Messages

1

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Emco PCturn55 slow conversion..

« on: October 28, 2014, 02:29:30 PM »

Hi,
done! For those who have one of these machines and may need to change the spindle/headstock bearings do it like this:

remove part 18 (circlip)
use bearing puller or similar to pull part 20 (comes off very easy)
tap spindle out of bearings (comes out easy)
remove bearings (I was able to simply pull them out)

change bearings..
put back together in reverse..

cheers,
john

2

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Emco PCturn55 slow conversion..

« on: October 24, 2014, 11:44:52 AM »

Hi Guys,
I have an emco pcturn55 cnc lathe that I am in the process of converting over to MACH3. I got the machine with all cards and software. Supposedly it was all working so before starting the conversion process I though I would give it a go. To my surprise it all started up. The software to run the lathe is called 'winnc32 ver13', this runs inside windows 98. The Gcode command/interface is via a funky tablet and is 'FANUC series 0T'. The only problem was no power supply for the 'tablet' - I did a bit of research and found it was 500ma 5v center positive, hooked up a lab supply to test it out and all was good. There are some programs still in the program memory so I used them to start learning Gcode (I am new to that). All ok so far, the system works and is very effective - great machine to get up and going with and worth a change over to MACH3 as that opens up more options. I have already made quite some investigations into the conversion process and will update this post when I have all the parts and am ready to go. Upon testing and playing with the machine I discovered that the main spindle was 'Knocking' - spin it up to speed 3000 (not sure if this is RPM but that does not matter for the moment) and a very annoying 'tap', 'tap' can be heard. Looking carefully I found some play in the rear bearing. I am concluding this must be worn and will change both front and back bearing. I have attached pictures - upon disassembly I have no idea how to remove the two (or one) circlips. I am hoping someone can give me an idea on this. As you can see access to grab the clips is rather small. Any ideas?

I will post up more pictures as I work on this - hopefully they will be useful for someone else.


many thanks,
John

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Using the the taig mill to turn parts...

« on: November 02, 2010, 07:39:36 AM »

Hi Bob,
cool, yes. Checked that out.

many thanks,
St.john

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Using the the taig mill to turn parts...

« on: October 27, 2010, 08:36:20 PM »

Thanks guys, that give me enough to get started. I will have a play with it and see where I get!

cheers,
St.john

5

General Mach Discussion / Using the the taig mill to turn parts...

« on: October 25, 2010, 08:27:52 PM »

Hi,
I apologise if this question has been asked and answered before, I had a look but could not see it.
I would like to use my taig cnc mill with mach3 to turn a part. The turning tool would be mounted on the table and the part on the z-axis in the spindle collet. What would be the best way to set this up in mach3?

many thanks,
St.John

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up the taig cnc micromill 2000 to work with mach3

« on: October 22, 2010, 11:16:31 AM »

Hi,
I have this all functioning now. The enclose needed the 'run' switch to be set on then it all appears to work. I will play with it now and see how it performs.

many thanks,
St.john

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up the taig cnc micromill 2000 to work with mach3

« on: October 21, 2010, 07:21:00 PM »

Hi Hood and BR549,
there is a taig specific .xml in the mach3 ftp download area, there is also on supplied by Lester caine and I am now going to test one supplied by taig themselves (microproto). If that does not work I will open up the control box and start working back from there with a view to understanding the pin and relay setup.. (wanted to avoid that if someone had already done it..)

cheers,
St.john

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up the taig cnc micromill 2000 to work with mach3

« on: October 21, 2010, 06:33:56 PM »

Hi Hood,
the documentation that Taig make available is an absolute joke. They seem to be stuck in the 1970's and believe DOS is the forefront of user interfaces. I contacted them and they gave me some crazy info about using it in conjunction with their driver which I know for sure would be a disaster. Unless someone tells me otherwise looks like I will have to open up the controller box and start following wires and counting pins...

cheers,
St.john

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up the taig cnc micromill 2000 to work with mach3

« on: October 21, 2010, 06:19:43 PM »

Hi,
yes, I have xp pro setup. The spindle is operated by a relay. I am not sure now to find out what output the relay is set to and thus not sure what output to set on the spindle ports and pins setup page. I suspect that in not correct. Any ideas how to check that out?

many thanks,
St.john

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up the taig cnc micromill 2000 to work with mach3

« on: October 21, 2010, 06:03:55 PM »

Hi Hood,
yes I was aware of that, just giving it a go as a laptop is all I have spare at the moment. Would I be right in thinking that if the x,y and z axis where all playing nice I should be able to get the spindle going also?

cheers,
St.john