Topics

11

*****VIDEOS***** / Testing new Machdrives servo drives

« on: February 12, 2018, 01:10:00 PM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uw0qHKbspI

I replaced my ServoDynamics drives (from 1989) with Machdrives https://www.machdrives.com/brc.aspx
I went with Machdrives because my servo motors are 110VDC and they could handle the voltage.  This machine has a 500 pound table.  It doesn't look that big in the video, but the entire knee mill is over 5,000 pounds (a Bridgeport is about 1,800).  It is running at 60 ipm.  Rapids are 300 ipm.  When the machine was new it had an Allen Bradley control system that was limited to 100 ipm rapids and 50K of program size.  But it did have a cassette tape option!

Vince

12

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Machdrives BRC servo drive

« on: January 15, 2018, 06:43:20 PM »

Has anyone reading this ever tuned a Machdrives BRC or BRB servo drive.  I am not having any luck.  The manufacturer is currently on vacation.

Vince

13

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach 4 brains

« on: July 02, 2017, 08:26:45 AM »

As I understand it there are no brains in Mach 4.  I am using Mach 3 and use a brain to communicate with a Cubloc PLC through the serial port to do a tool change on my lathe.  How can I do that in Mach 4?

Thanks,

Vince

14

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Lathe project

« on: June 21, 2017, 10:28:07 AM »

I have been looking for some projects to make on my lathe.  I came up with a plumb bob and a scribe. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiLgEWs6jsk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdLKHxxH15E

Vince

15

General Mach Discussion / License problems

« on: May 28, 2017, 11:40:17 PM »

My mill wizard license is not working.  I set up a support ticket and 48 hours later I get an autoresponder asking if my issue is resolved.  No one has ever contacted me!  There is a link on the bottom of the email to let me view my support ticket, but when I click the link I get a screen that says I have to log on and there is no place on the screen to log on.  This is the first time in 8 years I have ever asked for help with a support ticket.  I'm glad I never had in the past because the system is broken. 

Vince

16

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / DC brushed servo motor driver recomendation

« on: May 22, 2017, 07:12:08 PM »

I am going to upgrade my Yamazan Knee mill's DC servo drives (the mill weighs close to 5,000 pounds).  It has NEMA 42 motors, max 65 amps and 140V.  I am looking for servo drive recommendations for drives that work well with Mach.  The Gecko servo drives are only 80V and 20 amps and would limit the machine's capabilities.

Thanks,

Vince

17

General Mach Discussion / Need new small computer

« on: May 22, 2017, 08:31:10 AM »

My 10 year old computer is dying.  I need a new small one that can run Mach 3 or 4.  It needs to be under 9" square and 4" deep.  Also, what operating system should I use?  The old one is still running XP.  It is not connected to the internet.  Any suggestions would be greatly suggested.  Oh, BTW, my old one had a parallel port.  I am guessing I will need to change to a USB or Ethernet port type BOB, so I will need to replace that as well.

Thanks,
Vince

18

Mach4 General Discussion / Touchprobe

« on: February 02, 2016, 09:16:09 AM »

Is there a plugin or wizzard for mach 4 that works with a touch probe so that it will automatically find the center of a circle or the edge of a part?

Vince

19

SmoothStepper USB / Availability

« on: January 28, 2016, 09:11:19 AM »

Is the ESS still available?  Product support?  It looks like it used to be sold on Amazon, but no longer is.

Vince

20

General Mach Discussion / Upgrading Mach

« on: January 27, 2016, 08:49:48 AM »

I have not kept up with all the changes to the hobby CNC world over the past 7 years.  My 4 machines have been running fin but now I am starting to have problems with some of the computers and I would like to make some upgrades.  What are people using for computers?  I need something micro-ATX or smaller.  Have we progressed passed the parallel port?  I would sure like to get away from that and get some more IO.  One of my machines has NEMA 42 DC brushed servo motosr driven by a Servo Dynamics drive.  I would like to upgrade to something that can talk directly to the BOB.  I have looked at  the DG4S-16035.  What other options are there that are over 80 volt?

Thanks,

Vince