Messages

21

General Mach Discussion / Mach3 turn; jog third axis

« on: June 20, 2013, 11:00:53 AM »

My Mach3 turn only lists the X and Z axis when in JOG mode and no Y or A axis.

I would like to get an A axis to JOG when in Mach3 turn.    How do I do this.

Thanks,
Jim Glass

22

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Encoder for threading

« on: June 04, 2012, 08:37:25 AM »

jim, was the original denford optical switch missing from the lathe

Yes, I bought the lathe on Ebay from a guy that was parting out Denford lathes.    I bought the lathe bed with ballscrews, and purchased
the original spindle motor, chuck and tailstock separately.   Right or wrong, it was what I was looking for.    I was told the Denford
is the same or similar to an EMCO 8.

I'm also working on a toolchanger for my Denford.   I built this indexer as a prototype now thinking of building another one that is  smaller.     I found a way to address the backlash issue with worms and worm gear setups.
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=93146

The guy I bought the lathe from was using a stepper motor on the spindle for cutting threads so I copied his idea.    I had a stepper motor, timing belts and pulleys on hand so it cost only some time to set up.   Plus I learned how to have a stepper move in angular steps thinking that knowledge would be used on my CNC indexer.

The stepper motor on the spindle for cutting threads was rather impressive to see work.   All my experience has been cutting threads on geared lathes.    I used delrin plastic to cut my first CNC threads.    But the stepper failed miseralbly cutting a 5/8-18 in steel.   The stepper did not have the power and lost steps.    The stepper might work well on 10-32 and smaller threads but I'm not going to bother
trying it.

Thanks,  Jim

Thanks,  Jim

23

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Encoder for threading

« on: June 04, 2012, 03:47:49 AM »

Will the Optek OPB917B connect easily to the Bob Cambell breakout board?   I thought I saw the Optek OPB917B ran on 35 volts.   Did I read that
right?

The Breakout board uses connector J23 for the encoder.
PIN 1  Isolated  GND
PIN 2  Isolated  GND
PIN 3  Isolated  to PIN 12 Parllel port (IN1)
PIN 4  Isolated  to PIN 13 Parllel port (IN2)
PIN 5  Isolated  to PIN 15 Parllel port  (switch)
PIN 6  Isolated  to +5V

A one slot disk should be easy enough to make.
Thanks,
Jim

24

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need Encoder for threading

« on: June 03, 2012, 06:30:50 PM »

Hi Hood;

Pleasure to communicate with you again.   The last time was 2006 when I was doing my Bridgeport CNC retrofit.    That thing has worked out very well
for me.

For the Optek OPB917B to work do I need to make a disk with holes or slots?   If so is 100 holes or slots what I need.  The Optek OPB917B is only $9 so the price is right.

Jim

25

General Mach Discussion / Need Encoder for threading

« on: June 03, 2012, 12:00:05 PM »

I tried to do a search on "Encoder" but had no results.

Anyway, I'm doing a retrofit on a Denford CNC lathe.

Retrofit almost done

To cut threads I mounted a stepper motor to the spindle.
Stepper motor setup

 For normal turning the timing belt needs to be removed from the stepper. It works great for theading plastic but lacks the power to thead steel.
see it cut threads

Can somone recomend a source and part number for a encoder that can be used with Mach3 for threading?   I should be able to mount the encoder
where the spindle stepper motor is.    I'm using a Bob Cambell breakout board.

I have already read the Mach3 download about threading.   The download did not mention the encoder used.

Thanks   Jim Glass

26

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: June 03, 2012, 11:30:51 AM »

I'm new to this forum but well known at Practical Machinist, Home Machinist and Home Shop Machinist.

I have built from scratch 3 different 3-axis milling machines and did a CNC retrofit on a Bridgeport Series I, and most recent a retrofit
on a Denford/Orac lathe.

I retired from Ideal Industries in Sycamore Illinois after 30 years of employment and now have a machine shop in my garage.    Ideal Industries
has been my best customer but not my only shop customer.

My claim to fame is Tool & Die Maker.   In my mid-fourties I went back to the local Junior College to learn electronics.   I transitioned from Tool Maker to
Automation Technician.

I started using Mach3 a couple of years ago because I wanted to upgrade to windows software to run my CNC machines.   I had been and still use
TurboCNC.     I now run Mach3 and TurboCNC.    TurboCNC is still attractive to me because it runs on laptop computers.   WIN98,

I'm here now because I need to have my Denford CNC lathe cut threads.    I  mounted a stepper motor on the spindle to cut threads.   It works great but lacks the power to cut large threads in steel.

I'm here to learn and the help others.
Jim