Messages

291

General Mach Discussion / Re: motor tuning

« on: May 14, 2006, 02:45:58 PM »

Chad is right...   Others settings will not help you.

It really is down to your own machines loads/friction etc, your drives, whether you are microstepping or not, and the voltage applied to your drives.

I would not have the two motors linked as you suggest, it may even make matters worse.  Mach can slave axis's as yo may already know.  I assume you are planning on using two drives also for that axis?

It also helps with steppers to drive the machine 1:1. I'm still amazed how many people assume they will get more torque by using reduction.   This can be self defeating as the motors torque drops off rapidly with speed.

You jus got to try it out.   What drives are you using?

292

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My new (old) lathe almost complete

« on: May 14, 2006, 02:36:57 PM »

Whats up with the speed sensor?

I've also had some issues with a speed sensor on my VMC, I chose to make my own, it works ok, but have found some issues with stepper drive noise screwing low speed readings.  Like 40,000 ish when it should be in the 100's.  I'll probably end up making my speed sensor work at 24v levels like the rest of the machine.   TTL levels are so prone to noise issues it pays to do it the way the machine was designed.

You dont HAVE to use feed per rev.   I often just use feed per min on my lathes.

Obviously it will have to work right for screwcutting.

293

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: My new (old) lathe almost complete

« on: May 13, 2006, 02:18:36 PM »

So funny seeing your lathe, it's obviously the same as my Warco1340 which is a taiwanese copy of an English  Harrison M300.   I've had mine years, no intention of converting it though, already got CNC lathes.

Conversion looks tidy though, Have you not converted to ballscrews?  That would seriously help.

Wayne....

294

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

« on: May 13, 2006, 01:29:50 PM »

Well. Got the 1st bit of painted sheetmetal back on the machine today.   Damn the colours look so different, although they are so close on an uncontaminated part of the original enclosure.   Thats years in a dirty workshop for you!

It'll all weather down

Go the rest to paint and the telescopic box covers to refit on the ways, after I get the new wipers for them.

295

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

« on: May 12, 2006, 06:30:48 AM »

I knew someone was going to say that, BUT in each screen on the original control only a few of the buttons/knobs etc even worked.    But they are all there arranged in a more or less logical layout.

As I said a fair bit will be removed and a new panel made.  I'll have no need for things like TAPE mode!   Not that I ever got it to work successfully!

I shall attempt to have control function "lockout" under Mach probably with a new screenset.

Wayne...

Art

296

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

« on: May 11, 2006, 06:37:15 PM »

And this could encourage some of you screen guys to look atr how simple a CNC screen ought to be

This is the Mitsubishi meldas main screen!    Not much more than DRO's,feedrate and spindle and tool information!!

Theres really not much point in anything else being there.

297

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

« on: May 11, 2006, 06:32:52 PM »

Operator Panel...

A lot of this will be removed.  I intend to use a screenset with heavy use of softkeys.

298

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

« on: May 11, 2006, 06:30:57 PM »

Here's a serious one!

This machine I purchased last year with a few faults.   In other words Cheap as chips;)

1992 Leadwell GMC350 VMC, with 8 station BT30 toolchanger, 6k spindle.  Nice small machine.

After a while the Spindle drive totally failed, so it was time to rip out it's heart and give it a new life.

Spindle drive was very proprietry to the Meldas control and was not simply a case of putting in any old VFD.   The meldas control is totally digital ie no 0-10v analogue signals, even for the servo drives.

After struggling to find suitable drives for the Servo's I gave in and fitted Steppers, at least for the time being. minimising downtime was critical as I use my machines for my business.

This has been fairly successful so far. although the rapids are about half what they used to be.  I can just get 200"min the original servos did a fair bit more.

At present all the main enclosures are off and being repainted.

When refitted I can run the machine again, although until I've developed my ATC controller it will be manual toolchanges for a short time.

If there's any interest I'll post a few more pics as I go through it all..

Wayne...

299

Promote and discuss your product / Re: Greetings From CNC Teknix Australia

« on: May 10, 2006, 02:13:28 PM »

Hi, and thanks for the reply (good start so far )

Not sure of the inductance, the plate seems to be not marked where it ought to be!

You can email me direct at wayne@fdos-design.com   I'm in UK so you might not want to call <g>

Here's a pic of the motor plate, it's actually 180v but they only ran them at 150, with the original drives.   The bottom section obviously refers to the tacho which in our case we wont be using.

Regards
                Wayne...

300

Promote and discuss your product / Re: Greetings From CNC Teknix Australia

« on: May 10, 2006, 09:11:16 AM »

Your drives do look interesting.  I had spotted them a short while ago, and looked at your website.

I'm more into retrofits of larger machines, and have in the queue a Hardinge Lathe with Siemens Brushed motors.   150v with 1024 encoders.

How well are your drives likely to work?   I was almost going to order from Rutex, but still unsure of those drives robustness.

Wayne...