Using Camsoft on a Pratt & Whitney Tapemate C

[jevs]

I pretty much decided I think I am going to use Mach2 first. I can try it for free and if it works well then there is no need to spend all that money on camsoft. I am going to get a driver board from Rutex and just play with 1 axis first. It would almost be silly not to try it. If it works well I will save thousands of dollars. I will be out nothing if it doesn't work well because the time spent is the same time spent with any setup that I can easily switch to later if need be. Plus I don't have to be nickel and dimed for every little software option. I hate that. Mach2 comes complete with the works and no BS. I won't have any limitations within the software that requires more money to use. From what I understand the breakout board pretty much kills the machine movement if the computer crashes? I am still concerned with the other post someone had about this machine not being good for milling though. I wish they would elaborate on that.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by jevs I am still concerned with the other post someone had about this machine not being good for milling though. I wish they would elaborate on that.

Untill the previous poster with experience of this particular machine gets back, I would hazzard a guess that the problem is possibly due to rigidity when machining, Machines that are built primarily for drilling and some machining, usually lack the rigidity required for anything but the lightest of machining, this is usually the first thing many find out when they try and convert drill machines to do cnc milling.
Al

[jevs]

As long is it can handle aluminum ok and some steel on occasions that is fine with me. It has got to be better than my mini mill or any mill you can buy new for $1000 or less right? I don't mind if the cuts need to be lighter and the part takes longer. I just wonder how the ridgidness compares to a regular bridgeport kneemill. The part where the spindle is on this machine is pretty heavy duty. The only thing I could see is maybe some ridgidty loss in the two columns it rides on?

[harolda]

Put a jumper on terminal that sez ild to ground turn on machine for a couple sec. Now make shure it is off take jumper off insert parameters.
with tape the book should tell you how to do it if not i will look ......
The mill is good for takeing light cuts or the retention knobs will break
off been there done oll the stuff .....

[jevs]

What and where are the retention knobs?

[harolda]

Thay are on the end of tool holder to hold them in on the tapemate
the head goes all the way up and releases tools

[jevs]

Where can I get tooling for this machine. I don't have anything that will hold collets. Or will I need to make something?

[redcobra]

biggest problem is lack of safety when using camsoft and galil. If the pc goes into blue screen and the axes are going somewhere it wont stop

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by redcobra biggest problem is lack of safety when using camsoft and galil. If the pc goes into blue screen and the axes are going somewhere it wont stop

That is not necessarily true. I am not aware of all the implications under Camsoft, but the Galil card operates to a great extent as a stand alone, it just uses the buss for communication and power, the BSOD is a Windows crash, the PC for the majority of cases is still operating, Galil does not need Windows to operate, the fact that it will run perfectly fine in DOS is a testament to that.
My experience is if the Galil has not recieved a reset it will complete the move that is in its memory. If the Galil sees a voltage error on the bus it will shut off.
Al.

[Carlo Rechi]

Mr red cobra

Mr Al is right. you have done something wrong. May be your connections are not all made. May be you have POSERROR OFF. With the command on if the position is not with in tolerance the galil card will make the motors go soft and turn off. May you not have the amp enable wire connected from the galil card to your servo drive so it can turn off by it self.

Carlo

[HillBilly]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man That is not necessarily true. I am not aware of all the implications under Camsoft, but the Galil card operates to a great extent as a stand alone, it just uses the buss for communication and power, the BSOD is a Windows crash, the PC for the majority of cases is still operating, Galil does not need Windows to operate, the fact that it will run perfectly fine in DOS is a testament to that. My experience is if the Galil has not recieved a reset it will complete the move that is in its memory. If the Galil sees a voltage error on the bus it will shut off. Al.

Al that is true when running a programed move. Keep in mind how continous jog is done, A long move is initiated (at least as long as the table.) then stopped when the button is released. The safest method is to make sure the E-Stop button is linked to the Galil abort terminal. This is a good ideal reguardless of which front end CNC software used (CS, Wing or Mach.).

Darek