Messages

451

General Mach Discussion / Emco 50 Lathe & Mill

« on: November 10, 2012, 05:25:17 PM »

Those look great. I don't necessarily know how to reuse the membrane keypads the rest is probably very doable. Take plenty of pictures of the electronics. Make this a new build log thread here on the zone and a few people will be able identify and teach you to possibly reuse some existing spindle controls, relays etc. maybe even the drivers. What part of the country or world are you in?

452

General Mach Discussion / Re: softlimits and 4th axis

« on: November 10, 2012, 03:35:39 PM »

I was under the impression and I could be wrong, the rotational limits in regards to the dro resetting as it passes 360 degrees. Not sure about the soft limits aspect though wouldnt the actual soft limit for the particaular axis be in motor home and soft limits set up page?

453

General Mach Discussion / Re: G Code Skipping

« on: November 10, 2012, 03:31:22 PM »

I looked at it though I am no help in that department, i was just curious. i am guessing you are running mm and the parts are pretty small? I was seeing feedrates F140 and F50. If in inches, that would be fast on any machine i run but they are hobby conversions. I did just run it in Mach as a simulation. I was wrong, you are in inches arent you? It is funny, I wonder with a lot of experience, do people reading GCode see the part as it will be made without the drawing? I am guessing so but I am so far from that point it isnt a concern for me.

454

General Mach Discussion / Re: Emco 50 Lathe & Mill

« on: November 10, 2012, 03:17:29 PM »

Is this similar to the lathe you have? If so, can you say "Score"! They look great. Very similar to my Dyna. http://youtu.be/k4hTpOytSqg

455

General Mach Discussion / Re: Emco 50 Lathe & Mill

« on: November 10, 2012, 03:09:36 PM »

So I looked on YT. Nice machine, I have seen a thread or 2 here on those. I immediately found a conversion on YT unfortunately in German maybe? Nice job whoever. http://youtu.be/B5NUD_an5ck

456

General Mach Discussion / Re: Emco 50 Lathe & Mill

« on: November 10, 2012, 03:06:00 PM »

OP, Welcome to the club. I cant see why this wouldnt be a relatively easy conversion for a man with your skills. Chances are most if not all of the electronics would be reusable in the conversion. Google the steppers schematics, hook them to a G540 and power supply and be on the way. Is there an electronics class at your sons school also? Callaboration? I cant imagine more than 750 if all your missing is the software. G540, power supply, licensed (maybe student?) version of Mach3 and some of your time. Having converted a Grizzly it shouldnt be too much different. Of course I am not familiar with the exact models you are referring to but I have done it to a Dyna 2400 and 3000. The latter having a 6 position turret. Post pics and people will jump in to help.

457

General Mach Discussion / Accuracy of Homing Devices? Pro's and Con's of Different Sensors

« on: November 10, 2012, 01:49:03 PM »

I was kidding about the pain pills.

458

General Mach Discussion / Accuracy of Homing Devices? Pro's and Con's of Different Sensors

« on: November 10, 2012, 01:48:08 PM »

Interesting to say the least. I now at least understand how you are thinking it will work. Not doubting. Btw, you got your point across fine, it is my ability to understand it that is the problem. I am still trying to figure out why it would be better. Theoretically the coupler could come loose at the same time as hitting the micro switch therefore triggering the opto circuit mounted on the stepper. The encoder ring would turn and indicate the correct position but would not have moved the table, right? I know the circumstances above are a little far fetched but the combo of the pain pills and breakfast has me thinking that way! I don't abuse that stuff but if something hurts, I got some in the medicine cabinet.

459

General Mach Discussion / G Code Skipping

« on: November 10, 2012, 12:54:36 PM »

ALR, what is the last F value in the code as it is not shown here and these are feedrate moves.

460

General Mach Discussion / G Code Skipping

« on: November 10, 2012, 11:20:47 AM »

This is interesting in that it might not be a mechanical issue. A little tidbit I forgot is that even though my velocity was in the 80's my cut feed was 12-16ipm. Of course the rapids were in the 80's. the loss was always right at the clearance plane of Z on the transition to the next hole. Oddly it only did it between like hole 6 & 7 of 14. There were no differences in the hole sizes, depths or rapids between. I can run all 3 axis with the warm up wizard at 300ipm (which actually divides the max by the amount of axis', really running 100ipm if all axis are in movement). No positional loss whatsoever after many many runs of 20-100 cycles per axis. This was not an imported file, just a simple rectangle stock with 14 evenly spaced and sized holes.