Need Help!- Bridgeport Interact 1 MK2 some progress made

[gridley51]

I didn`t know that Bridgeport had fitted Mentors.The Mentor manual takes a bit of understanding but a couple of reads and things start to make sense.
I also don`t think the Mentor loses it`s parameters when the control batteries go flat.
It`s easy to power the drive up and read through the params using the buttons on the front of it.
It also seems strange that you have a seperate field control board as this is usually in the Mentor.
What LED`s do you have on the Mentor when you power up.Remember red is good.

[BrianP]

well that's the thing, I don't know if this information applies or not. How do I tell which drive I have? I am going by the manuals that were sent to me by the guy at Bridgeport UK, I gave him the serial number and this is the information I received, it may or may not be accurate but it sure gets confusing when trying to check things out and having the wrong information to go by, thanks.

[gridley51]

Brian,if you definitely have a Mentor 11 it`s a good thing.Have you had a look for the spindle drive.It`s either a green or grey box depending upon how old it is.Has about six leds down the right hand top corner and a digital display at the top centre.If you can find it and post what leds are on and what the display says it is quite easy to tell if it`s ok or not.
Heidenhain generic parameters from their website will give you the min/max settings for each spindle parameter so it`s quite easy to figure them out.

[machintek]

the only Spindle drives that I remember this side of the pond in this machine were the KTK. The KTK has a seperate board MTI-1 that is in question. The KTK drive is large about a foot square in the left cabinet when looking at the machine. A blue in color.
If you specify a rapid move in MDI, I believe it should move without the spindle on. Other wise a feed rate movement requires on all new machines that the spindle be turning. A safety issue.

George

[greg b]

To use mdi in heidenhain enter axis you wish to move and a feed rate, and enter everything then push green cycle button and the axis should move to position you selected. In g code use mode button to scroll through top of screen to find iso then push enter then mdi button then push g7 g40 g90 then whatever axis then feed rate then push end then cycle button.,if alls good the axis should move to where you programed. It also sounds like your drive is probably a ktk. good luck greg

[gridley51]

George,I have never seen an Interact with a Mentor drive either,but the Mentor is a common retrofit over here for all dc spindles.What I`m wondering is how the machine ended up out there if it was built in England,didn`t they also build them out there?
Mark.

[BrianP]

Thanks to all the help here I am making progress, I got the table to move using the MDI commands, now for that darn spindle. I am betting that I have the KTK drive, here are some pictures to confirm it. When I try to turn the spindle on I enter the speed and M03, when I press the green button it stays on(solid) for a few seconds then it starts flashing, a "Astrix" also flashes on the screen. Now what is the fix, do I get the board repaired, replace it or what? If I need it repaired where should I send it, if it isn't the board and there is another idea out there please let me know.

Another question on the spindle brake/clamp, if it only works when

Brake will not operate unless m6 or m25 is programed or big red emergency stop button is pushed

then what is the purpose of the switch on the front of the machine?

Thanks again everyone, Brian

[gridley51]

It is a KTK drive,so that`s that question answered.