Messages

161

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: February 06, 2011, 10:43:13 AM »

I am trying to add some buttons to my control panel.  I like the way yours work.  I looked for some arcade buttons on ebay and the only square ones I found took 12V and 20mA current.  I am using a pokeys device for IO.  The manual says it can only handle 4 mA per output.  How did you handle the lights on your buttons and do you have any info on the buttons you are using?

Thanks in advance,

Vince

I used 74LS05 (open collector) to buffer/drive the 12V Led at 20ma each.  This work good for the LEDs that I wanted control one at a time.  I do have some banks of LEDs/buttons that are lit up depending on the state of the state machine, these are all tied together and are driven with the a large power transister ( I think I used 3055 ... )

162

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: February 06, 2011, 10:38:45 AM »

I hate to jump back a few pages, but Im trying to mimic the tool probe setup.  I am not very experienced with screen designer..... I have the buttons setup as buttons, I just dont understand how to mpa each button to the function and how to get the DROs setup and mapped, if someone who has done this can post some screen shots and how to do it with screens 4  I would sooo much appreciate it!

Im new to doing the screens thing so treat me as if I was a 4th grader please LOLOL

Each button maps to the same macro code "M1200".  But the parameters are what gets mapped to the specific function "P4", "P10", ect  Also, you need to make sure you have set the DROs up for touch, rapid speeds, and circle diameter.

Hope this helps,
Joel

163

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: February 06, 2011, 10:35:19 AM »

Joel,
Congrats on a superb effort and end result!

Thanks !
 

One question I have for you, could you use a servo on the tool carousel and treat it as an axis in Mach?
My machines have a small Fanuc servo to operate the carousel.

Yes, my first pass was using a stepper motor to control the tool carousel.  But later I used a simple AC Motor and switched the starting cap for direction control.  There is a BIG Cammed device that in the carousel, so the AC Motor works great.  This was the stock design also.

Also, the spindle orient situation:
You were getting within a few degrees with the AC motor alone.
How about a tapered "shot pin" arrangement operated with a small air cylinder that would pull the spindle into perfect position?

Sure, there are many options on how to align them up,  I think the shot pin would work.  We are using a stepper motor and decelerate to the correct position, so far no issues yet.  The thing about Mach, is that you can do just about anything with it, so making inprovements on a design is easy to embed

I hope to see your work on this too

164

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 39" X 39" Router

« on: February 01, 2011, 09:17:12 PM »

Very nice!  Can't wait to see it in action

JH

165

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: January 28, 2011, 05:39:11 PM »

Nice build, I think you like working on Miilling machines more than choppers now.   Amazing attention to detail you've done.
 I retrofitted an older Bridgeport mill using the Viper200 drives running its SEM motors and they work well.
 What did you do with the old bridgeport motors ?  Were they still good ?

I still have the old motors and plan to put them into the bargain basement with geckos and power supplies as a system.  I did try the vipers and they worked good, but the AC Servos work great, very fast excelleration and power.

Your right, these old machines are like restoring an old car or truck, fun stuff

JH

166

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Final Summary

« on: January 21, 2011, 01:05:48 PM »

Final Summary

The mill has been running strong and I am gaining confidence in it each day.  Its been making sample parts and so it time for a video.

I also wanted summarize some stats on the mill before and after the conversion to Mach3:

1)   Position Accuracy: Before 0.0003, After 0.0002
2)   Max IPM: Before 300, After 350
3)   Power Consumption: Before 220VAC 3 Phase 50A, After 220VAC 1 Phase 40A
4)   Spindle: Before 7.5HP 100% Duty Cycle 6000RPM, After 7.5HP 100% Duty Cycle 6000RPM

Pros of the Conversion: 1) Easy to fix and repair, 2) Tool Probe, 3) 4th and 5th Axis ready, 4) Support via Mach3 Forum, 5) ….

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/_bU0ZMuMGOk&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x006699&amp;color2=0x54abd6&amp;border=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/_bU0ZMuMGOk&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x006699&amp;color2=0x54abd6&amp;border=1</a>

Thanks,
JH

167

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Eagle KM-750..Anilam Crusader GX-M

« on: January 18, 2011, 11:21:10 PM »

I sent this screen shot to Skyko.
If anyone has thoughts about this, I'd appreciate any input.

Ashby

Needs less gain.   

I have pixies on my bridgeport series II CNC and like them very much.  Kept the stock servoes, amplifiers and power supply.  No problems after 4 years of abuse.

JH

168

General Mach Discussion / Re: Tool changer questions

« on: January 09, 2011, 10:45:01 AM »

You can do it all with simple io and macros.  Take a look a this thread.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,13365.msg106327.html#msg106327

JH

169

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: January 04, 2011, 02:27:31 PM »

We send them out to St. Louis Plating, they do batch and part pricing depending on the number of parts.  They do good work and are fair on pricing.

JH

170

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: 1987 Bridgeport Production Center Interact 412 to Mach3 Conversion

« on: January 03, 2011, 10:46:11 AM »

Windows are installed!  Well at least 2 of the 4 are installed.

Also made these monster soft jaws for the kurts, after some test cuts with the coolant on some sample parts, I placed 123 blocks in the vices and cut the parallels into the jaws.  (tram it close, then cut it perfect)

JH