Messages

261

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Yet another Retrofit. Hardinge HXL-S

« on: July 31, 2006, 04:28:52 PM »

Hi all...

Just started to pick up where I left off with the Bigger Hardinge I bought sometime ago.

This machine was really only bought due to it's 16C spindle.   I already have another Hardinge with 5C spindle, and got fed up with having to do certain jobs on the centre lathe.   I really wanted a 16c CHNC but one wasn't available when the money was burning holes in my pocket.  I have kicked my for years for turning down 2 CHNC's about 10 years ago which I could of had for 200 UKP the pair!  At the time I didn't have the room.

Machine had some damage to the original Siemens control, but otherwise was fairly good.

Whats really nice about these machines is they were only ever designed to run with neat cutting oil, therefore the ways are generally in very good order.  Also they are incredibly rigid.

Here's a couple pics of the machine as it is...

Wayne...

262

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Waynes Leadwell VMC Retrofit

« on: July 16, 2006, 08:30:07 AM »

Well I've planned how I will do the toolchanger.  I have to add an index for station one on the carousel.  It's amazing that the Meldas control didn't use one.  All it has is a locked position sensor for the geneva wheel mechanism.  This occurs on every station.

I will probably use my own picaxe based controller to handle most of the atc cycle.   Mach and the printer ports just does not have the required i/o.    With a grex this may be possible.   The spindle orintate part of the cycle is the most difficult to get right.

I'm just finding it hard to find time to wrap this one up.   I have the big Hardinge lather to finish off after this one

Wayne...

263

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Waynes Leadwell VMC Retrofit

« on: July 15, 2006, 05:29:17 PM »

Here's an update with some entainment in the form of a short video.

Most of the machine is finished. but sadly real work has got in the way a bit.   I have actually had to use the machine for paying work, even though only half the enclosures are back on and the pc is sat on the floor next to the machine instead of being built in.

Video can be found at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fdosdesign/temp/leadwell3.wmv

This is one off a 100 pieces I did this weekend.  1st op is not shown.   Total time to machine is 7mins each complete.

The coolant is not really yellow!!   I think this effect may be caused by the flourescent lights directly above the machine.

Have fun

Wayne....

264

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: July 10, 2006, 12:35:22 PM »

This one has no sensors on the tool changer I was shocked! an open loop tool changer is just a little scary  :

Brian.   Yep the C5 toolchanger is very open loop.   The way it locks is even weirder!   It reverses against the pawl, and holds it there with the motor reversed, I think at reduced current.   It's a very special motor which allows this abuse.

I still reckon my gangtooled version is much faster tool to tool.

Wayne...

265

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: July 10, 2006, 05:54:55 AM »

What I am interested in knowing is has anyone modified the Gib strip I understand it to be made of plastic.
Jim

Yes I have modified them after a crash cracked the originals.   This caused the carriage to rock,   I machined up some new ones using some low friction plastic I had in stock (I forget what material it was, but it's green)   I made steel backing plates, which has made the assembly stiffer,  But you have to counterbore for the cap screws as there's not a lot of room before the screw heads foul on the beds crossbracing.

removing and refitting the screws can be difficult.  I drilled 2 holes in the pan to allow me to do this from under the machine.


Wayne...

266

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Brian's Emco Compact 5 Retro

« on: July 09, 2006, 07:05:32 PM »

Brian..   The steppers on these machines are 7.2 deg not the normal 1.8 deg.  It is worth changing then for some better more modern motors.

I run two of these machines commercially for very small parts.  Mainly in Acetal.   One machine is very standard with the toolchanger (Which I never use cos it's sooo slow)  The other is so heavily modified it could hardly be the same machine.

The modified one has a new 3/4" capactity spindle, with Angular contact bearings instead of those crappy deep groove bearings.  This spindle has a large chuck mount, which is made to suit the air operated collet chuck i am developing.  The dc spindle motor has been removed and turned into a dc servo for another machine!   All remaining holes in the base have been welded up cos I use flood coolant.    Removing that Loooong dc motor and replacing it with a 3/4hp 3 phase motor fitted in the rear we the psu used to live gave me room for a longer crosslide and ballscrew which turned to machine into a gang tooled machine.

I can run this spindle to 4500 rpm no problem and still be within spec of the bearings I have used.

But do bear in mind the headstock is a very light alloy diecasting! they dont take too kindly to much abuse....

Oneday I'll find time to finish it off!  I want to completely enclose it oneday.   If I get some time I'll post some pics somewhere.

Wayne....

267

Mach Screens / Re: Gauges

« on: May 27, 2006, 07:05:17 PM »

Hood.

Ah lovely 316!  I turn tons of that stuff.    What carbide cutters you using?   You really do need good cutters, some of the unbranded stuff around these days are not that good.   Most stainless steels you need to keep the pressure on, if the cutters not working hard enough the material can work harden.

I should of said "reset" button

Normally, most machines do have a reset or shotbolt release control, which is how I think that button should behave. ie just to intialise the program and enable drives etc.

It actually behaves more like an E-stop, with the problems that go with that.   I have a feeling that if it's used to stop a program then lost steps are likely, and I'm led to believe it screws up or resets any work offsets, but I've not verified that yet.

Wayne...

268

Mach Screens / Re: Gauges

« on: May 26, 2006, 08:00:42 PM »

6mm carbides.   tough call on a series one!   in al alloy i'd be running at 6k on the spindle maybe more.   Small cutters are apain on machines with slower spindles.

I know you were tryin to pull my leg   I was also serious about looking for vices.   My other pet hate is the so called "stop" button on the screen.

Wayne...

269

Mach Screens / Re: Gauges

« on: May 26, 2006, 07:46:05 PM »

hood...   I only run large real industrial machines and was deliberately looking for machs vices!

Although I've been watching machs development for a long time, we have only just started to implement it.  Prior to that I ran Ahha systems.

Wayne...

270

Mach Screens / Re: Gauges

« on: May 26, 2006, 07:25:59 PM »

which version you running hood?   I'm not out in the workshop now so can't check.    I'd expect the lockdown versions still have this "feature"!