Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Turning in a mill

« on: February 15, 2008, 09:09:10 AM »

I have a DYNA 2800 mill and I am thinking I would like to use the machine as a lathe to make some new pull studs for my tool holders.  I could use my engine lathe to put the threads on the stud blanks, then thread them into a tapped plug in CNC mill spindle. The mill would then turn the profile. I'm just not sure if the "Z" axis on a CNC lathe is the spindle as it is in the mill etc. Has anyone done this? What issues would I have?

Fred

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: Motor ratings for dyna 3000 lathe

« on: January 23, 2008, 09:00:48 PM »

Hello Kaderick
I have a Dyna 2800 mill which I believe used the same motors and driver boards as your lathe. I say used because I just replaced them with Gecko G203V drivers and Pacific Scientific NEMA 34 motors. If they are the same you should have 48 volts going to the motor and the motor is rated at 2.3 AMP.

Fred Fulmer

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing zero by alot and can't cut a circle

« on: December 31, 2007, 03:45:25 PM »

Hello
Please excuses my bad English I'm American and to me English is still a difficult language.

Sounds like you are also losing steps, what type of machine do you have? What are the motors? A person on this forum that goes by the handle of Whacko is very knowledgeable of this and he can give you the run down on what to check as far as your power supply, motors and etc. You could also try going into Mach3 motor tuning and increase the step and direction pulse to 8 and that will give your stepper boards more time.

But I felt that my drivers are too old (1989 to 1990's) and not able to do the microstepping I need along with my motors are Disk type made by Portescap (Swiss made). So in the end I bought faster computer a Compaq Pentium 4 with 2GHZ speed, three new Gecko G203V controller boards and three PacSci NEMA - 665 in/oz. stepper motors with encoders.

Let me know if the step and direction change make an improvement and we can go from there.

Fred

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: I really need some help!!!!!

« on: December 23, 2007, 06:51:41 PM »

Hello Jim

These are Swiss made Escap or Portescap motors. Here is what I have on them; the rotor is designed as a disc with rare earth magnets. This type has some advantages such as very low inertia and a optimized magnetic flow path with coupling between the two stator windings. These qualities are essential in some applications.

Like I said I couldn't find the torque for these motors, but from working with them I know they are defiantly strong. you won't turn them with your fingers.

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing zero by alot and can't cut a circle

« on: December 23, 2007, 06:13:07 PM »

Hello again Whacko

This appears to be the best answer so far. I do appreciate all the help I have gotten from everyone. But if their is any play in the table or ball screws on this machine I can't find it, at least not what I can see on a dial indicator. I can move the tables by just my thumb and forfinger grabbing the motor shaft. With the exception of the motor clogging they move smooth and free. The motors appear to be very high end 1.8 degree, 8 wire Escap (Swiss made) disk which I believe use rare earth magnets. But the driver boards are the old original ones and I too think this is the root problem.

The wire on this machine is all shielded cable, I'm not sure of the length, I will say it's not much over 4 feet. I am going to order new driver boards and pick up a faster computer. Thank you.

Fred

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: I really need some help!!!!!

« on: December 23, 2007, 05:49:47 PM »

Hello Whacko ; sorry but if it was a simple mechanical problem I would have sniffed it out long ago. I checked the screws motors and backlash first and this machine is solid.

Hello DaveA; No the tables slide smooth as silk, this machine has an automatic oiler and the ball lead screws are protected by full length bellows. Very solid little machine. The motors are Escap eight wire Swiss made disk stepper motors with 1.8 degree step (I believe they are rare earth magnets) about 3 1/2" Diameter and I would believe these are adequate for a 6" wide table with 10" travel.

Jimpinder; the motors areeight wire Escap (Swiss made) 1.8 degree angle disk type steppers. I can't see any torque spec's but they are a little over 3 1/2" in diameter.

The machine does fine on straight cuts. Went I set it up and tested it with Jo blocks it repeated perfectly.

Where do you turn off the feedback?

Other machines I run with Mach3 software will return to Zero from where ever they are but this one goes off somewhere else and resets a new zero position. The software I am using is the circle pocket from the wizards program that I bought with Mach3.

Fred Fulmer

37

General Mach Discussion / I really need some help!!!!!

« on: December 23, 2007, 03:08:49 PM »

Again this is a plea for help! I posted before, but I need someone with a good understanding of computers and drivers for help. I have a Dyna 2800 running Mach3 with original motors and driver boards. I have tried all the motor tuning and pulse setting changes I can think of. Whenever the machine tries to round a circular cut right before and after the X and Y change over areas the motors growl and chatter, the machine jumps and I can actually see the X movement table jump back. It sounds like a grinding bearing, but I know it is not. I have increased the pulse time to 10 and turned off the tool path but little is gained if anything.  Mechanically this machine is great so I feel that maybe my computer is not up to the job and I am in the process of securing a faster one for it, but I may also need to change the driver boards and maybe even the motors. They are half step. Please does anyone have some suggestions for what will correct the problem, is it just the computer or do I need to order a new set of driver boards?

The second issue is; if I stop the circular cutting program before it is finished and tell it to “go to Zero” it runs off to a different spot and resets “0” maybe as much as an inch or more away from where Zero should be.

I have a second slightly lighter machine with different driver boards and motors running Mach3 in the lab at work and it works great. So I know how it performs when everything is correct.

Please help!!!!!!

Fred Fulmer

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Losing zero by alot and can't cut a circle

« on: December 22, 2007, 03:35:47 PM »

dfurlano

Thanks for the reply and I will  re-check for physical binding, but I can grab the stepper motor shaft between my thumb and forfinger and turn it with no problem. The screws look like new and are protected by bellows,the gibs are set about perfect and this machine has an automatic oiler which keeps everything smooth.

When I went to the motor tuning and changed the pulse to 8 as they recommend 1-5 it did seem to get a little better. Can someone explain the function of the pulse setting. Does it have to do with the computer, the motors or the driver boards?

39

General Mach Discussion / Losing zero by alot and can't cut a circle

« on: December 21, 2007, 10:10:26 PM »

I have a Dyna 2800 with steppers and I have two problems. First I have spent all day playing with the motor tuning trying to get it to cut a circle with out jumping around when it rounds on either end of the X movement. At a point on either side of the maximum X travel the motors growl and vibrate. I have read every post and made every adjustment I can think of. Do I need to replace the stepper boards and/or the motors???

The second problem started today; it now loses it "0" setting. If I try to cut a circle it will first run off and start cutting it off to the side and I mean almost an inch off of center. I also noticed when I zero the X setting it always has a - (negative) in front of it and not a + like the others.

I have burned out with this, anyone have any ideas? Help!!!!

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Installing Mach3 on a Dynamite 2800 machine

« on: October 08, 2007, 12:51:43 PM »

Mike

Yes I am using the old driver boards, but I forgot to tell you to contact DM and get a copy of the electrical wiring for your machine. They charge about $30.00.