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1

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / CNC Large Lathe Conversion pictures

« on: December 27, 2010, 09:54:46 PM »

Hello everyone!
Here are some pictures of a lathe we use to turn railway wheels that I converted to CNC using Mach3.  So far, the servos, drive and control are installed and work very well.  I've done a few tests with Mach3 and everything has blown away my expectations.  I also found out the hard way why one should install the limit switches before you go playing and testing stuff... This week I am going to start putting the electronics in their proper enclosures and knocking out all the details necessary to get it working (ball screw covers etc.)

Specs---
Year:
Max turning diameter to ways: 60"
Max length between centers: 8 Feet
Spindle HP: 25
Spindle R.P.M.: Approx 20 (Low Gear) and 160 (High Gear)

I'd be happy to answer any questions about the setup.

Enjoy!

Frank















And this is what happens when you start playing with stuff before you install the limit switches.  Luckily, the ballscrew sprung right back to shape with 0 runout, I did have to re-do the mounts for the servo and gearbox. 

2

General Mach Discussion / Question about turning profiles and G-Code

« on: December 27, 2010, 08:42:47 PM »

Hello everyone!
I am putting together a cnc setup on an old lathe we use to re-profile railway wheels (pictures comming soon).  I am using Panasonic 3P 220V drivers and servos with a parallel breakout and Mach 3.  I was able to wire all of the connectors and setup the servos and Mach 3 without too many problems and I am at the point where I can input single lines of G-code to manually perform cuts.  I am new to mach 3 and CNC machining so please forgive me if this is a stupid question:  Is there a software I can use, where I can input the current profile of the wheel to be turned, then input the the desired final profile to be turned and have a cutting path g-code output generated taking into acount the radius of the insert (its a 1"r round cone shaped insert) and the max cutting depth in order to achieve the final profile?

Thanks!
Frank