5 Axis Mill (Trunion type), with Arm ATC, and Pallet changer control.

« on: February 28, 2009, 10:17:38 PM »

Sounds great Scott...there seems to be very few peoples doing 5 axis with Mach so will be nice to see how it holds up to some of the slightly more expensive cnc controlls out there!!

John.

148

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Fanuc problems.

« on: February 27, 2009, 04:22:45 PM »

Hi Sam, Just wondering if you got your Fanuc problem solved. I have the same problem on a machine with Fanuc 6M.

John.

149

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 5 Axis Mill (Trunion type), with Arm ATC, and Pallet changer control.

« on: February 25, 2009, 03:59:02 AM »

Just an idea Scott but you might be able to pick a Bridgeport BPC320H for not much money..It's a Horizontal with 300mm pallets and full B axis. The early ones had Fanuc 6 and Fanuc DC brush motors and were built by Yasda in Japan so are very good quality.

They have a pallet changer and some had an optional swing arm tool changer with up to 99 tools.

It's not the Vmc trunion 3+2 you were after as it would have to be C on top of B with the Bridgeport and maybe have the C with the pallet change on it or just use the pallet change it comes with and have one station for standard milling and the other for 5 axis machining .

Probably a bad idea but just thought I'd add something to the discussion!!

 http://www.vemu.com/usate_uk.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1sCwiQ3JBk&feature=channel_page

http://cgi.ebay.ca/BRIDGEPORT-BPC-320H-Horizontal-Machining-Center_W0QQitemZ260244651803QQihZ016QQcategoryZ12584QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

John.

150

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Excel Pinnacle vertical mill

« on: February 24, 2009, 04:55:34 AM »

Vince you can get a NMTB40 threaded adaptor that screws into cat and BT 40 holders. It looks just like the NMTB end but has an M16 stud on one end to screw into the BT/Cat holder where the pull stud would normally be.
I'm in the UK but i'm sure you could get one in the US..

John.