Build Thread
We are entering the 6th month of the project. The deadline is extended for two months. Customer was kind enough to understand the extraordinary circumstances we are going through. They too were effected by the flooding at their fertilizer plant during this time.
I get the news from Mr. Iftikhar that the overhaul for planer bed is complete and they have installed the ball screw to it. He asks me to bring the servo motor along so that he can make its mounts too. This is good news. We are going to finish it in time eventually.
I prepare my team to go to the customer to install the X-axis ball scew and motors for X and Z axes along with the control box. They leave for Sadiqabad and I for Gujranwala. Sadiqabad is exactly halfway between Karachi and Gujranwala.
At Gujranwala our first task is to check the torque at the screw end with the table installed. Mr. Iftikhar has already arranged for a hand-wheel at one end of the screw to check the torque. Till now all the parts were selected on rough estimates. Let's see how it goes.
I need to check the screw alignment first. They don't have proper instruments to check these. Ok, let's try it as it is. We'll make the final alignment at customer's premesis. Tighten all the bolts, put the handwheel in place. Try to move it with bare hands. And it does! What a relief. It's bit tight and needs a strong man to give a few steady turns. But it moves. Now, hang a weight to the wheel handle to find the torque which can just move the table. Handwheel is 300 mm in dia. The starting torque calculated is 28 N-m.
Our motor is 35 N-m. It is decided to put a 2:1 reduction at the ball screw with timing pulleys and belt. This way we make sure it runs without putting too much strain on our motor and also with 2.5 tons extra load.
I order an end support for the radial arm to be made at Mr. Iftikhar's work shop. He starts the work to mount the 5.5 kW servo motor on the planer body. Mr. Iftikhar promises to ship the planar base and the end-support to Sadiqabad once he finishes the motor installation and the paint. I return to Sadiqabad to check the progress of X and Z axes stuff installation.