Super X3 Z axis gib

[extrapilot]

daedalus-

Im not entirely sure if when you say 'both boards' you mean X3 and SX3. If so, the SX3 does not leverage a pot for speed control, and so far as I know, except perhaps for a hidden trimmer or 2, there are no pots on the board or anywhere else in the command circuit.

Im always concerned with Chinese board designs- they seem to tend to knock-off established stuff and then just patch it until it works for their implementation. But, the daughterboard is simple, and seems to leverage common parts, so it appears that a different interface to the main board would not present any special problems so long as level shifters or buffers were employed. Maybe some extra shielding and grounding would be helpful, as I suspect it is a noisy environment in there...

R

[daedalus]

extrapilot: yeah sorry about that, please ignoer me i was working off some pictures that i assumed were shots of the SX3 column at superX3.com, it turns out its just one of the large variety of x3 variants.

Personally i would go for a completely optoisolated design. I have previously seen logic in chinese pcbs which runs with its ground level at potentially dangerous voltages, and god knows how the board will behave should it ever fail.

[tauntdesigns]

I asked Arturo at cnc4pc about a link for connecting X3 motor control to c11g bob:
http://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/C11G_&_S...0storybook.pdf

I haven't had a chance to check it out yet but, their it is

Jack

[VWiking]

Originally Posted by tauntdesigns I asked Arturo at cnc4pc about a link for connecting X3 motor control to c11g bob: http://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/C11G_&_S...0storybook.pdf I haven't had a chance to check it out yet but, their it is Jack

I have checked this manual, and it describes the X3, not the SX3. It tells the user to connect the C11G to P1, P2 and K2 on the speed board. My SX3 board has none of the mentioned pins on it.

Another interesting thing - The announced cnc-readied SR-X3 from Sieg seems from the picture presented to have the same board as my new SX3.

http://www.artsoftcontrols.com/forum...3446.0;id=2954

Maybe there is a solution out there to be purchased as Sieg spare parts in near future.

[ppBuilder]

Hi,
I have a X3 and have used it for hundreds of hours, but not for high prec. work. Problem is the Z axis. Have anyone tried to (or considered) to mount
linear ball rails on the column? I'm thinking about doing this but the risk is high
and I'm not sure the setup will be stiff and stable enought...although the friction and tramming problems would surely be cured. Suggestions?

[extrapilot]

I need to do another set of measurements, but my frist run at them indicated that the Z column contributes approx .003" to the X axis deflection at 10lbs cutting force. Presumably, changing the dovetails to rails would not change any other aspect of the coupled system (i.e. the head itself with the bearing for 90deg rotation, or the actual column- which probably suffers from more twist than from linear deflection). I dont know how much force is on a cutter for a typical finish pass on a benchtop machine- so if it is .1lb, then maybe .0005 is possible. If it is 50lbs, then probably .005 is the best this machine can do. I know this is a very open statement, since a finish pass is dependent on so many variables- Im just making an observation that without modifying the column and/or the head, there is going to be significant deflection if more than a few lbs of force is applied at the cutter.

Hope this helps-

R

[S_J_H]

I think I use my x3 at least 3 times a week and have been doing so for 1.5 years or so. Working to .001" is pretty easy with this mill. I don't run endmills over 3/8" diameter very often although I'll pop in a big 3/4" now and then for certain duties.
I'd junk this mill yesterday if I all I could muster was a .005" tolerance.
The x2 is a limp noodle compared to the x3 and guys do very good work on the x2. I have machined some nice 4" diameter/.5" thick stainless flywheels on my now retired cnc x2.
You just need to learn what the machine can handle and stick to it.
Steve

[extrapilot]

Well, it is certainly possible that part of this slop is in the SX3, which has this additional (4th) axis for head rotation. Maybe this exends the head a bit (leverage), maybe it is just a little sloppy, or maybe it is just a bad gib in my machine (Grizzly has been very supportive of this investigation, and is sending new parts in an effort to help- great CS there).

Ill post again once I get the replacement parts in.

btw- I hear from Sieg on this, and apparently they have a different table (improved dovetails) for their CNC model. I dont know if this is just for their internal project, or for any SX3 destined to retrofit to CNC (i.e. Syil and similar larger conversion houses- maybe a special order part). But, they do seem to recognize that this table has some issues near the end of travel.

For the money, I think it is a great machine. I just think people with them who are relatively new to mills should make sure they spend a few days after cleanup measuring and tuning- gibs, preload on the spindle, tramming the table, etc. They are definately not .001 machines out of the crate.

Regards,
R