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Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Another Mad Project!
« on: October 06, 2007, 05:23:44 PM »
All.
Well typical of me to start another couple of projects before I got the other big ones finished, but hell I need to amuse myself!
Sometime ago I picked up a few Boxford TCL125 training lathes being sold out of a local School. Needless to say I bought the lot, just to save for a rainy day
I was intending to build a couple of bespoke machines for a job which never materialised. But lately had a couple more ideas.
Only one of the machines rill ran, and all of them had been vandalised by the schoolkids to some extent. They were all a bit rusty too.
So this week I pulled one apart, and started modifying the carcase of the machine to allow for some useful swarf (chip) management. ie, cut a bloody great hole in the bottom! I will build a custom stand to sit the machine on.
I also removed the bed and cleaned it up, and have temporarily bolted it to a MDF board for testing. Steppers have gone, and in their place a couple of DC brushed servos. With The new Leadshine servo drives running them. These drives run great, and although a naughty Gecko ripoff, they have been redesigned and I fear now they may just be a better product
At the moment running on the original stepper brackets and belts/pullies. The x axis motor will be swung over to the right on an angled mount later on to make room for a gang too platen on the crosslide. Both motors/encoders will be protected one way or another.
But this hashed up test works damn well. The little machine rips along with 5000mm/min (196") rapids.
Many things to do but a good start and if it goes well the others will get the same treatment.
Wayne.....
Well typical of me to start another couple of projects before I got the other big ones finished, but hell I need to amuse myself!
Sometime ago I picked up a few Boxford TCL125 training lathes being sold out of a local School. Needless to say I bought the lot, just to save for a rainy day
I was intending to build a couple of bespoke machines for a job which never materialised. But lately had a couple more ideas.
Only one of the machines rill ran, and all of them had been vandalised by the schoolkids to some extent. They were all a bit rusty too.
So this week I pulled one apart, and started modifying the carcase of the machine to allow for some useful swarf (chip) management. ie, cut a bloody great hole in the bottom! I will build a custom stand to sit the machine on.
I also removed the bed and cleaned it up, and have temporarily bolted it to a MDF board for testing. Steppers have gone, and in their place a couple of DC brushed servos. With The new Leadshine servo drives running them. These drives run great, and although a naughty Gecko ripoff, they have been redesigned and I fear now they may just be a better product
At the moment running on the original stepper brackets and belts/pullies. The x axis motor will be swung over to the right on an angled mount later on to make room for a gang too platen on the crosslide. Both motors/encoders will be protected one way or another.
But this hashed up test works damn well. The little machine rips along with 5000mm/min (196") rapids.
Many things to do but a good start and if it goes well the others will get the same treatment.
Wayne.....