Messages

2131

General Mach Discussion / Re: New User - Confusing Problems

« on: July 06, 2008, 10:46:43 AM »

Tulsah, if you're using winXP, have you used the optimze document for Mach 3 to turn everything off so that Windows doesn't interfere with the program?

Can you tell us more about your PC setup and hardware?



EDIT, sorry for asking the same questions as Brett (above), I'm a lot slower than him.............. about 2 minutes...- 

2132

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 06, 2008, 10:06:05 AM »

Excellent, Rich, that's not too bad at all.  - 

2133

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 06, 2008, 07:42:42 AM »

Bill, thanks for helping out and yes, I do have microstepping. As for doing any larger work, unless I win the lottery, and get more room available to me to buy a bigger machine,I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon!    I do know exactly what you meant though..it just often works out that way doesn't it?

Jim, I possibly might be able to get this gearbox very cheaply so that's why I threw that into the equation, but I'm thinking more and more about the sherline, and that may be the road I'm headed down eventually because it does seem "dumb" to go that way if I just wait a little longer to buy it. Seems like a really well built unit and I'm only hearing great things about it. Can't argue with success.

Again fellas, thank you for your input, I've already learned quite a bit and I haven't even started building this up yet. As Bill mentions, I know slim to none about this area, and that's why I came to you.

P.S. I LOVE Cornbread in any pan!! 

2134

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 05, 2008, 10:48:01 PM »

I can't imagine that not being enough and I just may grab that gear box to at least give it a try.

Thanks so much for taking the time, Chip!!   

2135

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 05, 2008, 07:01:29 PM »

Thanks for the info and the future pic as well, Rich. What kind of backlash can I expect from the Sherline?

2136

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 05, 2008, 04:30:37 PM »

Dave,
There are are probably 5-10 small rotary tables out there for a small mill. Three of us, over time, ended up getting the Sherline because we felt the quality was better. But only you can decide. Motors used were 100 & 125 in oz.. If you make your own base for mounting the motor you can save a bunch of $. You can mount it to a right angle plate
( maybe get one from Encho for $20-30). Then treat yourself to a nice chuck on what you saved. I can post a picture of what i did if you wish.
RICH

That would be fantastic, Rich, I'd love to see a pic. As for the sherline, I'm considering buying one and have no problem retrofitting a motor to it but haven't I read somewhere that you can't just add a motor to the manual model sherline table? I could've sworn I read that you have to buy the CNC version of their table for that particular use? Or is that just mumbo jumbo and the worm drive is exactly the same?

2137

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 05, 2008, 04:23:10 PM »

Now my head is spinning but I do think I'm starting to "get it",  So a 30:1gearbox is less than half of a 72:1 rotary table, correct?

Chip, that is indeed the size stepper I'll be using. It's a 282 oz. nema 23 motor that should be perfect for this.

2138

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 05, 2008, 03:58:48 PM »

Thanks very much fells, been soaking up the info this afternoon and will take all your considerations, for sure. Thanks for the link, RC!

Doc, so a 30:1 gearbox would be fine then? Reason I ask is I may have found a reasonable nice small sized one.

2139

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 05, 2008, 03:01:30 PM »

Will do, thank you-

Dave

2140

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up a 4th axis?

« on: July 05, 2008, 02:37:56 PM »

Oh, I see, that makes sense, so do you have an idea of what I should be searching for? It seems the idea of a worm gear setup is best for keeping a handle on backplash, but I would have no idea what "ratio" worm and pinion gear to look for. Any ideas?