Aussie X3 with CNCFusion Deluxe Kit

[Rodm1954]

Hi,
I have almost finished my conversion on the X3 using the CNCFusion Deluxe kit. I still have a little tidying up of wiring and a full enclosure to make. I have set rapids at 2m/min which is my comfort level but it can run much higher rapids. Everything else is on the video.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4vtFdBIfwo

[Splint]

Very nice Rod.

Cheers
Splint

[Rodm1954]

Thanks Splint

[tauntdesigns]

Looking good Rod,

I've been away from the zone for a while and am trying to get caught up. It's good to see how far along you are with your X3 project.

Jack

P.S. Going over to check out your enclosure now... Later

[keith_k98]

Great looking mill.

Keith

[CNCfun&games]

Rod,

See you posted the video in October.

Nice installation, nothing like exercising the machine under
computer control for the first time. Are you using Mach3?

Have you machined any Aluminum yet? if so how did it go.

Congratulations!!!...............W. Smith

[Rodm1954]

Thanks for the feedback.

CNCfun&games
How time flies.
No chips yet as I wanted to finish everything off beofre I use it.

I did an enclosure and coolant so that held things up a bit. I have been helping my son move house and he has heaps of fish breading tanks so lots of time involved in stripping down, moving and setting up those.

I have an X2 CNC'd which has been sold but I still have it until mid January so if I need to do a job I am not stuck for the moment.

I'll be sure to post my impressions of it when I finally push the start button.

Mach3 is the software I use and have been using it for two years now. I only use a small part of this program but have created custom screens for my mill work. I made a Z axis zero touchplate for the X3 and it is so good I have gone back and made them for all my machines (including the X2). Two years of mucking around using the paper shim method to zero "Z" and these things are so easy to make.

[ViperTX]

Details Rod....on the touch plate.....

[Rodm1954]

ViperTX

Have a look on this link.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36099
These are so simple to make and they are very accurate and repeatable. I can recommend to all to take the time and fit one of these.

[Rodm1954]

Ran the X3 last night and did a 30mm pocket 10mm deep. I ramped the cut and did 0.5mm per pass at 600mm/min. Flooded it with coolant as well.

First impressions are I am disappointed in the finish. Slight chatter marks in the edge of the cut. I haven't checked the pocket for roundness (??) so can't report on that. Not a patch on the X2 hybrid I built and the ballscrews already have a small amount of backlash in them.

At this stage I have no idea where the problem is but will test it some more and report back if things improve.

[project5k]

correct me if im wrong, but isnt chatter a result of a combination of feed speed, depth of cut, spindle rpm and cutter? try it again changing one of these variables, and you should see a difference....

i actually had a chatter problem, and found that if i increased my feed rates, it cut smoother, faster, and quieter... my cutter temps went down, and thus i'm sure that also increases thier life..

[Rodm1954]

Project5k
As far as my mind goes chatter equals flex. I agree with what you are saying that altering some variables will reduce chatter but this is reducing the harmonics. A rigid machine should not produce chatter like I am experiencing.
I cut a couple of jobs tonight and while I improved the finish there is still chatter evedent in the cut. To put this in perspective I am fussy about finish.

I put a dial guage on the column and there is sideways deflection if you exert force on the column.

I think I am expecting too much from a small mill but the X2 I built produces a far superior fiinsh. This has 100mm RHS and large plates supporting the column so obviously this makes a difference.

I am no expert so I am happy to be corrected on anything I have said.