Messages

171

General Mach Discussion / Re: Boxford VMC 190 CNC Mill and TCL 160 CNC Lathes

« on: March 18, 2015, 03:43:48 PM »

Thanks Hood
All 3 stepper drives and motors do work! so as you say I may as well keep them and go for a driver board from CNC4U
That's probably the easiest route so I may do that as a first attempt.

I use Vectric's Aspire Software with Mach 3 and it smashing on my flat Bed CNC and my Bench Mill but it cost me all of my pocket money.
They have just upgraded from V4 to V10! (Some big changes hence the big number jump) and that will set me back another £250.00 :-( 

The point with Boxford's software for the TCL160 was although it's 1990 it did work! A bit Clunky but it did work, it even operates the 8 way tool changer and that's my worry when converting to Mach3.

So for now, I'll buy a driver board and get it running and you can help me with the toolchanger when the time comes, :-)


Thanks

George

172

General Mach Discussion / Re: Boxford VMC 190 CNC Mill and TCL 160 CNC Lathes

« on: March 18, 2015, 08:25:53 AM »

Firstly, I appologise for the multiple posts I have made on this thread, If any are repeated I,m sorry.


I think I have made my decision to convert the TCL160 for Mach3 operation.
I'm resigned to the fact that I do have problems with the electronics as fitted and that the software is very old.
I would like a little advice on the steppers currently fitted. The are operated in half step mode giving 400 steps per revolution.
Is it worth changing them for more modern steppers ?

Secondly, what Lathe software is available at reasonable cost ? What do others users use that have a converted TCL1160?

Regards

George

173

General Mach Discussion / Re: Boxford VMC 190 CNC Mill and TCL 160 CNC Lathes

« on: March 17, 2015, 10:05:00 AM »

Sounds all very complex that to me Hood my friend. I can easily wire in some steppers and install driver boards etc etc but programming and understanding it is beyond me.
I have completely upgraded my Chesters bench mill to mach3 and have made my own flat bed CNC running with Mach3 and Aspire but I know my limits. I might leave it for now and concentrate on getting the lathe working as it was originally intended. So I have a problem.

Right now I have the TCL160 running under XP and have all functions bar the DRO update on screen.
The DRO's give garbled or no data at all.
They do not respond to axis movement in any direction.
The Spindle speed DRO also remains at zero. Irrespective of speed or direction.
This lack of positional feedback makes it impossible to do any homing with the tools.
Now this is all very odd because it is clear that the machine knows where to position the facing tool and the parting tool because I programmed a test cut on a rod 25 mm long.
It face, it surfaced and then it parted. Something somewhere is correct.
What I need is someone who is conversant with the machine and it's electronics to give me some pointers.
I do have a spare processor board but sadly it does not work at all. No axis movement no spindle movement.
I'm will to donate that to anyone who would like a dabble.

Regards

George

174

General Mach Discussion / Re: Boxford VMC 190 CNC Mill and TCL 160 CNC Lathes

« on: March 14, 2015, 02:06:40 PM »

Me too guys,
I have just recently got myself a TCL160 Non homing version with a Mitsibushi inverter. Looks like 1994 era.
All working and in good condition.
I would like to convert to Mach3 also however I'm very concerned about the automatic tool changer.
Seems like this is a tough egg to crack.
Has anyone actually managed to get this to work seamlessly into Mach3, if so I sure could use the help.
Meanwhile I'm reading the manuals (I have the originals) to see what this wee beastie is capable of.

Regards

Georgie

175

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bench Mill Conversion

« on: October 24, 2014, 03:56:45 AM »

Thanks Ray,

So X++ and home share the same switch and  X-- is my limit switch
And the same for Y

Thanks

George

176

General Mach Discussion / Re: Bench Mill Conversion

« on: October 23, 2014, 05:18:23 PM »

Hi Ray,
Sorry to bug but I'm still a wee bit confused and I want to make sure I have this correct.

I have attached a PDF of my switch layout and would appreciate if you'd mark them up for me.



Many thanks

George

177

SmoothStepper USB / Re: ethernet smooth stepper

« on: October 13, 2014, 04:46:36 PM »

Back in July of 2013, I converted my Limac 3103 router from a DSP hand held pendant control to Mach3. I used the Ethernet controller board coupled with a JI Robotics CM106 board and added an XHC wireless usb pendant control to provide the solution that I was looking for. I initially went another route that didn't work out for me and was going to involve way more add on boards that I was willing to deal with.

In short, I'm running Window 8.1 64 bit on an Acer laptop with zero problems.

Mike

Hi Mike, I bought the Xhc pendant, I have it working ok , It's the wireless one that I have,
Do you have any guidance for use or configuration for me, The manual supplied is a little sparse,
Thanks
George...

178

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Power supply for steppers

« on: October 11, 2014, 04:52:00 AM »

Thanks Gerhard.

This is the spec of the drives I'm using.
X and Y axis use MSD752
• Supply voltage up to +75 VDC
• Output current up to 5.2A         So that 390Watts

Z Axis use MSD542
• Supply voltage up to +50 VDC    and 210 Watts
• Output current up to 4.2A

I have now fitted a 48V 7.2 Amp power supply which is 345Watts,  It may just be enough..

George

179

Mach4 General Discussion / Power supply for steppers

« on: October 07, 2014, 05:38:21 AM »

I'm in a bit of a quandary when it comes to the Current capability of the power supply to run my 3 steppers on my converted bench mill
X and Y axis use 1605 Ballscrews with a 2:1 pulley drive and Y axis uses a 2.4:1 pulley drive (no ballscrew)
Maybe someone can help.

I have two power packs available.

24Vdc 10Amps
48Vdc 5 Amps

Given that I'm about to run a bench mill with 3 of the steppers of the specification below. Which power supply would be better suited ?

Model                   Voltage(V)    Current /phase(A)    Holding Torque(Nm)    Inductance /phase(mH)
M60STH100-4004S    2.8             4.0                             4                             3

George

180

General Mach Discussion / Re: Hall of shame

« on: October 06, 2014, 08:05:23 AM »

Further to me posting an issue where an ebay supplier was advertising 'Smooth stepper' boards that turned out not to be Smooth Stepper at al and they were also sending out a 'Crack' for Mach 3.
I am happy to receive a communication from them that they will remove the words 'Smooth Stepper' from their advert and that the Crack to the licence will also be removed from their install CD,

I call that a result.

Regards to all.

George