eztrak sx 3axis whether to retrofit or not

[dreammstr6]

my delima is this. i have a eztrak sx 3 axis machine with a bad bmdc card. i found a place that will repair it for 475 and up. my question is should i repair the card to keep the eztrak software or would i be better off converting it to emc2. the 3rd axis doesn't have a encoder installed on the motor but has the place and i know where to get one. i do have 3 panasonic minas a series servos also i can mount to the beast. one person has told me the eztrak software will not mill slopes and such even in 3 axis mode. i'm open to all opinions and suggestions. thanks for any input.

[angelgreatcnc]

this is an old machine, so you should have application with it before, so you can get idea whether the eztrak software can mill slopes or you can check with eztrak software supplier to get truth .

Angel

www.gt-cnc.com

[Gncc50]

The EZtrak is not a fast control if you are planning on doing a lot of
3D work I would recommend a machining center.

I have a 95 EZtrak that has the newer style Elrod 3rd Axis on the quill. I am still running the EZtrak software and I have done some 3d work. It is not fast but it will do it. The pictures I attached below were done on my EZtrak. I have mine updated with a new motherboard and backplane from EMI and have installed a DOM to replace the hard drive. I think the only difference between the SX and the DX models were the hard drive.

If you have the older cantilever style 3rd axis I have heard there were issues with it dropping in Z and would not work well for 3D. If you upgrade to a new software it wouldn't help this problem. I believe it was more of a mechanical problem.

I am by far no expert, I hope I helped you some.

Pete

[dreammstr6]

thanks for the opinion info and pics. what does the old cantilever style look like? my z servo hooks to the very bottom of the quill and is on the left side of the head.

[Gncc50]

It sounds like you have the older cantilever style. I believe these were the early versions and they switched over to the newer style (see attachment). The newer ones were manufactured by Elrod Machine in Arizona. He made them and sold them to Bridgeport. He still sells them for other machines. You may want to give him a call and ask his opinion or at least visit his site.


http://www.elrodmachine.com/

He also sells Centroid retrofits.