Newbie- Used Interact 1 Mk 2

[ETChipotle]

I've been keeping my eyes open for a BOSS CNC Bridgeport, with intentions of replacing the control, and perhaps steppers. But I have also seen some Interact machines come and go, and I think I need to consider them too. What I am trying to understand with the Interact 1 Mk 2, for example is if the nice servos that they come with just happen to be non-functional when I buy it or soon after, am I stuck hunting for an old replacement axis motor? Or can I buy a new set of servos to take thier place?

Are they Nema 42 or Nema 34 motors? or are they a one-off?

A few months back there was an Interact II nearby that went for around $700 or maybe less, but I was out of commission at the time, so I couldn't look at it.

It sounds like with the Interact, it's more likely that I'd want to keep the existing control and servos if they're working, but if I find a machine where they're not working, I need to know what some of the options are.

Can anywone straighten me out on this? Much appreciated!!!

I've found a lot of different threads covering replacing BOSS motors, but not Interact motors.

[machintek]

The interacts had SEM (Small electric Motors from England). These are DC servo motors with built in encoders. They use a wide range of Heidenhain controls.
Big difference between a Interact 2 and a interact 1 Mk 2. The interact 2 uses a mechanical varidrive like a standard Bridgeport. The Interact 1 Mk 2 has a electronic spindle drive. Older ones were Contraves. Newer ones were KTK. Very little support for these.

George

[ETChipotle]

Well, I took a roll of the dice and bought an Interact I MK2 with a Heidenhain control. The bad thing is that with this auction, I didn't have a chance to see it powered up. So now it's time to figure out how to power it up at home. I'm trying to learn about this beast before I really decide what I'm going to do with it. It looks pretty clean, and I was told it came from a technical school. There were seven of them, with mostly consecutive serial numbers. Inside the cabinet I saw some KTK boards. There's a document that makes it look like it was shipped by Bridgeport in May of 1989.

The condition on everything looks good, although there's much I haven't had a look at. The cabinets are spotless inside and almost look like the machine is brand new.

I figure the first things I should do is to power up the control from 110 and see if the screen works and perhaps generate more questions.

I've posted a question about how to power this in a garage (with only residential 220) in the VFD and Phase Converter forum. Right now I own no 3-phase equipment of any kind.

As I learn more about it, I guess I'll make up my mind as to what direction I want to take this thing. Part of me wants to just use it exactly as it is, and part of me wants to rebuild the control (especially when I see some of the ebay prices on the parts).

[gus]

Don't try to take it apart just fire it up. If you need a phase converter make one. powering the control up from 110 is pointless

[MikeinMn]

I think I bought one from the same auction as you (Hoff-hilk). I know nothing about it as well. Wished that it came with the owners manual. I have a phase converter, so I powered mine up and played with it a bit. After playing a bit and not getting anywhere with it, it sprang to life and I was able to jog all the axis with the joy stick. I am now looking for the manuals so I can learn how to use it.
Mike

[ETChipotle]

Yep, that's the one! There was some documentation on the inside door of one of the cabinets, including some schematics and factory test documentation. If you don't have this, I could get you a copy. I haven't found anything in the packet that tells me how it works. There is a web site from a school in Tennesee that might be helpful though...

Heidenhain TNC 155 CNC Mill Programming & Operating Instructions - Chapter 1

[awemawson]

Go to the Heidenhain web site and down load the manuals from the OMA controls section. The specific Interact operators manual is widely available on eBay - at least it is here in the UK, but although that tells you the start up sequence, most of it is in the Heidenhain books